Posted by Paul on December 28, 2001 at 13:51:26:
In Reply to: Boiler Blowdown posted by JimC on December 25, 2001 at 17:54:40:
You are opening the valves correctly. The reason for opening in this sequence is to prevent wear or cutting on the valves. If the inner fast opening valve is opened first there is less wear on it. Because flow is stopped by the closed slow opening valve. This way you're less likely to need to replace the valve next to the boiler so often. When you need to repack or replace the slow opening valve, lock the fast opening closed and proceed. No need to shutdown which makes production very happy. Personally I'd like to see duplexed valves on low-pressure boilers as well but it's not required so the bosses save the cost of a valve. It can certainly lead to some interesting conversations if you have to replace one during a production run.
Finally, remember one thing, You are the engineer not some salesman. You are answerable only to the Code and the Chief Engineer. So you decide what happens in your boiler room and you take responsibility for what happens there. The Chief will take any flak from production, it's part of his job.