Cleaver Brooks Cleaning

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Why not ask the people who make them?

Road trip.....

http://www.cleaver-brooks.com/Reference-Center/Training/Boiler-Operation-and-Electrical-Troubleshooting/Boiler-Operation-/-Electrical-Troubleshooting---100714.aspx

http://setxind.com/downstream/best-practices-for-industrial-boiler-maintenance/

Ultimately, it's up to the code inspector, based on operating history. One place I worked (water-tube boilers), the inspector would give us a one year extension (if we hadn't had any abnormal events) - another place the inspector gave no extensions. Personally, if I was going to extend, I'd want flue gas outlet temperature recorded to monitor loss of efficiency.

Thank You for response, State inspector do not need them open till next year and he say they are in really good shape. I am just trying to create extensive PM program for all equipment in building (boilers, chillers, pumps, fans, air handlers, cooling tower etc...)

According to factory authorized service companies in two different states, unless under extreme conditions such as bad pH, mud etc., once a year is sufficient for cleaning for both fire side and water side. I have verified this with the Cleaver Brooks factory tech personnel and they agree. I have followed this schedule with all boilers and have had good results. Once had to re-tube one of these but that was more of a preventive measure and not mandatory. Several tubes needed replaced and more would the next year.

These included (all CB's) a 1,000hp, several 500hp, a 250hp and a 100hp. Experience and tech personnel both show that keeping control of the pH of the water on the wet side is the most important factor in keeping it clean. Based on our lab results we often added a quart or two of Sodium Hydroxide when needed. The mud on the water side is also controlled by sufficient blow-downs to drain the dirtier water on the bottom out. Many boilers are done once or more a day depending upon the circumstances.

Fire side the biggest factor is complete combustion of the fuel. Look in a boiler that has been fired on #6 or #4 fuel oil and compare it with a #2 or natural gas fired unit. #6 vs. the natural gas is a big difference. Also use clean filters on the fuel lines and water dispersants in the fuel. Fuel is much dirtier than you might think.

Good Luck, Old Salt

Also Cleaning time is also inspection time. A good inspection and test of metal fatigue is done at that time. Also looking for cracks that have started to form from dynamic stress. I should have added this to the other response I gave but I went a little long on my last post. But still feel all should know the danger of a boiler. I both love boilers for what they can do but respect and fear them for what they can do that you do not want them to do ( Explode) Do a search on boiler explosions. My point is how clean the thing is is also important but the condition of the thing is even more important. Some folks do not warm them slow enough and that causes cracks and cracks cause explosions. Also on shut down it it best to be careful about cooling slowly. Else the metal gets brittle. Mostly on the firebox side but the fire box is also connected to the water side and if it breaks it can explode from high pressure on either end. In short it is worth it to at least inspect but mostly to follow to a T the instructions on heating a cold boiler and the proper shut down. Jim Davison

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Always had the regional Cleaver-Brooks service outfit do our servicing other than minor things. They know what to do and how to do it. General maintenance journeymen or boiler operators are not skilled enough to do it. Recommend this to everyone who has a high pressure boiler (over 15 psi).

I'm so old I remember, as a kid, two steam locomotives collide at a vision restricted crossing. One boiler blew! Just like the song says "Scalded to death by the steam"

Good Luck, Old Salt