Causes and Treatment Methods of Boiler Tube Damage

Boiler tubes usually experience some damage during daily use. In this passage, United Steel Industry will introduce the causes and treatment methods of boiler tube damage.

Causes of Boiler Tube Damage:

- Undeaerated Boiler Inlet Water:

Severe corrosion occurs in the boiler tube due to the absence of deaeration in the inlet water.

- Vaporization of Circulating Water:

Vaporization of circulating water leads to steam pockets in the tube, causing tube wall overheating, convex hulls, and cracks.

- Low-Quality Boiler Feed Water:

Inadequate supervision of feed water quality results in non-compliance with standards, leading to the formation of thick scale inside the pipe.

- Blockage During Maintenance:

Foreign objects block the pipe during maintenance or installation, causing poor water circulation, local overheating, and burst tubes.

- Rapid Furnace Temperature Fluctuations:

Rapid rises and falls in furnace temperature cause uneven heating, leading to water leakage at the nozzle.

- Steam Leaks from Adjacent Pipes:

Steam leaks from damaged adjacent soda pipes, contributing to boiler tube damage.

- Low Feed Water Temperature:

Insufficient mixing of low-temperature feed water with furnace fire results in uneven tube deformation and additional stress at the furnace nozzle, causing water leakage or annular cracks.

- Incorrect Pressure Method:

Incorrect pressure methods cause uneven heating, harmful stress, and water leakage at the weld of the furnace nozzle.

- Extended Periodic Sewage Discharge:

Prolonged sewage discharge or improperly closed sewage valves result in poor water circulation, leading to water circulation damage.

- Severe Wear from Fly Ash:

Severe wear from fly ash contributes to boiler tube damage.

Treatment Methods for Boiler Tube Damage:

- Immediate Boiler Shutdown:

Cease boiler operation immediately when a tube bursts. Halt the boiler according to the fault while keeping the induced draft fan to extract steam from the furnace.

- Strengthen Boiler Water Supply:

Enhance boiler water supply post-shutdown. If the water pipe has a significant crack and the water level remains unseen after reinforced water supply, halt the water supply.

- Stop Induced Draft Fan:

Halt the induced draft fan after the steam in the furnace is mostly eliminated.

- Load Reduction and Standby Boiler Activation:

If the boiler tube is undamaged and maintains a normal water level without causing rapid accidents, reduce the load. Activate the standby boiler promptly and shut down the furnace if deterioration occurs.