What is typically inspected on the fire side of a boiler during maintenance?

During maintenance of a boiler, inspecting combustion efficiency is critical on the fire side. Combustion efficiency refers to how effectively the fuel is burned in the boiler. A high combustion efficiency indicates that the boiler is operating effectively, converting a larger portion of the fuel into usable energy, and producing minimal waste products like unburned fuel or excessive carbon monoxide.

Assessing combustion efficiency involves evaluating several factors, including the flame pattern, excess air levels, flue gas composition, and temperature readings. This helps in determining whether the boiler is running at optimal conditions and if any adjustments or remedial actions are necessary to improve performance and ensure safe operation.

While steam quality, coefficient of safety, and structural integrity are all important aspects of boiler operation and maintenance, they pertain more to the operating conditions, safety standards, and physical structure of the boiler rather than the efficiency of the combustion process itself. Hence, combustion efficiency stands out as the critical function to inspect during maintenance on the fire side of a boiler.