Keeping the heat recovery surfaces of a process heater clean is crucial to optimium performance, particularly in helping to reduce stack temperature. However, according to an article in ChemicalProcessing.com, few operators recognise the importance of this.
Installing soot blowers in process heaters is a proven way to keep the heat recovery surfaces clean. By their very nature though, steam soot blowers can be difficult to maintain and this is an example where sonic soot blowing can be a preferable option. Essentially an audiosonics-based technology, sonic soot blowers require little, if any, maintenance and because there is no steam involved, there is also no risk of corrosion or erosion as can happen with steam soot blowers.
For more detailed reading here is a link to the article in full
Take a Fresh Look at Your Process Heaters -- Part 2
Ven V. Venkatesan, Energy Columnist
"Three simple steps can help reduce stack temperature"
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Soot Blower Cleaning Of Heat Recovery Surfaces
