Soot ________________or ___________ washing?

1 Solve the puzzles. Name the procedures.

1)
+ ING

2)

1) Soot blowing
2) Water washing

2 Answer the questions:

What do you know about the procedures? - Soot blowing is most commonly carried out using
dry saturated or slightly superheated steam at boiler pressure. The use of dry saturated steam
generally has a better impact effect in removing deposits than superheated steam, but precautions
must be taken to preclude slugs of water from entering the boiler flueways.

Why can we perform these procedures? – Because, we are able to do it, and it’s necessary.
Vocabulary
3 Study the pictures. Match the pictures with the definitions

2
1

3 4
A. Boiler drains are used in hydronic heating systems to drain water, residue, and sediment
from boiler systems to maximize system efficiency)
B. Boiler refractory is to contain the heat generated by burning of the fuel in the furnace and
to minimize heat losses from the furnace.
C. Main steam valve is used for shutting off the steam from the main steam line.
D. Sootblower is used for removing the soot that is deposited on the internal furnace tubes
of a boiler during combustion to prevent plugging of the gas passes and maintain boiler
efficiency.

4 Fill in the gaps

Boiler refractory| Boiler drains| Main steam valve | Soot blowing
1. Soot blowing is most commonly carried out using dry saturated or slightly superheated
steam at boiler pressure
2. Main steam valve usually is non-return type of valve directly mounted on the steam space
of the boiler shell.
3. Boiler refractory prevents thermal loss during boiler operation, also helps the boiler retain
heat even when it is not firing.
4. Boiler drains can also be used as a general-purpose hose end valve for external water
service.

5 Complete the sentences

1) To remove soot we need sootblower
__________________________________________________________________
2) Steam is  a vapor arising from a heated substance
__________________________________________________________________
3) Heat is Heat is the transfer of kinetic energy from one medium or object to another, or
from an energy source to a medium or object.
__________________________________________________________________
4) Water is a colourless, transparent, odourless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers,
and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms.
Reading
6 Complete the table
Fuel quality
Soot bowing Water washing

soot blow arrangements fresh water

Carbon deposits non-soluble particles

Carbon deposits| fresh water| soot blow arrangements| non-soluble particles

7 a) Read the texts and name the procedures

Soot Blowing
Due to burning of poor quality of oil or due
to inefficient combustion, soot deposits are
formed over the heat-exchanging surface,
mainly on boiler tubes, reducing the heat
transfer rate of the boiler. Soot blow
arrangement is fitted in the boiler to
remove such carbon deposits from the
tubes.
Medium used to clean these deposits can be
steam, air or combination of both. For
economizer, soot-blowing granules are
used instead of steam or air to remove soot
deposits from the tubes. Soot blowing is
recommended every 24 hours. Excess use
of steam in soot blowing might cause
erosion damage to the tubes.
Water washing
It is carried out in water tube boiler and
economizer to keep the heat transfer
surface clean. Most of the deposits, which
set on the tubes due to improper
combustion or poor fuel quality, mainly
consist of non-soluble particles that are
held together by water soluble bonding
material. Through water washing of the
tube area/stack, these particles can be
removed from the surface. The boiler must
be tried out immediately after the water
washing is completed to avoid corrosion
damage to the refractory and other heat
transfer surface

b) Read the texts again and complete the table.

Substances used
Procedures Causes Results
for
Due to burning of
poor quality of oil or
due to inefficient
combustion, soot Soot blowing is
deposits are formed Soot blow recommended every
over the heat- arrangement is fitted
Medium used to 24 hours. Excess
exchanging surface, in the boiler to
clean these deposits use of steam in soot
mainly on boiler remove such carbon
can be steam, air or blowing might cause
tubes, reducing the deposits from the
combination of both erosion damage to
heat transfer rate of tubes.
the boiler the tubes.

It is carried out in Most of the Through water The boiler must be

water tube boiler deposits, which set washing of the tube tried out
 on the tubes due to
and economizer to immediately after
improper
keep the heat the water washing is
combustion or poor
transfer surface area/stack, these completed to avoid
fuel quality, mainly
clean. particles can be corrosion damage to
consist of non-
removed from the the refractory and
soluble particles that
surface other heat transfer
are held together by
surface
water soluble
bonding material.

8 Mark SB (soot blowing) or WW (water washing)

1 SB Check the steam pressure at normal working pressure and main steam valve in the soot
blow line is closed.
2 WW Cool down the boiler so that the temperature of the boiler during the water washing is
below 100 °C
3 WW Drain to remove the water used for washing must be clear and in open condition.
4 WW Shut the drain valves and fully open the main steam line valve also open the drain to
remove condensed water from the line.
5 WW After water washing, the refractory at the furnace bottom must be cleaned with alkaline
water as water washing may cause corrosion
6 SB Shut the drain valves and fully open the main steam line valve and open the bottom soot
blow manual ball valve and soot blow the line for 5 to 10 seconds
7 SB Before closing the doors, ensure all washing water and loose deposits are removed from
the boiler
8 SB Close the top soot blow valve and Shut the main steam line valve

9 Match the words to get word combinations

Soot blowing Water washing

1 Main steam A blow manual 5 Water E water
valve
2 Bottom soot B pressure 6 Alkaline F refractory
3 Steam C valve 7 Loose G washing
4 Drain D valve 8 Boiler H deposits
1C 2A 3B 4D 5G 6H 7F 8E