Steam Boilers are essential for operational processes in manufacturing industries. If left neglected, boiler issues can hinder the seamless operation. One such boiler issue is soot formation. Soot is a carbon-based material that accumulates as a byproduct of combustion and sticks to the walls and surfaces of the steam boiler system during operation. Soot is a natural insulator that makes it challenging for conducting heat efficiently. As a result, it reduces the steam boiler efficiency by blocking some heat from passing through the system. Additionally, soot can lead to fires and damage the boiler system if not cleaned properly.

What Are Soot Blowers?

A soot blower is boiler equipment for eliminating the soot deposits within the steam boiler to keep it running safely and seamlessly. Different soot blowers are used in the different components of the industrial boiler, each with unique advantages. The two major mediums for removing soot are compressed air and steam, with steam being more preferred as it has a lower cost than the expense required for compressors, motors, and control of air systems. Once the soot is removed, it is passed through the system by flue gas and leads to a dust collector or expelled through the smokestack.

Problems Caused By Soot Formation:

When a steam boiler or furnace is operating for a long period, it causes more deposits on all its heating surfaces. Soot in a furnace or other burning equipment lowers efficiency and may also lead to fire hazards. Firstly, a soot coating in the boiler system acts as an insulator that reduces heat exchange, and thus more energy is required for achieving optimum temperature. Secondly, excessive soot can catch fire, resulting in risk or damage to the equipment, surrounding area, and personnel.

Types of Soot Blowers:

Wall Soot Blowers:

A wall soot blower is one of the basic types of soot blowers. It is a small piece of equipment that is connected to the exterior of the boiler. A short nozzle that enters the steam boiler releases hot steam or compressed air for cleaning the surrounding area. The nozzle retracts while not operating, making the wall blower an ideal choice for areas that face the issue of high temperatures.

There are various pros and cons of wall soot blowers due to their basic design. The primary advantage is that wall blowers are often smaller in size, taking less space in the area around the steam boiler. Consequently, the disadvantage is that the wall soot blower is capable of cleaning only a small section. Most industrial boilers require several wall blowers and may use other types of soot blowers to clean the accumulated soot.

Air Heater Soot Blowers:

Air heater soot blowers are ideal for cleaning the air heaters of the boiler system. As time passes, the moisture starts accumulating at the cold end of the air heater as the flue gas temperature reduces to below the condensation point. The moisture combines with soot and other byproducts and forms a fine-grain deposit.

Air heater soot blowers are installed on the cold end of the air heater and include retractable blowers or blowers with nozzles on swinging arms. The device moves across the air heater, while the swinging arm moves in an arc across the face of the heat transfer surface, cleaning a sufficient area.

Long Retractable Soot Blowers:

A long retractable soot blower extends a long lance or nozzle into the boiler. The long retractable soot blower begins at the start of the steam boiler and gradually moves through it, rotating 360 degrees to eliminate soot from every surface. The primary advantage of the application is that a single device is capable of cleaning a much larger area than a wall blower. Covering a large area reduces the total number of blowers necessary to remove soot in your boiler, simplifying the system. However, a long retractable soot blower needs to store the long lance and usually takes up considerably more space than a wall blower.

Rotary Soot Blowers:

A rotary soot blower is fixed to the steam boiler system and does not retract like other types of blowers. On the contrary, the blowing tube or element of the blower remains in the steam boiler at all times. The tube is usually equipped with several nozzles and rotates to clean a large portion of the boiler system.

As it does not retract, rotary soot blowers are not to be used in the high-temperature areas of the boiler. Rotary soot blowers are best suited for the superheater, economizer, and air heater.

Applications of Soot Blowers:

Soot Blowers Safeguards Furnace Tubes and Shells

A soot blower reduces the possibility of soot fire. Such accidents can lead to the appearance of hotspots in the furnace tubes that can later reach a temperature to weaken the structure of the tubes. The dangers of a weakened furnace structure are extreme.

Soot Blowers Enhances Operational Efficiency

Soot is a heat insulator. Therefore, more soot inside equipment leads to more energy required to get the equipment up to optimal operating temperature. As no processing plant aims to waste energy, it is too expensive.

Fuels used for combustion in steam boilers lead to various by-products coating the heating surfaces. It is accumulated on walls, screens, reheaters, etc., and every component is plastered with soot reducing energy efficiency. A soot blower is crucial for maintaining efficiency.

Conclusion:

Rakhoh Boilers is one of the trusted boiler manufacturers in Pune since 1983. With 39+ years of experience and expertise in thermal solutions, we deliver highly efficient and reliable industrial steam boilers, waste heat recovery systems, thermic fluid heaters, and boiler accessories to over 20 process industries in 27 countries worldwide. We provide excellent boiler services to boost the efficiency and productivity of the boilers.

Visit www.rakhoh.com for more details on our products and services