Titolo Identificativo Rev.

Pag Di
title document no. rev. Of
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page
STEAM BLOWOUT 6556-EPCC4-52-1B-SP-M-3009
0 1 8
PRESCRIPTIONS
Volume N. Prodotto/Struttura
Volume no. product/structure

Tipo doc. Emittente Edizione in lingua Derivato da Rev.

doc. type issued by language derived from rev.

AC ENGLISH
Job no Progetto Cliente
project client
3034 IOCL PANIPAT NAPHTHA L&T
CRACKER
Rev. Descrizione
rev. kind of revision

0 FIRST ISSUE

0 P I A. COLOMBO R. ORSARIA R.SARDANO 10.04.20

Rev St. Sc. Preparato Controllato Verificato Verificato Verificato Approvato Data
Rev. st. sc. Prepared checked checked checked checked approved date

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IOCL PANIPAT NAPTHA CRACKER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 BLOWING OUT..............................................................................................................................3

2 TECHNIQUE...................................................................................................................................4

2.1 ALTE RNATIVE BLOW .......................................................................................................... 4

2.2 CONTINOUS BLOW (not applicable)..................................................................................... 4

3 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................5

3.1 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................... 6

4 TEMPORARY PIPEWORK .............................................................................................................6
5 TEMPERATURE CONTROL..........................................................................................................7
6 TARGET PLATE ...........................................................................................................................7

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1. BLOWING OUT

This document deals with the prescriptions for the steam blowing of PANIPAT
boilers. All the required hardwares, logistics to carryout blowing operation is not in
the scope of Ansaldo.

The blowing out ensures that any debris within steam lines that might be removed in
normal operation is cleaned away by a steam purge carried out during the
commissioning of the plant.

The presence of debris in the steam lines after the chemical cleaning, in form of weld
beads, metal cutting, etc. (which may be loose or adhering to side walls), will be
subjected to a removal force proportional to the drag applied by steam flow.

Under normal operating conditions, the maximum drag would occur at MCR.

To obtain an effective purge, the drag or disturbance across the surface of particles
must be increased above that occurring at MCR.

Different methods can be used; the most important are:

1. Alternative blow.
2. Continuous blow.

The first one, in our experience, is that one more used in the power plant with steam
turbine.

The maximum steam drum pressure differential between the beginning and the end
of the blowing must be controlled according the curve annex 1 pag.8.

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2. TECHNIQUE

2.1 ALTERNATIVE BLOW

Blowing technique should be developed in a series of trials starting at low

operating conditions and working up to the calculated conditions.

It is achieved by pressurisation of boiler, superheaters and the lines up to blow-off

valves (closed); then these valves are suddenly opened and system blown off.

Cleaning is also helped by cooling/heating cycles consequent to blowing phases;

experience has demonstrated that the combination of high velocity and
temperature shock is more effective than frequent blowing phases, so the
suggested value is not more than 3 blowings per hour.

Thermal cycling is also achieved during overnight shut-off, allowing so a complete

boiler cooling down and warming up per day.

Blowings must be executed in an alternate manner, i.e.:

• close the temporary valve and increase the pressure to a defined value;
• open suddenly the temporary valve and blow; close the temporary valve;
• respect the maximum steam drum differential pressure as recommended and
proceed as above.
• respect the pressurization gradient recommended in the start up procedure to
reach the start blowing pressure

Experience has indicated that normally the overall time of each blow will be
approximately 3 ÷ 6 minutes.

2.2 CONTINOUS BLOW (not applicable)

Continuous blow method consists to execute some blowing, each for a long time
at low pressure.

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The blowing steam can be discharged at the condenser (throw by-pass) or in

atmosphere; this choice is submitted to the plant layout.

With this method temporary valves are not required.

At the end of any blowing cycle, the boiler might be bottled in pressure by closing
the main steam stop valves and boiler cooling and depressurisation must be done
by SH start up vent according to START UP AND SHUT DOWN PROCEDURE.

3 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Condensate feed water system and obviously boiler must be ready for safe and
reliable operation.

All involved control loops must be operational and checked, with particular care to
protections, alarms and interlocks.

Feed water and condensate system must be cleaned and correctly performing,
especially chemical dosing station for water conditioning; blowing water must be
oxygen free and must have a pH value controlled at rated value by means AVT (all
volatile treatment).

During blowing don’t use sulphite and phosphate because their carrying over from
drum may affect superheater internal surfaces leading to possible deposits that
must be avoided.

All circuit must be carefully inspected in order to check of all internals of blowing
pipes have been removed or not yet installed such as: flow nozzles, non return
valve, orifices, thermowhells, spray water nozzles and so on, in order to avoid any
restrictions and equipment damage.

Before start the operation check that the temporary piping for blowing has been
installed according to drawings.

Since the temporary lines are manufactured with a design pressure lower then
boiler ones, a temporary safety valve, or boiler electromatic valve, must be set at a
value close to steam blowing pressure (around 45 ÷ 48 [barg]).
The maximum pressure for superheather blowing must be obviously not more then
45 ÷ 48 barg.
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The final value will be defined by means of calculation of the disturbance factor.
From our experience, in most cases 40 [bar] for Superheaters are sufficient to
obtain adequate cleaning.

Close all instrument connections except: steam drum pressure, SH temperature,

drum level and feed water flow.

All blowout areas have to be cordoned off.

Temporary drains in all temporary pipe low points must be installed.

It is recommended to put a silencer at the temporary line exhaust to reduce

blowing noise.

Boiler drum pressurisation shall not exceed the gradient and the prescriptions as
per curve in start up procedure.

3.1 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

During blowing out phase, HHL (high high level) trip on drum shall be by-passed.

The operational problem with boiler temporary valves usually involves around
being able to open and close the temporary valves within a period of time which
prevents the drum saturation temperature falling more than 40°C; temporary valve
opening/closing time should be about 10 to 30 seconds (with oleopneumatic
actuator or equivalent).

4. TEMPORARY PIPEWORK

Vent piping should have an internal diameter not lower than the existing steam
piping one and should be securely anchored towards its outlet end.

Since the vent pipe exhausts, during blow, in atmosphere, there is a large reaction
force created by the jet effect of the steam flow: this thrust in the vent pipe will be
transmitted to the pipe supports, so the design of these supports must be carefully
checked.

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IOCL PANIPAT NAPTHA CRACKER

Piping will be assembled with a proper inclination, so to drain possible condensate

in fixed points, it is recommended to put these drains in the lower parts of steam
lines.

In order to warm-up the temporary line before valve opening, is recommended to

put a by-pass of temporary valve so to guarantee a minimum steam flow throw the
line.
During the first warm up phase is necessary to check the piping expansion.

5. TEMPERATURE CONTROL

During blowing, temperature differential limitations on steam drums, boiler

headers, steam pipes, etc. will apply.

Being steam drum the most stressed component, the saturation temperature,
during each blowing, must not decrease more than 40 °C as per annex curve A1.

6. TARGET PLATE

Target plate is used to determine the effectiveness of the blowing; in fact it is

positioned in the pipework downstream the temporary valve, so to obtain an
impact velocity of any particulate matter in the steam flow at least equal to that it
has striking turbine blades.

Target plate will be manufactured according turbine specification.

When a number of purges have been carried out and the target plate is showing
only a little improvement, the blowing should be considered complete.

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A1 - DRUM BLOWING CURVE

Steam Drum Blowing Pressure Control Curve

30

25
Drum Pressure at Blow End [bar]

20

15

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55
Drum Pressure at Blow Start [bar]

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