Monthly Archives: October 2014

John Inglis Boiler operation

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[Special thanks to Instructor Jim Nelson for reviewing this set of procedures and making helpful suggestions.]

Procedures for starting & stopping the John Inglis boiler in SAIT’s power engineering lab. This checklist is currently correct (as of October 18, 2014), but may be subject to change in the future.

Start-up (pre-checks)

  1. Check steam pressure.
    1. If performing a cold start in which boiler pressure is zero, open the air vent. (This will allow air to enter the boiler and relieve any vacuum.)
  2. Check that boiler water level is OK. (If the level is too high, the boiler should be blown down. If too low, more water must be introduced to the boiler.)
  3. Pilot line valve should be OFF.
  4. Main gas valve should be OFF.
  5. Emergency shutoff switch should be not be engaged (ie: the system should be operable).
  6. Forced draft (FD) fan should be ON.
  7. Burner system switch should be ON.

Start-up (Purge)

  1. On right-hand-side (RHS) computer monitor, check that gas flow is ZERO.
  2. On the RHS computer monitor, bring air flow to 100% using the >> icon. A green light on the LHS computer monitor indicates that the furnace purge is in progress.
  3. Watch for the Purge Complete light on the John Inglis panel to turn yellow (alternatively, watch for this indication on the left computer monitor). This should occur after about 1 ½ minutes.
  4. On the RHS computer monitor, quickly bring the air flow to 0% using the << icon.

Start-up

The next few steps are time-dependent, and need to be performed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

  1. Turn the pilot line valve ON.
  2. Watch for the yellow Ignition light on the John Inglis panel to activate.
  3. Look through the furnace glass in the front of the boiler. Check that the pilot flame is ON.
  4. Move to the left side of the boiler and turn the manual solenoid switch OFF.
  5. Listen for actuator clicks. The burner ignition system is opening the gas valves in sequence.
  6. Turn the manual solenoid lever switch ON. (Swing the solenoid lever to the left. You should encounter some resistance from the lever while doing so.)
  7. Move to the front of the boiler, and slowly turn ON the main gas line with the valve wrench. (If this is done too quickly, the rush of gas could extinguish the pilot light). Open fully.
  8. Return the valve wrench to its holder.
  9. Move to the back of the boiler, and check that the main burner is ON.
  10. Move to the front of the boiler, and turn off the pilot light valve.
  11. Check that the water level in the deaerator is adequate. If not:
    1. Check that the zeolite softener lines to the deaerator are CLOSED.
    2. Fast rinse the zeolite softener and the sampling tap for a minute or two.
    3. Rinse the sample casserole and stir stick a few times with water from the zeolite softener.
    4. Take a sample, and test for hardness.
    5. If the sample contains HARD water, regenerate the zeolite softener.
    6. If the sample contains SOFT water, OPEN the zeolite softener lines to the deaerator.
  12. Start the boiler feedwater pump and begin sending boiler feedwater to the boiler by adjusting the drum water level on the RHS computer monitor.
  13. At this point, the operator will need to pressurize the High Pressure Steam header.
  14. If performing a cold start, wait until steam strongly emerges from the vent. Close the vent.

Operation

  1. If performing a cold start, warm the boiler up slowly. This entails running at minimum fire (Gas = 0, Air = 0) until boiler pressure reaches 20 psi. The Air and Gas can then be gradually increased to about 30 each.
  2. When increasing the fire rate, increase Air and Gas in equal amounts – with Air added first, followed by Gas.
  3. When decreasing the fire rate, decrease Air and Gas in equal amounts – with Gas subtracted first, followed by Air.

Shut-down

  1. Turn OFF the main gas valve with the valve wrench. The Burner Off alarm will activate within 15 seconds.
  2. Turn OFF the FD fan switch.
  3. Turn OFF the burner switch.
  4. Wait for the Burner Off alarm.
  5. Hold the red Reset button for 3 seconds to turn off the Burner Off alarm. (Do not hold down continuously, or the Burner Off alarm will continue to sound until the Reset button is released!)
  6. If shutting down for the night:
    1. Shut down the Boiler Feedwater system:
      1. Close the discharge valve of the Feed Water Pump.
      2. Turn OFF the Feed Water Pump.
      3. Close the Feed Water valve at the front of the boiler.
    2. Close outlet valve on zeolite softener.
    3. Climb to the top of the boiler, and close the Screw-Down Non-Return Valve supplying boiler steam to the High Pressure Steam header.
    4. Crack the header drains.
    5. Close the Continuous Blowdown valve, or the boiler will continuously drain water all night long.
    6. Make certain that the Intermittent Blowdown valves are closed, or the boiler will lose water within a very short time.
    7. When High Pressure Steam header is at 0 psi, open all header drains fully.
    8. Turn OFF gauge glass light.

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