Oil removal from Low Pressure Steam Boilers?

[littletoes]

Upon new installation of cast iron sectional steam boilers, low pressure, how is it best to remove oil from the boiler?

Surface blow-down appears to be working, just extremely slow.

An old wash-down recipe was the use of soda-ash combined with kerosene. Anyone doing that type of work these days? Or is there a new compound that can help wash it out as a non-adhering sludge?

 

[TBP]

Try "Squick".

http://www.silverkingmfg.com/squick.htm

 

[unclesyd]

As you state it pays to get someone with the equipment, chemicals and experience to clean your boiler even though one can home brew a cleaner to do the job. If you go to a do it yourself cleaning, the use of a an additive package from chemical supplier goes a long way to successful conclusion. The system mentioned in your OP will work but not as well as it could due the lack of wetting agent and a rinse aid.

We have used Halliburton to clean our boilers on several occasions. We have used others but none are are no longer in business,

http://www.halliburton.com/ps/default.aspx?pageid=301&navid=46&prodid=PRN::IVPX1O15

Here is the old Oakite Co. that supplied a lot chemicals to us or the contractor to do process equipment cleaning. I don't know their position now with on-site cleaning.

http://www.chemetallamericas.com/

You may want to checkout one of the smaller companies like the one below.

http://cleancosystems.com/wordpress/?page_id=21

 

[TBP]

unclesyd These little boilers are not like industrial/utility units. I don't know of any installer of these boilers that doesn't perform the cleaning/skimming themselves.

To bring in an outfit like Haliburton to clean a little residential/commercial cast iron section steam boiler would probably cost as much as the installation.

 

[unclesyd]

You are correct it would be terribly expensive and not necessary.
In your case I would get with the manufacturer and see what they recommend. If this doesn't bear fruit I would contact a local chemical company or their representative to discuss your problem.
If you have to use the material as stated in the OP I would make sure as a minimum that I incorporated a rinse aid. Sodium salts aren't as bad as they would be on other metals, so if you can rinse out the cleaning solution it should be no problem.

Calgon did make some rinse aids for alkaline cleaning solutions or if the volume is small enough you could use a dishwasher rinse aid.

Can you come back on high thick the oil is? If it is very thick I would circulate the hot cleaning solution before I adding the Kerosene

 

[chicopee]

One of my data sheets from Mogul, Division of Dexter Corp. states an Alkaline based cleaning solution for oil deposit.

 

[GenB]

trisodium sulftes from home depot
ahardware store 5lbs per 100 GL will do,
after flush and add defomeing compound
or flush twice, add your boiler chemicals and check pH and alkalis.
GBlr