Boiler Circulation Analysis

Boiler Circulation Analysis for Chemical Recovery, Biomass, and Municipal Solid Waste, Refuse-derived Fuel, and Tire-derived Fuel Boilers

Adequate circulation of water through boiler tubes is necessary to prevent tube overheating and the potential for failures. The drivers of a circulation study on a boiler are typically one or more of the following reasons:

• To establish the maximum steaming rate at which circulation remains adequate.
• To determine if pressure part modifications are needed to support steam generation rates that are in excess of the boiler’s original nameplate rating.
• To evaluate the effect of changing boiler operating conditions—such as type of fuel or operating pressure—on circulation.
• To evaluate the effect of boiler heating surface modifications on circulation.
• To uncover the factors causing repeat pressure part failures and/or tube overheating.
• To investigate the cause of excessive scale depositions inside tubes.

A valuable technique used by Jansen during its analyses of circulation conditions is the application of Ultrasonic Flow Metering (UFM).