STEAM BLOWING

OBJECTIVE
Steam blowing of MS lines, CRH,HRH,SH,RH,HP & LP bypass pipe lines of
turbine is carried out in order to remove welding slag, loose foreign
materials, iron pieces, rust etc. from the system, generated during
manufacturing, transportation & erection.

PRINCIPLE OF STEAM BLOWING

To ensure that sufficient cleaning forces are applied to the piping, the
steam momentum during the steam blow must be equal to or greater than
the steam momentum at normal maximum load condition. The Cleaning
Force Ratio (CFR) is typically used to evaluate if satisfactory blow
conditions are obtained.

PRECONDITIONS FOR STEAM LINE

BLOWING

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

Chemical cleaning should be completed

SH primary and secondary de-superheater piping and
RHs emergency de-superheater piping ready for
operation
All permanent piping & temporary piping insulated
and supports/hangers are released with cold setting
Silencer should be connected at temporary pipe exit
Soot blowing for APH should be available
Make up for deaerator made ready
Motor Driven BFP with all controls made ready

8) Hydraulic test of the following lines completed:

*Feed Lines
* MS, HRH, CRH Lines
* MS to Aux. PRDS Line
* All other auxiliary lines identified for steam
blowing
9) Sampling system made ready
10) All safety valve disc installed after removing
hydro-static plug in drum(sub-critical),
superheaters and reheaters
11) Adequate communication between control room,
boiler and TG area ensured.

12) Flow nozzle, control valves and NRV flaps wherever

applicable should be not erected before steam blowing and
suitable spool pieces are erected. Strainers in the path
should be removed.
13) Required number of Target Plates and holder made
available

BASIC TECHNIQUE USED

1) PUFFING METHOD
2) PURGING METHOD / CONTINEOUS BLOW
METHOD

PUFFING METHOD

To give a thermal shock to the contour being purged, to

dislodge the scale etc.
Procedure: Raise the boiler pressure to a pre-determined value
(40-60 kg/cm2), shut off firing and at the same time open the
quick opening valve(EOTV), thus allowing the steam to
escape to atm. with high velocity carrying with it the loose
debris.

CONTINEOUS BLOWING
METHOD

The initial procedure is same as puffing

method except shutting off the firing
during blowing.
Continuous firing till the completion of
steam blowing.
Maintain constant pressure during the
blow

STAGES
Steam blowing done in stages
Stage-1(a)- SH, MSL, ESV, temporary lines
from ESV to EOTV, EOTV to CRH line, CRH lines
upto boiler end with temporary exhaust pipe.
stage 1a end point will be concluded by
observing the indents on the target plate.

STAGE- 1(a)

STAGE- 1(b)
SH,MSL, HP bypass inter connection, hand
operated valve mounted in place of HP bypass
valve and CRH lines upto Boiler end with
temporary exhaust piping.
In this stage 6 to 8 blows will be given through HP
bypass lines to ensure cleanliness of the limb.
EOTV will be kept closed. Manually Operated
Isolation Valves in HP bypass lines will be kept
opened fully.

STAGE- 1(b)

STAGE-2(a)
1a plus reheater, HRH lines , Interceptor
Valve and temporary pipe.
CRH line along with attemperator shall be
welded with reheater before start of stage 2a.
LP bypass lines shall be blanked during stage
2a. Stage 2a end point will be concluded by
observing the indents on target plates

STAGE- 2(a)

STAGE- 2(b)
2a upto IV + LP bypass lines with temporary
exhaust pipe.
Stage 2b blowing will be parallel blow in the
path 2a & 2b. LP Bypass blanks shall be removed
for stage 2b. 4 blows will be given through L.P.
Bypass line to ensure cleanliness of the limbs

STAGE- 2(b)

TARGET PLATE
Generally Stainless steel panel
Target plate set at the first, sixth, ninth, twelfth purging,
thereafter set target for each purging until purging results
qualified .
Width about 8% of the steam vent tubes inner diameter(ID)
and length equal to ID
Brinell hardness < 90
Steam velocity 258 m/sec
Target plates to be introduced just before steam blowing /
light upto be removed soon after blowing is completed.

STEAM BLOWING COMPLETION

CRITERIA
At least 2 continuous target plates should not have
ORIFICE GRANULARITY on the target shall be not larger
than 0.8 mm
No impacts with a diameter larger than 1 mm.
Not more than 4 impacts with a diameter larger than 0.5
mm.
Not more than 10 impacts with a diameter of 0.2 to 0.5 mm
.

Pre Step # 1 : MS Line Steam Blowing

ESV
MSV
Martyr V/v
ESV

MSV

HP Bypass

Final SH

MS Line

CRH Drain
Pot

CRH NRV

IP SV
HRH Line

CRH Line
RH O/L Hdr

Open

Close

Martyr Valve

LP Bypass

Final SH

Martyr V/v

LPBP V/ v

Steam Blow Line

Temporary Line

Pre Step # 2 : HPBP / CRH Line Steam Blowing

ESV
MSV
Martyr V/v

MS Line

ESV
MSV

HP Bypass

CRH Drain
Pot

CRH NRV

IP SV
HRH Line

CRH Line
RH O/L Hdr

Open

Close

Steam Blow Line

Temporary Line

Martyr Valve

LP Bypass

Final SH

Final SH

Martyr V/v

Main Step # 1 : HRH Line Steam Blowing

ESV
MSV
Martyr V/v

MS Line

ESV
MSV

HP Bypass

CRH Drain
Pot

CRH NRV

IP SV
HRH Line

CRH Line
RH O/L Hdr

Open

Close

Steam Blow Line

Temporary Line

Martyr Valve

LP Bypass

Final SH

Final SH

Martyr V/v

Main Step # 2 :LPBP Line Steam Blowing

ESV
MSV
Martyr V/v

MS Line

ESV
MSV

HP Bypass

CRH Drain
Pot

CRH NRV

IP SV
HRH Line

CRH Line
RH O/L Hdr

Open

Close

Steam Blow Line

Temporary Line

Martyr Valve

LP Bypass

Final SH

Final SH

Martyr V/v

THANK

YOU