HRSGs operate under unique conditions that demand a carefully planned and executed steam blowing program. Since HRSGs are connected to gas turbines, pre-commissioning and maintenance cleaning methods must balance effectiveness with operational constraints.
What Are HRSGs?
The acronym “HRSG” stands for heat recovery steam generator. When an HRSG’s gas turbines generate electricity, they discharge a large amount of hot gases. As the name suggests, heat recovery steam generators then recover the heat energy from the hot gases to create steam, which can be used to drive a steam turbine, utilized in cogeneration or serve another purpose.
Where Are HRSGs Used?
HRSGs can be found in a variety of facilities, including:
- Chemical plants
- Combined-cycle power plants
- Refineries
- Universities
- And more
Why Do HRSGs Require Steam Blowing?
Steam blowing is performed on steam systems commonly found in power plants in order to remove mill scale, a natural part of new piping systems, weld slag and other construction-related debris prior to startup.
Steam Blowing Procedure for HRSG in Action
B&W Energy Services was contracted to perform a boiler steam blowing procedure at a 1×1 HRSG combined-cycle power plant. The client requested we perform exhaustive steam blowing for an expected duration of 30 days.
However, gas turbines aren’t well-suited for exhaustive steam blowing, as this process requires gas turbines to be stopped and started repeatedly, which can take a toll on a turbine’s lifespan. Instead, our team performed low-pressure and high-velocity continuous steam blows—the steam blowing method of choice for HRSG power projects we’ve contributed to all over the world.
Due to the newly selected steam blowing method, the estimated completion window for this project was reduced from 30 days to 7 days.
Estimated 30 Day Project
Actual Completion in 7 Days
With decades of experience performing steam blowing services on HRSG systems around the world, B&W Energy Services understands the unique challenges associated with HRSGs. Contact our team to see how customized boiler steam blowing procedures and innovative cleaning methods can help you reduce downtime, protect critical equipment and achieve faster, safer startups.