Ecomaxx® LN Steam Blowing Services
Before starting a new unit, it is important to remove any kind of rust, sand, debris, etc. that may be dormant in the equipment.
With the help of Steam Blowing, enough velocity is blown in the piping which makes sure that these remnants are evicted seamlessly and adequately, leading to a safe initiation of operation.
At GCE, we understand, this procedure requires proper evaluation of all the components involved ranging from determination of design, size, and routing of the pipe and condition of the steam to other factors like thermal cycling, noise level, and water quenching, etc. Post which a course of action needs to be charted which seamlessly aligns the overall co-ordination and logistics of equipment, space, and workers and eventually leads to a successful execution of steam blowing activity.
With Ecomaxx® LN Steam Blowing Services, you can give a renewed life to your superheaters, theaters, and steam conveying pipes.
Steam blowing
Steam Blowing Techniques
Pressure Build Up Technique
Pressure Build-Up Technique, also known as the Cyclic Steam Blowing technique, is a process where the system is pressurized by firing the boiler to a point of a predetermined pressure. Post this, with the use of temporary piping and silencer, contained steam is released directly in the atmosphere via a quick opening valve. Transonic velocity is applied with a high mass flow rate in this overall process which is carefully executed after proper engineering and stress analysis calculation.
Continuous Blow Technique
This technique has become a standard practice for cleaning most steam system circuits. In this methodology, the steam generators are fired continuously with an aim to achieve steam velocities that exceed benchmarks generated during normal operations. An orifice plate or sacrificial valve is utilized to attain predetermined steam conditions at the piping inlet and this technique is used for both service steam and targeted blows.
Ecomaxx® LN Steam Blowing Technique
Ecomaxx® LN Steam Blowing Technology acts as a deterrent to the eventuality of dislodged particles adhering loosely to the internal surface of tubes, thereby damaging the turbine blades intensively. This technology achieves maximum safety of the turbines and avoids this phenomenon which happens due to the drag force which is generated during the peak of continuous rating load of turbine.
Ecomaxx® LN Steam Blowing Technology follows the European Standard VGB R513e to constructively evict debris from the superheater, reheater and the steam pipe lines and never let them reach the turbine blades.
This is achieved by generating a drag force on the internal surfaces of pipes or tubes which exceeds the normalcy levels of maximum continuous rating load of the turbine.
The ratio of the drag created during steam blowing to the drag which occurs during maximum continuous rating load is called the Cleaning Force Ratio or Disturbance Factor, which is usually bracketed to a value of 1.2 to 1.6
Contrast to the generic Huff and Puff techniques, Ecomaxx® uses the method of sliding pressure, which results in multiple advantages, as mentioned below:
- The Ecomaxx® LN Steam Blowing Technology offers a controlled CFR-value that extends on the required value for minutes, even hours as compared to the Pressure Build-up method that has an uncontrolled CFR-Value lasting only seconds.
- The lower operating pressure and the lesser time needed to achieve a clean target plate, normally 7 to 10 blows, reduce fuel costs by up to 5 times on account of short blowing durations from 20 to 60 minutes, hence achieving maximum economic efficiency (Ecomaxx®) for plant owners by minimizing fuel consumption.
- As against the quick release of the accumulated pressure in Pressure Build up Methods that puts huge stresses on the installed piping, the Ecomaxx® LN Steam Blowing Technology makes use of the sliding pressure technique that results in controlled stress within the allowed limits & offers lower operating pressures against significantly higher cleaning velocities.
- The parts to be steam blown are operated at low pressure 10 – 20 bar as against 40 – 60% of the operating pressure for the Pressure Build-up Method
- A simpler temporary piping design for the steam blow saves on temporary material, manpower, and erection costs on the customer side.
- Taking into environmental considerations the Ecomaxx® LN Steam Blowing Technology is effectively muzzled to reduce noise levels to < 90 dB in a 10 m radius
- With the Ecomaxx® LN Steam Blowing Technology, no chemicals are needed to add to the steam flow to achieve the cleaning result. Pure steam will be used only.
- Finally, the piping that is being steam blown can be completely insulated thus leading to a safer work environment and better commissioning progress.
INTERESTED to work with us
GCE has operational bases in Germany & India and so is uniquely positioned to serve both the European, Middle East & Far East Markets quickly, though we can work anywhere in the world.