Boilers are steam and energy generating equipment that always work under high pressure. This is exactly why they are susceptible to failures, accidents and performance reductions. For this reason boiler maintenance must represent a constant need within industries.
However, as important as boiler maintenance is the company's ability to correctly diagnose and monitor these energy-generating equipment. Only then will she have better information about when, why and how to carry out maintenance, in addition to the type of service that must be performed.
Know then the real importance of boiler maintenance and why the qualitative analysis and constant monitoring of this equipment are important factors for effective maintenance.
Boiler maintenance: Why is it so important?
Boiler maintenance represents an important part for the proper functioning of any type of industry that uses this equipment. This importance is mainly due to some aspects.
The first aspect is directly related to the safety of operations. Boilers always work under high pressure, so they have safety devices that must be properly maintained. Otherwise, they could have serious accidents, which could even culminate in tragic explosions.
This can be avoided by correctly performing maintenance on: safety valves, water level control electrodes, measurement sensors (level transmitters, pressure and temperature transmitters)
Another aspect is related to boiler efficiency losses and technical failures that cause equipment downtime for long periods, mainly due to lack of maintenance. This fact will mean a loss of money, as it will compromise the daily generation of energy and, consequently, the generation of income for the industry.
It is also worth mentioning that every boiler is susceptible to various types of problems that may arise over time, causing failures and reduced performance.
Among these problems we can mention: Corrosion, Erosion, Abrasion, Overheating, Mechanical and Thermal Fatigue and Combustion Efficiency Losses.
These occurrences can be discovered and corrected with an efficient diagnosis, through equipment for measuring the variables that influence the operation and combustion of the boiler.
These diagnoses can be performed in several ways, for example:
Analyze the factors that may be harming combustion (oxygen analysis, CO2 analysis and CO analysis), causing increased fuel consumption (biomass, oil and gas)
Perform routine combustion adjustments according to gas analysis;
Verification of the moisture content of the fuel used (mainly biomass), which will help in better control of combustion;
Such processes make it possible to anticipate problems, ensuring greater operator safety, and increasing energy efficiency, improving combustion efficiency and reducing fuel consumption and reducing operating costs.
Operational Diagnostics: As important as maintenance
In fact, boiler maintenance is essential in every industry that depends on this equipment, however, just as important as maintenance is the ability to make an accurate diagnosis beforehand.
It will be through this operational diagnosis that the engineer and maintenance technicians will have more information to support more assertive decision making regarding maintenance and boiler efficiency.
This diagnosis will make it possible to collect data on the functioning of the boiler, such as fuel consumption, boiler efficiency and all the variables that influence combustion.
These and many other data, in addition to causing a reduction in fuel consumption, will contribute to a greater monitoring of the efficiency of the equipment, exerting a direct influence on the need or not for maintenance in boilers.
0
