A Primer on Protecting Idle Boilers PDF

Many boiler plants have excess boiler capacity. Typical boiler plants maintain backup capacity that must be instantly ready to provide steam should a mechanical problem occur on the primary boilers. Some boiler plants may have had a greater steam demand at one time, and process changes have reduced present steam requirements. The challenge to many managers is to protect the integrity of this equipment while the boilers are not being used. A significant amount of damage that occurs to boilers during their lifetime can be associated with idle periods and extended downtime. The typical processes in place that provide protection for boilers from scale and corrosion during operational times may not be available when the boiler is not running.