Steam Blow 3

[SonnieTP]

Can someone explain the purpose of the target inserter that are used during steam blow? Are there any specific type of material to be used as a target inserter for steam blow?

 

[unclesyd]

To catch anything coming out of the steam line, like hammers, cell phones, lunch boxes and finally the small rust and slag particles.
As far as the target material I've about every thing used. We tend to use percale, bed sheets.

 

[NozzleTwister]

I'm not an expert on this by any means but I'll share what I know.

I was in the field on an assignment a few years ago (20 or so) and asked to assist with the design of some pipe restraints to be used for the steam blow. This was a new plant and they blew down each steam line a number of times to remove the trash and debris inside the piping. Once they thought the line might be clean they would insert the target. I remember it being a 1 inch square bar polished to a mirror finish. I don't remember if it was stainless or carbon steel. Any scale or debris in the line would cause pitting on the side of the bar facing against the flow during the blow. If the pipe was still dirty, they would blow it down a few more times and reinsert the target bar again, rotated for an unpitted side to face the flow. They kept repeating this until the line was clean.

The steam lines fed a lot of turbine drivers on pumps. It was actually the turbine vender field representative that was supervising the steam blows.

My most vivid memory of this was the incredible noise. Everybody in the plant needs to be wearing ear plugs during the blows as well as stay out of the way, especially downstream of the blow.


NozzleTwister
Houston, Texas

 

[CW3]

I used to work for a company that performed steam blows, chemical cleaning, etc... There are basically two kinds of steam blows...high-pressure exhaustive, and low-pressure high-velocity continuous. On continuous blows, there is a device called a target inserter that allows targets to be periodically inserted into the steam flow path during the blows, without having to isolate the steam flow. They are a proprietary device that wouldn't typically be found outside of the pre-commissioning service companies (although I can steer you towards a source where they can be rented). On high-pressure exhaustive blows, the targets were mounted either on a bar that is attached to the end of the temporary pipe, or in cases wher a silencer is used, it was mounted through a short temporary spool piece that was configured with 2 square holes, diametrically opposed and covered with 2" nipple/cap. The targets (target bars) themselves were generally made of brass, carbon steel, or stainless steel, all polished to a mirror finish and depended on what the customer felt would give a good indication of his line cleanliness, depending on type of service. Steam requirements wre calculated based line service, MCR conditions, velocities achievable, and cleaning force ratios (CFR's). I hope this helps, if not, I can add to it.

CW

 

[SonnieTP]

Thank you guys for the response. This helps a lot.

Thanks again.

 

[NozzleTwister]

Thanks CW3,

So, my experience that I related above was the 'high-pressure exhaustive' blow.

NozzleTwister
Houston, Texas

 

[CW3]

NozzleTwister,

Yep......much sexier and a lot more fun than the continuous low-rumble water-quenched non-exciting kind.