Cost Savings to Operators through Offline Boiler Cleaning
Description of Costs
Assumptions Made
Cost for average boiler (13t/h MSW, 40t/h steam)
Total Cost/Saving
Cost of down-time in addition to other maintenance
3 days additional down time as clean is done during shut-down @ £20,000/day
£60,000
£60,000
Cost of scaffolding
£2,000
£2,000
Contractors cost for manual cleaning and/or sandblasting
2 days sandblasting team @ £1,000/day
£2,000
£2,000
Disposal cost of sand/debris
If offline it has to be disposed of at a higher cost than the routine disposal of bottom ash; assume 2 tonnes @ £200
£400
£400
Estimated cost of off-line boiler clean
Assume standard clean during shut-down
£10,000
-£10,000
Benefit to Operator
£54,400
Notes:
Cleaning during shut-down can normally be done in a one-day intervention (set-up and take-down can be the day before/after and doesn’t interfere with the normal plant operations. The fact that the boiler is shutting down creates ideal conditions for detonation cleaning (heat gradient) and allows for normal removal of the ash. The table above is based on reasonable assumptions and current cost estimates.
