Boost Boiler Efficiency: Addressing Air Leakage in Air Preheaters

Air leakage in the air preheater refers to the abnormal flow between air and flue gases within the air preheater, typically caused by inadequate sealing or other related issues.

Causes of Air Leakage

  1. Damage or Aging of Sealing Components: Wear, deformation, or detachment of sealing sheets can allow air and flue gases to pass through the sealing areas.
  2. Improper Gaps Between Moving and Stationary Parts: If the gaps between moving and stationary parts are too large, air and flue gases may leak through these spaces.
  3. Impact of Thermal Expansion and Contraction: During operation, thermal expansion and contraction can cause gaps to form in what were originally tightly sealed structures, leading to air leakage.
  4. Poor Installation or Maintenance Quality: Inadequate sealing during installation or incomplete restoration after maintenance can result in air leakage.

Effects of Air Leakage

  1. Reduction in Thermal Efficiency: Air leakage leads to the loss of hot air that should have been used in the combustion process, wasting energy.
  2. Impact on Boiler Output: Air leakage can cause insufficient oxygen levels in the furnace, which may hinder the boiler’s normal output.
  3. Increased Fan Load: To maintain proper operating conditions, the fan must work harder, consuming more energy to offset the effects of the air leakage.
  4. Increased Equipment Wear: Abnormal airflow due to air leakage can accelerate the wear and tear on the air preheater and associated components.

Solutions to Air Leakage

  1. Regular Inspection and Maintenance: Conduct regular inspections of the air preheater to ensure the integrity of sealing components, sector plates, and other parts, replacing any damaged components promptly.
  2. Adjust Sealing Gaps: Reasonably adjust the sealing gaps based on the air preheater’s operating conditions to minimize air leakage.
  3. Use Advanced Sealing Technologies: Implement advanced sealing techniques, such as using new sealing materials or increasing the number of sealing layers, to enhance the sealing effectiveness.
  4. Optimize Air Preheater Design: Adopt optimized designs like a four-compartment air preheater to reduce primary air leakage.
  5. Improve Operational Management: Carefully manage the air preheater’s operating parameters, avoiding operation under harsh conditions to reduce air leakage.

Shandong Bokk Tech provides customers with advanced solutions for preventing air preheater leakage and other industrial problems. We help customers achieve optimal efficiency and performance through leading technology and high-quality maintenance services.

Scroll to Top