Page 66 - Tcexpression2021 - Sept to Dec 2020

SAFER

OPERATION

OF BOILERS IN

THERMAL

POWER

STATIONS

A PERSPECTIVE

n accident occurred in an operating tower type Boiler explosion at Groover shoe factory in Brockton,
boiler of 210 MW unit of a thermal power station Boston, the USA in 1905 which killed 58 people and
Aon 7th May 2020. This unit has been in operation injured over 150 people triggered formulation of US
for a long time. Some of the technicians and workers national boiler code/ standard (by ASME) governing the
present nearby reported to have got injured, and few safe design, construction, operation and maintenance
sustained serious injuries. However, the investigation is of boilers.
yet to be completed.
Today, most of the national/international standards
A similar accident occurred in a 500 MW unit boiler in are primarily based on ASME boiler standards. A boiler
November 2017 during its trial operation and causing explosion in Kolkata in 1863, triggered the Boiler
serious injuries and few casualties to people near regulation by British India, subsequently ‘Indian Boiler
the furnace. Both these incidents occurring on high- Act 1923’1.
pressure boilers in a span of three years is a matter
of concern. One boiler was newly commissioned As per National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA),
while the other one was in operation for a long time. boiler explosions in the US are caused by the operator
In this perspective, an attempt is made to bring out error (47%), insufficient purge (39%), control failure
the possible causes that lead to boiler accidents and (11%) and equipment failure (3%)1.
measures that can be taken to mitigate the same and
ensures safe boiler operation. Causes of Boiler Accidents:

Boiler Explosions: Boiler accidents typically occur due to shortcomings in
either design, control, operation or maintenance.
A boiler explosion is a catastrophic failure. It carries dirt,
debris and higher temperature gases in all directions at In earlier days, poor design, workmanship and low
high speeds. It causes severe damage to everything in quality used to be the reasons for boiler accidents.
the vicinity. The explosive potential is always present, The technological advancements in materials and
primarily if regular maintenance and repair are not automation, coupled with better safety standards,
performed. During an explosion, the sequence of have improved the modern boilers’ inherent safety and
events occurs very fast, leaving almost no time to act. brought down the design-related accidents.
Hence, prevention against these failures has always
been of prime importance. 1 Compliance of Boiler Standards and Industrial safety in Indian Subcontinent -2018, by
Akshoy Ranjan Pau.

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