Water side Corrosion in Boilers - Tata Steel's Experiences

Abstract

Captive power plants in an integrated steel Plant like Tata Steel have got two basic functions to perform, viz. meeting the essential power requirement and supplying the process steam. Process steam requirement gets the first priority and has to be met under all conditions. Even though the steel plant may have a tie-up with the utility for getting a certain contracted power supply, the captive power plants have to produce the base load-the sum of the most essential loads which cannot be shed-off from equipment and process safety point of view after meeting process steam demand.Under the present scenario of economic liberalisation, the cost of operations has to be brought down and kept at the lowest levels dictated by market forces. The capitve power plants can meet all these objectives only if all the boilers are operated at a high efficiency, availability and reliability.