Slag is molten ash and incombustible

byproducts that remain following

coal combustion. When the material
cools to a certain temperature, it can
stick to furnace components, such as
waterwalls, which is called slagging.

 Fouling is generally caused by the

vaporization of volatile inorganic elements
in the coal during combustion. When heat is
aborbed and temperatures decrease in the
convection area of the boiler, compounds
formed by these elements condense on ash
particles and heating surface, forming a
glue which initiate deposition.

PROBLEMS CAUSED BY
SOOT
Reduced efficiency
Soot deposited on the heating surfaces of a boiler
acts as a heat insulator due to which less heat is
transferred to the water to raise steam and more heat
is wasted up to the chimney.
Higher fuel consumption and/or poor steaming.
Soot fire
it can cause localized hotspots to occur in the
tubes. These hotspots may reach temperatures that
weaken the materials of the tubes.

WHAT IS SOOT BLOWER ??

Soot blower is a device used for
removing soot build-up on boiler
tubes, superheater, reheater, air
preheater typically associated with
fossil fuel burning and power
generation.

WORKING PRINCIPLE

It directs a stream or
a number of streams
as cleaning medium
at the ash deposits so
that they get
dislodged by impact
of jets called peak
impact pressure.
PIP depends on the

nozzle size and

configuration.
fluid pressure and
temperature

DEPOSIT REMOVAL
MECHANISM
Debonding
When jet strength > adhesion strength
Used in fouling

Brittle fracture
When jet strength > tensile strength
Used in slagging.

SOOT BLOWING MEDIUM

Superheated steam at 21 bar and
atleast 15C to 30 C superheat.
Compressed Air (25 35 bar
pressure)
Sound waves (350 Hz frequency)

SOOT COLLECTION POINTS

Furnace wall and boiler tubes.

Superheater tubes.
Economiser tubes.
Air preheater tube.

SOOT BLOWING CONSIDERATIONS

High FEGT
Size of boiler
Soot blowing medium
Time period for cleaning
Type and quality of fuel used
Type of blowing (stacked or single)
Highest soot blower capacity
requirement

TYPES OF SOOT BLOWERS

RETRACTABLE SOOT BLOWER

WALL DESLAGGER
ROTARY SOOT BLOWER
SONIC SOOT BLOWER

RETRACTABLE SOOT
BLOWER

 Used in Convection zone

superheater, reheater, LTSH,
economiser.
Lance is having a rotary as well as
transverse motion
unit may be mounted vertically or
horizontally.
Temp. range > 800o C

CONSTRUCTIONAL
FEATURES

Travelling carriage
Poppet valve
Wall box and seal box assembly
Nozzle head
Two drive motors.

POPPET VALVE

WALL BOX AND SEAL BOX ASSEMBLY

NOZZLE HEAD

 Type of soot blower

Temp. range
Limit switch

with
mechanical stopper
Steam consumption
Blowing pressure
Lance tube speed (m/min)
rotary
Discharge nozzle
Nos., 90o
Effective blowing radius
Type of mounting on wall
Type of operation

Long retractable soot blower

Above 800 C
Mechanical contact heavy duty

357 Kg/hr
21 Kg/cm 2 Max.
2.7 transverse and 2.6
12 to 19 mm Dia., 4
2000 mm
Stationary type
Manual or motorised

WALL DESLAGGER

Used for cleaning Furnace walls

both air and steam can be used
Works in high temp. zone
Full 360 degree blowing circle.
Travel of 305mm
2 Motor Drive (1 for Rotary + 1
Traverse motion)
Less non blowing time.

1. Removable Swivel Tube

eliminates the need for a feed tube and travelling
packing gland.
Reduced packing failure,bushing wear and swivel
tube deflection.
2. Fixed bearing
Eliminate nozzle whip.
help maintain alignment yet allow full use of
blowing medium.
All bearings are sealed and no lubrication fittings
are required.

3. Two Guide Rods

support and maintain alignment of the
travelling gear box.
4. Heavy Gauge steel cover
protects rack, guide rods and swivel tube
thereby permitting installation indoors or
outdoors without requiring a change in
equipment.
5. Oil filled and sealed gear boxes
6. Two motor drive.

Type of soot blower

Blowing angle
Effective cleaning radius
Steam pressure
Steam consumption
Lance tube speed
Speed
Poppet valve
Operating temp.
Limit switches
movement
Helical movement
box
Nozzle size and angle
70o
Motor rating

Wall deslagger
360 degree
1800 mm
21 Kg/cm 2 max.
357 Kg/ hr
2.7 m /min
3 rpm
Provided (IBR certified)
Up to 1200 o C
Heavy duty linear
With motor and gear
12-19 mm Dia., 4 Nos.,
0.50

ROTARY SOOT BLOWER

Used in low temp.
gas zones as air
preheaters and ID
fan bank tubes.
Only rotary motion
no translation.
Compact in
comparison
Less expensive .
Less favourable
cleaning

 Type of soot blower

Temp range
Length of lance element
construction
Effective cleaning radius
Blowing angle
360o
Blowing medium
Pressure
Blowing time
Rotary speed

Rotary soot blower

Less than 700 o C
6000 mm in one piece
1800 mm
Adjustable up to
Steam
21 Kg/cm2 Max.
3 min
3 RPM

PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH

STEAM SOOT BLOWERS
soot spikes due to ash sintering on
tubes.
structural damage to tube bundles
or boiler structure
tube corrosion problems
Tube erosion problems
Presence of harsh leading edges.
high maintenance or operational
costs

 frequencies ranging from 350 Hz down to

60 Hz by the design and length of the horn
section, producing the desired sound
frequency at a sound level approaching
200 dB.
The sonic soot blower is usually sounded
for a few seconds at intervals of between 3
and 10 minutes.
This sounding pattern is normally
controlled via the plants PLC.

TROUBLESHOOTING
Problem : overheating of lance tube
Reasons :
Inadequate steam flow due to
Valve stem pitting
Low pressure setting on individual blower
Low header pressure

More gas temperature.

Wrong erection of blower

Problem : leakage of steam through glands

Reasons:
Failure of Seal
Lance tube Erosion
Problem : chain breakage
Reasons :
Wearing of chain links
Substandard chain and chain links
Chain rubbing with rear end plate

 Bending of Lance Tube:

Bending due to external forces
Material Weakness, improper balancing
Nozzle Rupturing:
Presence of minute particulates in the
steam
Friction between nozzle surface and steam
Motor failure
Limit switch failure etc.

Oscillating
Sootblower

Effective cleaning
of tenacious
fouling of specific
segments at
heating surface
banks with high
flue gas
temperatures

Multi Media
Sootblower

effective cleaning
of gas and air
heaters by means
of steam or air and
water
powerful but
selective cleaning
of superheater with
heavy slagging