Making a fire for steam

Making a fire. For Steaming.

1 To light a fire, proceed as follows.
2 Open the feed pump valves and make sure the boiler is filled with water. Start one of the boiler feed pumps and switch to auto control.
3 Ensure all dampers and firing controls are free to move.
4 At the single knob controls and the I D Damper control set the clutch levers to manual operation.
5 Close the Radial door and make sure the coal hopper is full.
6 Set the other valves on the boiler as follows:
(a) Main steam stop valve – closed.
(b) Pressure gauge isolating valve – open.
(c) Air release valve – open.
(d) Blow-down valve – closed.
(e) Water level controls isolating valves – open.
The blow-down key must always be removed from the blow down valve to indicate that the blow-down valve is closed.
7 Check that the draught gauge reads zero.
8 Adjust the guillotine door until it is 80mm above the grate. Check that the fuel bed depth indicator reads 80.
9 Set the single knob control lever to zero.
10 At the control panel;
(a) Switch on the main isolator switch.
(b) Check that the mains On indicator lamp illuminates.
(c) Set the manual/auto switches to manual and the control regulators to minimum.
(d) Start the stoker. Check that it operates and that its indicating lamp illuminates.
(e) Check that the grate just moves and that the fuel trim indicator is in the zero position.
(f) Crack open the radial door and allow coal to run in until the length of the fuel bed is about 750mm from the guillotine door. Close the radial door.
(g) At the control panel, stop the stoker.
(h) Open the guillotine door and light a wood fire on top of the coal. Lower the guillotine door to within 80mm of the grate and seal the gap with coal.
(i) Open the radial door.
(j) Close all the dampers.
11 At the control panel.
(a) Start the I D fan. Check that its indicating lamp illuminates.
(b) Start the FD fan. Check that its indicating lamp illuminates.
(c) Set the ID damper control lever to position 2 on the indicator scale.
(d) Open the FD damper with the single knob control lever until a slight draught is evident above the fuel bed (this can be seen through the spy hole in the ignition arch). The draught gauge should read approximately minus 3pa.
(e) When the coal has ignited and the fire has burned back to the guillotine door, start the stoker and run in 75mm of coal.
(f) Stop the stoker.
(g) Repeat steps e and f until there is a good fire over at least half the length of the grate, and ignition occurs continuously.
(h) Re-adjust the guillotine door to about 120mm above the grate.
(i) Check regularly that ignition is taking place not more than 50mm from the guillotine door .If the ignition line tends to move away from the door stop the stoker. Re-start the stoker when ignition has been re- established.
Note Do not provide too much draught at this stage, as it will retard burning.
12 As the boiler warms up, the water will expand, therefore it will be necessary to keep a continuous watch on the water level as indicated by the gauge glasses.
13 If the water level is above normal working level, blow-down until the correct level is reached. During start-up it will be necessary to blow-down the boiler to assist circulation. This should be started when steam is seen escaping from the air release valve.
14 Blow-down at regular intervals and check that the bottom of the boiler shell is hot before the steam pressure reaches approximately 150kpa.
15 Close the air release valve when the boiler pressure is approximately 150kpa.
16 Allow the steam pressure to build up to normal working pressure. If necessary, increase or decrease the firing rate as required.
Note Steam raising from cold should take at least six (6) hours and should not exceed a rate of 250kpa per hour.
17 At this stage the float-operated switches should be tested to check that the alarm and boiler cutout is working.
18 When the boiler is at operating pressure, crack open the main steam valve in order to warm up the steam range. Make sure that the steam traps are working and clean if necessary.
19 When the steam range is sufficiently warmed-up, open the main steam stop valve very slowly .The steam can be heard passing through the valve at this stage. Only when the steam cannot be heard passing through the main steam stop valve should the valve be opened further. Extreme Caution must be used when opening the Main Steam stop valve.