Rebirth of a boiler
Used boilers are becoming a more and more valuable asset today, due to the ever increasing cost raw of materials. Steel, copper wiring, safe paint, and high temperature refractory materials are all going up in price. Saving even 50% of these items makes sense in a world of limited resources. In the last 15 years, we have often reconditioned a boiler that was in poor shape, bringing it back to life. It makes good economic sense, good environmental sense, and good time-saving sense - which all add up to quite a few dollars and cents.
REI Boilers (Ralston Enterprises, Inc.) offers, on this page, a photo diary of two 1975 Cleaver-Brooks boilers being totally reconditioned.
First, we checked around the country, asking for 200HP capacity boilers with higher design pressure. These two old guys, found in North Carolina, had the somewhat higher design pressure of 250PSI that our client needed. The pair of boilers had to be cut loose and loaded onto a large semi rig for transport to our shop in Louisville, KY.
Once delivered, we further evaluated what work needed to be done.
Next, the boilers were disassembled and stripped of any out-dated, faulty, or worn out parts.
In the case of these two boilers, even the outer skin and insulation needed to be removed and replaced. The “boiler shell” was tested and found to be good. However, all of the tubes needed to be replaced.
The new insulation was applied and then the new skin was installed.
Before painting, many tests are performed making sure the boilers are safe and fully ready to run as originally built. A state boiler inspector then certified that the pressure vessel work was correct and that both the ASME and the state codes were met.
Finally, the finished product. A safe, reliable, like-new steam boiler that will give many more years of service at about 60% of the cost of a new boiler. Some boilers can be reconditioned for as little as 30% of the cost of new and returned to service. However, most reconditioning averages in the 50% cost range.
REI Boilers is proud to do our part in saving natural resources and providing quality products to the industry.