Table of Contents
- What Equipment Goes Into B&W’s Air Blowing Services?
- Breaking Down B&W’s Air Blowing Process
- The Proven B&W Air Blowing Advantage
Although air blowing services are an effective method for removing post-construction debris and cleaning during MRO events, not all air blowing procedures are created equal. With decades of experience cleaning critical systems for clients around the world, see how we’ve elevated our air blowing procedure for piping with proprietary equipment and expert engineering.
What Equipment Goes Into B&W’s Air Blowing Services?
The key to B&W’s air blowing and pulse flushing services is our proprietary pulse unit. It’s a 20-foot container that consists of:
- A code-stamped 450 ft3 (12.7 m3) pressure vessel acting as the air receiver
- A code-stamped 30 ft3 (0.85 m3) pressure vessel acting as the pulse former
- A safety valve to prevent overpressurization
- A quick-opening valve useful for air blowing on short runs of piping
Our pulse unit has all the required valves, interconnecting pipe, gauges, controls and fittings fully assembled and ready for operation the moment it arrives at your facility. It’s also completely containerized and can be easily transported on a truck or a forklift around your facility to perform air blows on multiple systems.
To effectively clean large-bore piping systems up to one kilometer long, our team can also connect multiple pulse units and combine two 450 ft3 (12.7 m3) air receiver pressure vessels. When the two receivers are pressurized to 150 psig, 10,083 ft3 (285.5 m3) of compressed air is available for decompression air blowing or pulse air blowing.
Our engineers also design our own pneumatic quick-opening blow valves for decompression air blowing, debris separators and pneumatic target inserters that measure the cleanliness of your systems post-air blow. Our air compressors work together with our desiccant dryers to remove any water from your facility’s systems following hydrotesting or other procedures.
Breaking Down B&W’s Air Blowing Process
So, how do all of these parts work together to make our air blowing services happen? Here’s our air blowing process in a nutshell.
Step 1: Our engineers assess your systems and create a custom air blowing program that considers your facility’s unique requirements and specifies how to split up filters, filter separators, heaters, compressors and more. With over 20 years of experience performing air blows on a variety of systems, including fuel gas systems in power plants, we understand how stringent these air blowing requirements are, and we’re diligent in adhering to your facility’s criteria.
Step 2: The B&W team uses AFT Arrow, a hydraulic modeling software program, to model our air blows. This allows us to determine the maximum velocity that can get through your pipeline, compare the conditions of our air blows to the operating conditions of your system and more. We understand the importance of planning on the front end to eliminate costly delays and change orders down the road.
Step 3: Once your custom air blowing program is complete, our team travels to your site with our air compressors, air receivers, desiccant dryers, debris separators, pneumatic quick-opening blow valves, pneumatic target inserters, fully containerized pulse units and anything else we need to execute air blowing services on your facility.
Step 4: Upon arriving at your facility, we hook up our air compressor to both the air receiver that’s part of our pulse unit and the section of your facility that requires air blows. Our team inserts a metal plate target in the pipeline to assess the effectiveness of the air blows. Then, we pressurize the pipeline and release the quick-opening valve at the end of the line. All the air in the air receiver will run through the piping system, and the air that’s currently in the line will be released.
Step 5: Depending on how many components within your facility require air blows, our team continues to execute the process described in Step 4 as needed based on the criteria for your facility’s systems.
The Proven B&W Air Blowing Advantage
Some folks take an air compressor to a pipeline, pressurize it, release whatever air is currently in the pipeline and call it an air blow. At B&W, we disagree with that definition.
Since the highest velocity is typically at the end of your pipeline, pieces of debris at the start of the line probably won’t move all the way down and make it out of the system. That’s why our team utilizes both an air compressor and an air receiver to introduce new air to pipelines and remove even the smallest bits of debris from your piping systems.
Don’t settle for hammers, two-by-fours and other junk left behind in your piping systems. Even the smallest debris can cause a lot of damage to your facility’s components.
Whether you need air blowing for pre-commissioning cleaning services or maintenance cleaning services, count on B&W’s air blowing services for a thorough, precise clean every time.
FAQs
How does air blowing remove debris from piping systems?
Air blowing removes debris by introducing high volumes of compressed air through piping systems to dislodge and propel construction materials, water, sand, dirt and other contaminants out of the line.
B&W Energy Services uses both an air compressor and a large air receiver rather than just pressurizing the existing pipe. Our proprietary pulse units store up to 450 cubic feet of compressed air in code-stamped pressure vessels, then release it rapidly through quick-opening valves. This creates high-velocity airflow that reaches even the debris at the beginning of long pipe runs, unlike simple pressurization methods that achieve maximum velocity only at the end of the pipe.
The process is repeated multiple times through engineered flow paths and sequences until metal target plates inserted in the line show acceptable cleanliness levels, confirming debris removal meets project specifications.
Is air blowing safe for all pipe materials and sizes?
Air blowing is safe for virtually all pipe materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, and various alloys, when properly engineered with appropriate pressures and procedures.
B&W Energy Services engineers each air blowing program to ensure pressures remain within safe limits for your specific pipe specifications and materials. Our team performs hydraulic modeling to calculate maximum velocities and pressure differentials, ensuring pipe supports and restraints can handle reaction forces during blowing.
Small-bore piping (two to four inches) through large-bore headers (24 inches or more) can all be safely cleaned using air blowing, provided the correct method is selected. However, proper engineering is critical because compressed air represents stored energy that must be carefully controlled.
B&W’s procedures address all safety considerations, including proper restraint verification, pressure relief provisions, personnel exclusion zones during blowing operations and phased pressurization to verify system integrity before full-pressure air blows start.
What equipment is needed for professional air blowing services?
Professional air blowing requires:
- Air compressors sized for system volume
- Large air receivers to store compressed air
- Quick-opening blow valves
- Desiccant dryers for moisture removal
- Debris separators to capture expelled materials
- Pneumatic target inserters to verify cleanliness
- Extensive temporary piping and fittings
B&W Energy Services provides proprietary 20-foot containerized pulse units that house code-stamped, 450-cubic-foot pressure vessels, safety valves, interconnecting piping, controls and quick-opening valves, all pre-assembled and ready for immediate operation upon arrival.
Our equipment is designed and built in-house by our engineering team specifically for air blowing applications. Multiple pulse units can be connected to deliver greater air volumes for large-scale projects.
We also provide all necessary air compressors, desiccant drying systems, custom pneumatic valves and instrumentation. Our fully containerized approach means equipment can be easily moved by truck or forklift around your facility to efficiently clean multiple systems.
Can air blowing damage sensitive equipment or instruments?
When properly executed with correct procedures and isolation, air blowing will not damage sensitive equipment or instruments.
The key is proper system isolation. All sensitive instruments, control valves, flow meters, filters and downstream equipment must be removed or isolated with blank flanges before air blowing begins. B&W Energy Services works closely with project teams during the engineering phase to identify all equipment requiring protection and develops detailed isolation procedures. Our hydraulic modeling ensures air velocities stay within safe ranges, and we use staged pressurization to verify system integrity before full-pressure blows. Target plates and debris separators capture expelled materials before they can reach sensitive areas.
After air blowing completion, systems are inspected, temporary isolations are removed and equipment is reinstalled. The risks come from improper isolation or inadequate engineering—this is why choosing an experienced contractor with proven air blowing procedures is essential for protecting your plant’s valuable equipment.