CHAPTER 7 _ BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS
to provide a clean metal surface for
inspection by the plant inspector. After
cleaning, all loose scale and accumulated
deposits should be .removed from the boiler
and other pressure parts. Brickwork and
refractory materials should be dried out
carefully when firing up.
The plant inspector should examine all internal
surfaces.of the exposed metal to observe any
detrimental action caused by water treatment,
scale solvents, oil, or other substances that
may have entered the boiler. The upper half of
the drums in the steam space should be
inspected, particularly for signs of grease, oil,
or similar deposits. Any evidence of oil should
be taken to prevent the entrance of any
additional oil into the boiler. Oil or scale
deposits subject to furnace heat in any boiler
may cause tubes or other heating surfaces to
overheat, bulge, or rupture. i Some older boilers
6.3.7 Corrosion and Grooving
Corrosion along or immediately adjacent to a
joint or seam is more serious than a similar
amount of corrosion in the solid plate.
Grooving or cracking along longitudinal seams
is especially significant as it is likely to occur
when the material is highly stressed. Severe
corrosion is likely to occur at points where the
circulation of water is poor, such places
should be inspected carefully.
Careful inspection of the interior of the boiler
should be made for-.cracks, broken stays,
pitting, corrosions, erosion, scale, and thin
place in the drums.;
The interior face of riveted ioints should be
examined for conditions of riveting, thinness of
metal, corrosion, cracks, and other defects or
faults.
Particular attention should also be given to the
tube ends, tubesheets, and drums. The plant
inspector should note any corrosion or
cracking of the tubesheets, tube ends,
furnaces, or drums, signs of leaking tubes,
excessive thinning of the tubes from repeated
rolling, and the condition of any ferrules and
nipples within the drums.
The plant inspector should note any evidence
of corrosion or cracking due to leakage at
manholes and handholes.
6.3.8 Stays
The plant inspector should note any
corrosion, or cracking of stays and braces.
Particular inspection should be made of any
welded stays or braces.. All stays, whether
diagonal or through, should be examined to
see if they are in even tension. All fastened
ends should be inspected to note if cracks
exist where the plate is punched or drilled. lf
stays are not found in proper tension,
corrective action is recommended. The plant
inspector should test staybolts by tapping one
end of each bolt with a hainmer, and when
practical, a hammer or other heavy tool should
be held at the opposite end by an assistant to
make the test more effective.
6.3.9 Fusible Plugs
of both firetube and
watertube-type have fusible plugs. lf fusible
plugs are used, determine whether they are
kept in good condition and that they are not
used for more than 1 year, as provided for in
ASME Code. When the boiler is opened,
scrape clean and brighten the exposed
surface of the fusible material as well as the
surface of the boiler near the plugs. lf the
fusible metal does not appear sound, renew
the plug. Never refill a plug with anything but
new metal.
6.3.10 Localization of Heat
Localization of heat caused by an improperly
adjusted or defective burner or by poor stoker
installation or operation, creating a blowtorch
effect upon the furnace and tubes, should be
corrected and the affected area should be
inspected while the boiler is shut down.
6.3.11 Freedom of Expansion
When boiler or boiler parts are suspended, the
supports and settings should be examined
carefully, especially at point when the boiler
structure comes near the setting walls or floor
r to make sure that the ash and soot will not
restrict the boiler and produce excessive
strains due to thermal expansion under
operating conditions.
6.3.12 Lap Joints
Boilers with riveted lap joints are apt to crack
where the plates lap in the longitudinal or
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