As the colder weather approaches its time to get boilers ready for start-up. It’s important to implement proper maintenance before starting up a boiler to save energy, reduce costs and protect equipment’s longevity. Before a boiler is placed in operation, boiler operators and other responsible personnel and/or supervisors, must check over the entire system and carefully review operating procedures.
STEAM BOILER START-UP
Check chemical feed
Inspect controllers (check clock and program) and blowdown vales
Review chemical inventory (put in an order if necessary)
Check pretreatment such as softeners, RO, Dealkalizers, D/A’s. Low flow on softeners result in hardness leakage
Ensure alkalinity balance is good
Feed a high inhibitor level at first (sulphite, Mo, FFA) for the first weeks to establish corrosion protection If necessary drain any dirty returning condensate until clear
HOT WATER BOILER START-UP
Check chemical feed equipment (pot feeders, chemical pumps)
Change filter cartridges or bags, check for leaks Review chemical inventory (put in an order if necessary)
Test chemical inhibitor level in the system (when the system is recirculating).
Add more if necessary to raise the level into the control range
If the system contains glycol, perform a full analysis (glycol percentage, freeze point, inhibitor level, pH) and adjust the levels to be in desired ranges
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