Sootblower Safety and Upgrade Guidelines

The availability of the Recovery boiler is essential to the continuous operation of a Kraft pulp and paper mill. Sootblowers play a crucial role to the safe and efficient operation of the boiler. They operate on a continuous basis and, the lack of availability of any critical blowers for an extended period of time leads to heavy fouling of the heat transfer surfaces and the eventual plugging of the flue gas passes.

This TIP addresses the best practices for the operation and maintenance of these pieces of equipment, and some potential pitfalls. It provides a window into common problem areas and some suggestions to avoid them. It covers some of the crucial components and subcomponents of a sootblower. The owners should always consult their O&M manuals and the manufacturers for specific details on their equipment. This TIP serves as a reference to owners/users of sootblowers. This TIP does not provide design standards, specific operating parameters or guidelines for acceptance criteria for sootblower inspection. This TIP does not provide detailed welding procedures. It is expected that the tubes carrying steam satisfy the welding requirements under ASME section IX.