Steel boiler problems

[Mark SalzedoParticipant @marksalzedo65030]

Steel boiler problems

[Mark SalzedoParticipant @marksalzedo65030]

Hello,

I would be grateful for some advice from anyone who has experience with steel boilers.

I have a 5" diameter, multi-tubed, stainless steel coal-fired boiler. There appears to be some sediment in the boiler as the water in the water gauge has a brownish-red pigment. I probably need to thoroughly clean the boiler out with some sort of cleaner. Does anyone have any ideas on the best application to use? And, if so, how is it applied?

Also, the boiler is taking an inordinate amount of time to raise steam with an external blower. It took 30 minutes for the pressure gauge to read 25 psi. It may be that my external blower is not powerful enough to create a sufficient draught.

Many thanks,

Mark

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

How old is the boiler, is it taking a lot longer than when it was new? It may be that it has a build up of gunk/calcium, if so I'd treat it with citric acid, but there are others that will tell you more of how to overcome your problem. Ian S C

[mgjParticipant @mgj]

How big is the boiler in terms of volume. A lot of things will affect how long it takes to raise steam, but if its any consolation, my 3" Little Samson takes about 40 minutes to raise steam to the full 125 psi. About 30 minutes to get 25 psi on the clock ready to switch over to the steam blower. The electric blower is one of those very common 12/24 volt ones, run at 24 volts. At 12 volts life is very slow.

I think that boiler takes about a gallon

The red – might that not be anti scale colouring the water? Tannins that is.

Edited By mgj on 08/04/2012 08:46:13

[SteamshyParticipant @steamshy]

Best cleaned out with citric acid, it may not remove all the stains but should remove most of them, In large boilers citric acid is used to chemically clean the boiler on completion of build, so know it works, It depends on the source of water that your using in your boiler which may be giving you a build up of scale, If possible the best feedwater apart from distilled water is rainwater, its reasonably soft so contains little or no additives tapwater contains.

Andy

[Mark SalzedoParticipant @marksalzedo65030]

I had a go at cleaning out the boiler today and a lot of reddish brown sediment poured out. I then swept out the flues and topped the boiler up with clean water. After 60 minutes I am sure the pressure gauge needle hadn't come off the stops. Perhaps my external blower just isn't up to the job.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Can you post some picture sas that may show something obvious to us that you are missing like the damper being closed or firedoor left open.

How are you lighting the fire and what are you using ?

J

Edited By JasonB on 08/04/2012 20:31:04

[Mark SalzedoParticipant @marksalzedo65030]

Hello,

I have uploaded some photos. I am lighting the fire with small pieces of charcoal soaked overnight in paraffin. I use small pieces of Welsh steam coal.

I don't think I am doing anything out of the ordinary. But it may be that my external blower is not up to the job.

Many thanks,

Mark

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I can't see on the photos how air gets in below the grate, is there some form of flap or grille. If not try it for now without the ash draw below the grate. You need a source of air below the grate for your blower to draw through the fire.

Does look like it could have had a few more tubes fitted as there is a lot of unused tubeplate area.

Was this the one that was up for sale recently, did you see it steaming before you bought it?

J

Edited By JasonB on 09/04/2012 07:41:17

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I wonder if you have checked that the pressure gauge is OK, it maybe blocked, or the pipe connecting it to the boiler. Ian S C

[Mark SalzedoParticipant @marksalzedo65030]

I have put the steam plant up for sale on the Model Engineer site at £175.00 if anyone is interested.

[MICHAEL WILLIAMSParticipant @michaelwilliams41215]

You really need to find out what that red sediment is before steaming boiler again or selling it . It might be a harmless mineral deposit from local water but it could also be rust , copper oxides or Hermatite . Try filtering some through tissue paper and examining it carefully .

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Or it could just be boiler treatment, sound sabout the right colour.

J

[Mark SalzedoParticipant @marksalzedo65030]

Can I just thank everyone who kindly submitted their suggestions.

[John LintornParticipant @johnlintorn87585]

Just a quick question with regard to any steel boiler, model or full size, how on earth don’t they just rust through with a few years? Or is there a chemical added to the feed water? I’ve always wondered about this?

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