The deliberate, controlled procedure of heating a cold boiler until it produces steam at the target header pressure. This process must be done slowly to prevent thermal shock to the metal and to allow the refractory brickwork to expand evenly. Depending on the size of the boiler and the volume of water, raising steam can take anywhere from a few minutes in a small flash boiler to several days in a utility-scale unit.
Heard on the job
Start the purge cycle on number two. We need to raise steam before the morning shift starts pulling from the header.
Insider tip
Rushing this process is a guaranteed way to crack cast iron sections or pop tubes out of the tube sheet.
Also heard as
- bring up to pressure