PROCEDURE FOR STEAM BLOWING

Steam Line Blowing

Blowing of steam line shall be done after chemical cleaning of steam lines (if applicable). This
section identifies the minimum requirements for the cleaning of steam piping with steam blowing.

Introduction
The purpose of steam blowing is to remove weld bead deposits, pipe slag, other foreign material
and iron oxides, etc. from steam piping upstream of the turbines (other sensitive equipment) to
minimize the possibility of equipment damage. Particles carried by steam will plug turbine strainers
and will affect the turbine performance. Larger objects could damage or tear the strainer and pass
objects through which could result in damage to the turbine blades and wear to its internals.

A number of Steam Blow Cycles will be required for each set of piping. Each Steam Blow Cycle
consists of heating, blowing steam through and cooling the related piping until the steam is free of
debris, a clean system is obtained. The inherent design of the unit should allow steam to be
supplied from the boiler with the necessary temporary piping, materials, and silencer to satisfy a
steam blowing operation.

The effectiveness of cleaning is determined by the use of a polished target properly located in
temporary piping. Solid particles carried by the steam blow impact the target and produce pits on
the target surface. The target is then analyzed by visual observation. This observation is concerned
with the amount and size of all pits on the target. A decision is made with regard to the line being
adequately clean, signifying the termination of that particular steam blow.

As a precautionary measure, after steam blowing, it is recommended that an engineered fine mesh
screen be attached to the coarse screen in the inlet strainer casing at each turbine main stop and
combined reheat, if applicable, valve. This fine mesh screen is ONLY a temporary device that
helps to collect foreign particles and debris not removed by the steam blowing during the initial
operation of the unit and MUST be removed after full load operation is achieved, normally at the
next shutdown of that piece of equipment.

Prerequisites to an Effective Steam Blow:

The necessary Steam Blowing Procedure outlining how the steam blows will be conducted must be
developed and reviewed with all involved personnel. It is important that this procedure incorporate
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all related equipment interfaces, safety precautions, and the Steam Blow Target Acceptance
Criteria.
A summary of the calculated system pressures and velocities for each phase of the steam blowing
operation must be included in the written procedure presented to involved personnel. This allows
verification of the pressures to be used during the actual operation. The procedure will also serve to
inform the involved personnel of the pressures required for adequate steam blowing of the piping at
each phase.

The Steam Blowing Procedure is to include P&IDs with each phase of the steam blow identified on
them. The P&IDs will identify such things as:
• Which valves are to be removed
• Instrumentation to be removed
• The direction and routing of the blows
• The sequence of the blows
• Amount of steam flow for each blow
• The installation of temporary spools and piping
• The installation points of the silencers
• The equipment affected by the steam blows
• Any other information deemed necessary

A sufficient quantity of polished targets, normally stainless steel, but aluminum or copper may be
used, with two or more opposing sides polished to obtain multiple uses must be available. Square
stock polished on all four sides has also been used successfully.

Cleaning Effect:
During a steam blow the product of the values of velocity and density of the steam at any point in
the pipe is constant according to the law of mass conservation. At the exit of the pipe, the velocity
is very high, most of the time sonic. The density is low but as the drag force is proportional to the
square of the velocity, the effect of high velocity is prevailing and the cleaning effect is excellent.
The Drag Force Equation's primary concern is the cleaning disturbance factor - C. This factor is
defined as follows:

C = drag force cleaning / drag force operating = ρ1(V1)² / ρ2(V2)²

Where:
ρ1 = density of cleaning medium

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V1 = velocity of cleaning medium
ρ2 = density of normal operating fluid
V2 = max. velocity of operating fluid during upset cases
C measures the flushing or blowing effectiveness and its value must be > 1, ideally > 1.5

The place where the velocity and hence the cleaning effect will be at minimum is at the point
following the Throttling Valve which controls the flow during the steam blowing. Therefore, the drag
force comparison should be made at the throttling valve (within 2 to 3 meters of the valve).

The mass velocity developed during the actual steam blowing operation must be verified to be
correct by the recording of the system pressures at the inlet to the steam blow throttling valves and
at the discharge of the temporary blow down pipe. This will confirm that the proper mass velocity
was attained.

Steam Blow Preparations

Do not blow contaminated steam through exchangers or other equipment in which debris might
become lodged. Steam must be exhausted upstream of any equipment until clean.
Control valves, de-superheaters, or any equipment, which might be damaged or plugged by
entrained particles in the steam flow, must be removed. Pipe spools should be fabricated and
installed in their place (temporary pipe spools must conform to the piping class of the lines being
blown). Precautions must be taken to protect equipment.
Examples are:
• Check valve internals removed
• Orifice plates removed
• Thermocouples and instrumentation removed
• Strainer baskets removed
• All control valves must be removed
• Atomizing nozzles removed
• Other equipment susceptible to steam blow damage
Steam is to be exhausted as close to the turbine inlet as possible. The trip and throttle valve may be
removed to provide a good exhaust point. The steam is to be opened to the piping and blown at
least 10 to 15 minutes after maximum piping temperature is attained. The piping is then to be
cooled to at least ½ the maximum temperature attained during the steam blow.

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Steam Blow Target Acceptance Criteria
Acceptable discoloration is only as a result of heat discoloration (i.e., heat being applied to cold
rolled steel) and not because of black iron oxide carried in the steam. The target is to be polished
stainless steel or aluminum with a cross sectional area approximately 10% of the pipe cross
sectional area. There must be a sufficient number of targets available so as not to delay the Steam
Blowing Procedures.

The duration of the steam blows with a target in place is to be at least 15 minutes. The number of
un-raised pits allowed will be five or less. No pits resulting in raising of metal above the target
surface are permitted. Since turbulent flow will exist, the number of acceptable un-raised pits is
restricted to an area on the target inside 85% of the radius, from the pipe center. That is the area on
the target experiencing greater than average velocity. Any pits outside of this area will
cause rejection of the target. A total of five consecutive targets with less than five un-raised pits per
target must be obtained to conclude that no additional cleaning will be accomplished by continuing
the Steam Blowing Process. This comparison will consist of collecting THREE CONSECUTIVE
TARGETS, allowing the permanent piping to cool for a 24-hour period. Then reheating and finally
collecting the last TWO CONSECUTIVE TARGETS.

NOTE
If any of these targets exceed the pitting criteria, further steam blows must be performed to
obtain the correct number of acceptable targets in the specified sequence.
The targets, once removed for inspection are to be labeled with the target location, the number of
the blow taken, date, time, and the Inspectors' Name and their conclusion. Various target bracing
and securing techniques are to be approved by all of the responsible personnel.

NOTE: -
(1) It is presumed that the steam lines which were subjected to Chemical Cleaning have been
ensured that the by-pass drains of the steam traps are clear and not blocked & the Traps
are kept isolated by their inlet block valves. Normally, during the first step of water flushing
of Chemical Cleaning activity, the block valves of the by-pass drains of traps, drains and
steam traps are kept fully closed in the beginning of water flushing to ensure that the
mechanical impurities and other foreign material present inside the piping do not plug the
small drain lines. The drain line valves are to be opened and flushed only at the end of the
water flushing activity so as to ensure their clear passage/opening.

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(2) During steam line blowing, the steam traps must be kept isolated by their inlet block valves.
The traps are to be lined up only after few days of normal operation of steam lines at their
respective pressure and temperature .So, during warming up and blowing the steam lines,
the by-pass drains of the traps are to be used for removing the line condensate.
(3) Ensure desired flushing by target plate testing particularly for Steam Turbine inlet lines.

Safety and Environmental Precautions

Exhaust steam should be directed into a collection bin able to withstand the rigors of a steam blow.
It must allow the steam to vent up and any condensate to drain out the bottom. Installation of
temporary elbows or stacks may be required. Ensure that all lines are adequately braced and
supported. During initial warm-up of the piping, thermal cycle, inspect lines for any expansion
restrictions and for possible leaks.

Steam is not to be opened suddenly into a cool line. A bypass valve should be installed to slowly
warm-up the line prior to blowing. All bleed valves should be opened to drain condensate from the
line, reducing the incidence of water hammer. The target brackets are to be designed to withstand
the force of the exhaust steam at sonic velocity. The steam exhaust area must be roped off and
access restricted.

Hearing protection must be provided in the affected area. Temporary and insinuated piping must be
roped off and / or tagged. Steam silencers should be used at all times and locations, whenever
possible.