The mechanics of deposit removal in kraft recovery boilers

The removal of fireside deposits in kraft recovery boilers is a complex pro blem which involves the interaction between the fluid mechanics of the soot blower jet and the solid mechanics of the deposit. This paper discusses the effects of steam pressure and nozzle size and design on the sootblower jet peak impact pressure, cleaning radius and steam consumption. An analysis o f solid deposit, which influence the process of removal, are the deposit te nsile strength and the adhesion strength of the deposit to the tubes. Labor atory studies show that these properties are strong functions of the temper ature. The cleaning radius of a sootblower at any location in a recovery bo iler can be estimated if the temperature dependence of deposit physical pro perties and the operating characteristics of the sootblower are known.