Steam Blowing
Professionally Engineered Steam Blow Services
B&W Energy Service’s Steam Blow services are second to none in the industry. We offer our customers the latest equipment technology with a robust inventory readily available worldwide. We have pre-fabricated temporary vent piping systems built to ASME B31.3 code, steam silencers (both wet and dry), pneumatic target inserters and other specialized equipment for steam blow support. Our extensive inventory allows us to handle large-scale projects with ease.
Key Benefits
- All temporary pipe spools fabricated to ASME standards
- Zero discharge water recycling capability
- Pneumatic high strength target inserters
- Large Fleet of Dry and Wet Silencers in multiple sizes for greater flexibility on large projects
- Robust quick opening steam blow valves
- Designed to fit custom spool fabrication
- 100% Flow modeling and analysis of plant system
Quick Facts
Service Type: High-energy thermal cleaning
Primary Purpose: Remove stubborn internal debris from steam systems
Typical Use Case: Pre-commissioning of steam lines and turbines
Core Method: High-velocity steam discharge
Operating Medium: Steam
Typical Velocity: Exceeds operating flow velocity
Operating Temperature: Up to system design limits
Pipe Range: 2″–120″+ diameter
Contaminants Removed: Weld slag, mill scale, rust, debris
Environmental Impact: Water-based, no chemicals
The B&W founders and engineering team pioneered the development and advancement of professionally engineered and executed steam blow services. Today that tradition continues with our ongoing commitment to continually improving our processes and equipment by introducing our Dry Silencer technology. Dry Silencers allow B&W to safely and effectively vent exhausting steam during a steam blow without the need for attemperation (quench) water to achieve effective noise attenuation.
Dry Silencers are designed to vent up to 900,000 lb/hr of steam while maintaining a 85dB noise rating or less at 50 ft. from the discharging steam. Other benefits include eliminating or greatly reducing hot water discharge associated with traditional silencers, eliminating fall-out of moisture experience when quenching a traditional steam blow and reducing equipment requirements and associated construction costs.
At B&W Energy, our engineering team has a diverse background and experience working on complex steam blows in multiple energy sectors. Our experience is not limited to only the power industry—we’ve completed steam blow programs in refineries and gas-to-liquids plants containing the largest steam systems in the world.
B&W can engineer and perform several different types of steam blow methods depending on our clients’ needs. System piping is modeled and analyzed for proper velocities, pressures and disturbance factors. Modeling the system leads to verifiable results and compliance with all client and OEM specifications.
B&W Energy Services has invested a tremendous amount of time and capital in designing our steam blow equipment to ensure we offer the most effective and safest equipment available to our clients. A strong inventory of equipment is readily available worldwide to serve both small-scale and large-scale projects.
Which cleaning method is best for my piping system: steam blowing, air blowing or pigging?
| Criteria | Steam Blowing | Air Blowing | Pigging |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Clear debris with steam expansion | Clear water & light debris | Scrape/physically remove contaminants |
| Best for | Large pipeline systems, pressure tech | Smaller/multiple line systems | Long straight sections needing mechanical cleaning |
| System condition | Wet, after hydrotesting | Wet, after hydrotesting | Dry or semi-dry lines |
| Typical contaminants | Debris, welding scale | Water, sand | Debris stuck to piping |
| Equipment | Steam blow hardware + silencers | Compressors + blow lines | Pigs + launchers/receivers |
| When to choose | When steam system validation matters | When air & water need removal quickly | When mechanical contact with pipe wall is needed |
FAQs
What equipment is needed for effective steam blowing?
Effective steam blowing requires specialized equipment, including high-capacity silencers for noise control, quick-opening steam blow valves, pneumatic target inserters, target plates for cleanliness verification, temporary piping fabricated to ASME B31.3 standards and sacrificial valves to protect permanent equipment.
Steam silencers are critical. Wet silencers use quench water to reduce steam temperature and noise, while advanced dry silencers can handle up to 900,000 pounds per hour of steam at 85 dB without requiring water.
B&W Energy Services maintains one of the largest inventories of both wet and dry silencers in the industry, allowing us to set up 10 or more silencers simultaneously on large projects. Our proprietary pneumatic target inserters enable safe, efficient deployment and retrieval of target plates during blowing operations.
All temporary pipe spools are fabricated with ANSI B16.5 flanges to eliminate leak risks. We also use AFT Arrow hydraulic modeling software during engineering to ensure equipment is properly sized for your specific system requirements and OEM specifications.
Why is steam blowing better than other cleaning methods for steam piping?
Steam blowing is specifically designed for steam piping systems because it’s the only method that effectively removes tightly adhered mill scale and weld slag from high-pressure, high-temperature piping while simulating actual operating conditions.
Chemical cleaning can’t break the hard, bonded mill scale typical in new steam piping loose. Mechanical cleaning methods, like pigging, cannot navigate the complex configurations, multiple elbows, vertical runs and branched networks common in steam systems. Air blowing lacks the energy to remove stubborn deposits from steam piping. Steam blowing works because high-velocity steam combined with thermal cycling creates the “shock” forces necessary to fracture mill scale bonds and propel debris through the system.
The disturbance factor approach ensures cleaning occurs under conditions exceeding normal operation, guaranteeing startup readiness. For non-steam systems, like fuel gas, instrument air or process piping, B&W Energy Services recommends alternative methods like air blowing or AquaLazing. However, for steam generation equipment—boilers, HRSGs, superheaters and steam piping—steam blowing remains the industry standard because it’s the only method that consistently achieves OEM cleanliness requirements.
What safety precautions are necessary during steam blowing?
Modern steam blowing incorporates extensive safety precautions developed over decades to protect personnel and equipment. B&W Energy Services’ procedures address all major hazards, including high-energy steam releases, noise exposure, thermal hazards and pressure-related risks:
- Silencer technology reduces noise from historically dangerous levels above 140 dB to 85 dB or less
- Personnel exclusion zones are established around discharge areas during steam blowing operations
- Comprehensive engineering procedures calculate reaction forces and verify adequate pipe supports and restraints before operations begin
- Quick-opening valves are remotely operated to keep personnel clear of equipment during releases
- All temporary piping is fabricated to code standards with proper pressure ratings and safety factors
- Phased pressurization verifies system integrity before full-pressure blows begin
- Lockout/tagout procedures protect against inadvertent equipment operation
- B&W’s field teams receive extensive training on steam blowing hazards and emergency response procedures
Our safety record demonstrates that properly engineered steam blowing executed by experienced contractors poses minimal risk when appropriate precautions are implemented and followed throughout the project.
How does combining AquaLazing with steam blowing reduce costs?
Combining AquaLazing with steam blowing reduces overall project costs by removing mill scale before steam blowing begins, significantly decreasing the number of steam blow cycles required to achieve cleanliness.
AquaLazing, B&W’s proprietary high-pressure water jetting technology operating at 15,000 psi, mechanically removes mill scale, construction debris and surface contamination from steam piping systems. When performed before steam blowing, AquaLazing gives the steam blowing program a head start, resulting in fewer steam blow cycles required to reach OEM acceptance criteria.
This reduces natural gas consumption for steam generation, decreases water use, shortens overall project duration and reduces wear on new boilers or gas turbines during commissioning. The combined approach also allows more efficient equipment rotation on large projects with multiple systems.
B&W Energy Services pioneered this integrated cleaning methodology, and it has now become best practice on major power plant and refinery projects worldwide. The cost savings from reduced steam blowing duration typically exceed the added expense of upfront AquaLazing. Additionally, starting equipment with cleaner systems reduces the risk of debris-related failures during critical early operational periods, avoiding expensive unplanned outages and warranty issues.
