Causes and solutions for coking in thermal oil furnaces

Thermal polymerization occurs when the thermal oil boiler is heated during operation. This reaction produces high-boiling products such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, gums, and asphaltenes, which gradually deposit on the heater and pipe surfaces, forming coke. This is a rough description. Specifically, thermal oxidation occurs primarily when the thermal oil boiler in the expansion tank of an open heating system is exposed to air or circulated. This reaction produces low- and high-molecular-weight acidic components such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and acids. These further generate viscous substances such as gums and asphaltenes, ultimately forming coke. Thermal oxidation is caused by abnormal conditions. Once it occurs, it accelerates thermal cracking and polymerization, causing a rapid increase in viscosity, reducing heat transfer efficiency, and leading to overheating and coking of the furnace tubes. The generated acidic substances can also cause equipment corrosion and leakage.

The above are the causes of coking. There are not only specific reasons, but also influencing factors that cause coking. These factors mainly include:

1. Thermal oil boiler quality.

2. Heating system design and installation.

3. Daily operation and maintenance of the heating system.

It is precisely because of these factors that these hazards can occur. What are these specific hazards? Read the following article.
Coking forms an insulating layer, reducing the heat transfer coefficient, increasing exhaust gas temperatures, and increasing fuel consumption. The temperature of the heating furnace tube walls can rise sharply, causing bulging and cracking of the tubes, and ultimately burning through the tubes, leading to fires and explosions, and serious accidents such as personal injury to equipment and operators. These hazards may not seem so urgent until they occur. If they do, it will be too late to regret.

Although coking is a problem, it cannot be ignored. It still needs to be addressed. Here are the solutions.

There are four solutions: 1. Select an appropriate thermal oil boiler and monitor its physical and chemical indicators.

2. Properly design and install the heating system.

3. Standardize the daily operation of the heating system.

4. Clean the heating system.

Solving the problem is the most important step. Everything needs to have a result. No matter what happened before, it is useless, but the real truth is that the problem is solved.