How many minutes is steam admitted to the boiler firebox when raw fuel is discovered on the firebox floor?

When raw fuel is discovered on the firebox floor, it’s critical to ensure safety and prevent potential hazards such as explosions or fires. The protocol dictates that steam should be admitted to the boiler firebox for a specific duration to facilitate thorough cleaning and removal of the fuel.

The correct duration, often specified in operational procedures or safety guidelines, is set to 30 minutes. This allows adequate time for the steam to effectively permeate the area, ensuring that any residual fuel is vaporized and removed from the firebox environment. This procedure is essential to maintain the integrity of the boiler system and ensure safe operations.

The rationale for this duration strikes a balance between ensuring adequate purging of the fuel and not overextending the time which could lead to unnecessary stress on the equipment or safety risks. Thus, the answer of 30 minutes is derived from established safety protocols intended to address such situations in a controlled and effective manner.