PRESERVATION OM9210#13.

Preservation

1 Preservation of the boiler

If the boiler is to be shut down for a period of 1-30 days, it should be top filled to
prevent corrosion. Before top filling, it should be cleaned from soot deposits.
If the boiler is to be shut down for more than one month, different methods to
prevent corrosion can be applied:
 Dry preservation.
 Wet preservation.
 Nitrogen preservation.
 VCI preservation.
The work procedures related to each of these preservation methods are described in
the following:

1.1 Dry preservation

When this method is applied the boiler should be totally emptied off water and dried
out.
Step A: Empty the water/steam contents inside the boiler by means of the bottom
blow down at a boiler pressure of 3-5 barg. Open the boiler when it is
depressurised and drain off any remaining water.

Step B: Manhole doors and hand hole covers should be opened when the boiler is
still hot. If there is water left in the bottom of the boiler it must be removed,
e.g., by using a vacuum cleaner.

Step C: If the boiler is cold, drying of the boiler can be done by either circulating
dried air from a fan or by placing bags of silicagel inside the boiler.

Step D: Before the manhole doors and hand hole covers are closed, place a tray with
burning charcoal to remove oxygen. As soon as the tray with charcoal is in
position, close the manhole doors and hand hole covers using new gaskets.

Step E: Alternatively, a small steam phase inhibitor can be added to the boiler after
cooling and careful draining. Afterwards the boiler should be closed
completely.

1.2 Wet preservation

While dry preservation is a question of draining off water to avoid corrosion, the
principle of wet preservation is to prevent oxygen from entering the boiler.
This method can be used for a short period of ‘lay-up’ (1-3 months).

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 PRESERVATION OM9210#13.1

Step A: The boiler is filled with treated boiler water and hydrazine is added until an
excess of 100-200 ppm is obtained.

Step B: The water should be circulated continuously or at least once per week to
avoid corrosion from any penetration of oxygen, and it is necessary to
check the hydrazine concentration and add the necessary amount to have an
excess of 100-200 ppm. Other oxygen binding agents can also be used.
The pH-value should be 9.5-10.5.

Note: If there is any risk of the temperature falling back below 0˚C, this
method should not be used to avoid frost damages.

As this preservation method involves applying hydrazine to the water inside the
boiler, the boiler must be completely drained and refilled with fresh water before
taken into service again.

1.3 Nitrogen preservation

The boiler should be drained, dried and sealed in the same way as mentioned in
section “1.1, Dry preservation”.
Step A: Make a connection point to the bottom of the boiler and open the air escape
valve on top of the boiler.

Step B: Connect cylinders with nitrogen to the bottom connection point via a
reduction valve and purge the boiler until there is no oxygen left.

Step C: Close the air escape valve.

Step D: Leave a cylinder with nitrogen connected to the boiler via a reduction valve
and keep an overpressure of approximately 0.2 bar inside the boiler.

1.4 VCI preservation

An alternative to the above mentioned preservation methods may be the use of a so-
called volatile corrosion inhibitor (VCI).
The VCI is a water soluble chemical which partly evaporates and protects both the
water and steam spaces of the boiler. It should be able to eliminate the need for
complete drainage and/or application of nitrogen, and may in particular be
interesting when a forced circulation type exhaust gas boiler is installed in the steam
system. The boiler must be effectively sealed from the atmosphere to maintain the
corrosion protection.
The VCI is offered by various chemical companies and must be used in accordance
with their recommendations.

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