When black liquor is burned, a significant quantity of ash is produced. Some of the ash accumulates on the boiler tube surfaces, reducing the boiler heat transfer efficiency. Eventually, the boiler flue gas passages can become plugged, and as a consequence, the boiler has to be shut down and washed with water to clean out the passages. This unscheduled shutdown interrupts production and incurs financial costs to the mill. In order to maintain the uninterrupted operation of the recovery boiler, sootblowers are installed at strategic locations on the boiler to help remove fireside deposits and prevent the flue gas passages from plugging.
•Describe the purpose of a sootblower
•List and describe three fireside deposit sources
•Explain the operation of a typical recovery boiler sootblower
•Identify and describe the major components of sootblowers
•Describe the maintenance considerations associated with sootblowers
•Identify and describe some of the safety hazards and safe work practices associated with sootblowers
