Boiler Life Extension Inspection and Tests

Having first obtained copies of the inspection reports for this vessel, talk to the Engineer/Surveyor for the company providing burst indemnity insurance cover, and discuss the options.

Though there are tweaks and adjustments you could make, I would suggest that water treatment be analyzed on a regular basis and that you hire out that activity to a competent company/individual with experience and a good track record in water treatment. Integral to to the water treatment is informing the the company/individual of all materials used in the boiler, boiler piping, auxiliaries, and appurtenances, as some materials can attacked by some water treatment chemicals and not others.

Somewhat related to water treatment is the proper layup of a boiler. If not done properly you can cause accelerated oxidation and premature failure of boiler components.

You should also have the boiler serviced regularly including checking for proper combustion. Inefficient combustion can cause more than additional fuel costs; it can cause acid build up and higher emissions, as well as a potential flue fire.

Could you tel us a little more? What's heating up the boiler ? where is it located (inside /outside salt air enviroment ?) what are the steam conditions ? where does the steam go to?, where does your feedwater come from? How do you use your boiler? 20 years is a long time for such a old boiler.

It is PF fired and it is for a power station. It is a rankine cycle with both feed heating and steam reheat. I am looking at replacing those components that are at the end of their life and refurbishing those that are still in a better condition. From the financial analysis it looks like its cheaper to extend the life of this station than to build anaother power station.

Refubrishing a 35 year old boiler for next 20 years seems a little rediculas. Generally boilers are designed for 25 years. So it will be better to go for new boiler.

Refubrishing needs destructive testing of all exposed parts of the boiler to know the remaining life of the metal parts. Only after those test you will be making plans for refubrishmant.

Dear Mr.Lancoz,

What is the Boiler Pressure - the modern trend is to use SUPER CRITICAL PRESSURE Boilers where the Thermodynamic Efficiency is as high as 43% as against a conventional system of 33 to 35%

It is true the proposal will be costly, but RATE of RETURN on INVESTMENT is HIGH and hence PAY BACK PERIOD is LESS.

Think over it.

DHAYANANDHAN.S