Economisers – maintenance and replacement

Many industrial and commercial businesses use boilers as an integral part of their operations and very often they are one of the larger costs for the business. In many cases, the flue chimney is fitted with economisers which reuses some of the heat energy in the flue gases to heat the boiler feed water. Understanding the design and operation of the economiser helps when assessing equipment for repair, refurbishment or replacement. Economisers offer an excellent opportunity to reduce energy costs associated with boilers, typically by 4-6%. However, each application has is own challenges, so the economiser needs to be designed and manufactured specifically for a particular situation. This also means that if the application changes in any way, the economiser may also need to be modified or replaced to maintain its efficiency. Proactive maintenance From the outset, production managers and maintenance engineers are under constant pressure to minimise downtime and maximise productivity, which means they are looking for long-term reliability from production equipment. Achieving this goal requires a careful specification process and a well-organized, preventative-maintenance program. Implemented correctly, proactive maintenance will identify potential issues before they cause unplanned downtime. By working with manufacturers and maintenance specialists, it is possible to plan repairs ahead of time so that they coincide with shut-down periods, leaving productivity unaffected. Typically, economisers should be inspected annually to check the efficiency of the process and to ensure continued reliability. If any changes have taken in place in the application, these can be identified and assessed for their impact on the performance of the economiser.

For more information on Economisers – maintenance and replacement talk to ThermTech Ltd