HPS line steam blowing
HPS line steam blowing
(OP)
I am working on the comissioning of a cogeneration powerplant where we have an HPS steam line 12" diameter 300m long connected to an existing steam header which feeds a steam turbine and other process equipments. The question is: should the steam blow be performed with the line insulated or not insulated?





RE: HPS line steam blowing
What is a steam blow trying to do? Answer this and you will then know whether or not piping insulation should be installed or not.
RE: HPS line steam blowing
To achieve the required degree of cleanlinees the piping system up-stream of the turbine is normally blown using steam velocities greater than those in full load operation.
RE: HPS line steam blowing
I am fully aware of what the steam blow is for. What I was indicating is that if you know why you are doing the blow then you can basically answer your question yourself!!!!
RE: HPS line steam blowing
I would think that the line does not need to be insulated since the purpose is to clean the inside of the pipe and the steam is not sent to the turbine anyway.
RE: HPS line steam blowing
Will it be used only once, under cold conditions, or periodically under heated conditions? (Toinmingos implied it's a pre-operational blowdown, macmet appears to have periodic blowdowns).
Is the steam blow located such people could get injured by coming into contact with the piping or the exhaust? If you answered no, ARE YOU SURE???
Macmet -- since you're working at a plant that does periodic steam blows, maybe it's worth a visit out to the location to see what's there.
Patricia Lougheed
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