🔍 Key Concepts

• Soot blowing (blowing tubes) purpose and effect on the boiler • Relationship between firing rate (heat input) and furnace/uptake temperatures • Effect of forced draft speed (airflow) on carrying away soot and maintaining proper combustion

💭 Think About

• When you blow tubes, what happens to soot deposits and where do they go? How could that affect furnace and uptake temperatures? • If you suddenly change firing rate while disturbing deposits on the tubes, does that make furnace/uptake conditions more or less stable? • How does changing forced draft speed impact the ability to safely remove loosened soot without causing unstable combustion or uptake fires?

✅ Before You Answer

• Decide whether you want more or less heat release in the furnace while soot is being dislodged • Decide whether you want more or less air flow to safely carry away soot and prevent it from igniting in the uptake • Be sure your choice keeps combustion stable and minimizes risk of uptake or economizer fires while tubes are being blown