Plant optimisation and maintenance

Plant optimisation and maintenance

Successful plant operation requires that plant be professionally optimised and maintained. Plant optimisation is best done by specialists in wood fueled plant operation as wood fueled plant have quite different performance characteristics than coal plant. You should ensure that anyone optimising your plant has wood fuel combustion experience and understands how to get the best from wood fueled plant according to the fuel being used.

The most common reason for poor wood fueled plant performance is where the wood fuel being used is not the fuel the equipment was designed for or has been set up to combust.

Routine boiler system servicing

All boilers require regular servicing to ensure that they are operating safely and have optimal performance. The boiler manufacturer produces servicing manuals which MUST be adhered to. The boiler supplier will provide servicing manuals and generally offer to undertake routine servicing according to the manufacturers recommendations. 

Boiler owners should ensure that anyone they employ to undertake servicing has staff with the relevant competencies for their brand of boiler. There is an advantage of engaging the supplier to undertake routine servicing but for logistical reasons local service providers may be appropriatel competent.

Boilers that are not maintained and serviced according to the manufacteres recommendations my become unsafe and operators could be killed.as has occured in New Zealand. (Orewa College boiler explosion)

It is critical that boiler operators keep very detailed records of boiler operation so that boiler performance is adequately monitored and in the event of a problem arising the diagnostic investigation is properly informed on how the boiler has been operating.

Boiler operator training

Boiler operators must have received approriate training so that the boiler is operated safely and has optimal performance. Training is usually provided by the boiler supplier or specialist boiler experts. Under health and safety legislation owners should ensure that any new boiler operator, or temporary operator, has receive the appropriate training before commencing operating activities.

Members who specialise in plant optimisation, maintenance and routine servicing

Some of these organisations have branches nationwide - please check their profile to find their location.

Equipment supply

Members providing equipment for optimising boiler plant performance have products listed in the Equipment Catalogue.

Support material

Boiler maintenance

• Boiler maintenance
• Wood fuel boilers and burners in New Zealand

Boiler efficiency improvements

• Secondary heat recovery

Safety

• Boiler safety