Tubes on a firebox or furnace can overheat and rupture, starting an uncontrolled fire and other collateral damage. Refractory damage and improper burner alignment can also cause overheating and break down, resulting in downtime and a personnel safety issue—especially near inspection ports and ladders. That’s why it’s crucial to routinely inspect and assess the condition of the external steel firebox, tubes, and supports using a furnace inspection camera with thermal imaging capabilities. This kind of cameras allows inspectors to look through gas flames and determine whether localized internal coking is occurring, or if it’s external scaling.
In many furnace designs, flame patterns tend to obstruct naked eye viewing of the tubes, precluding visual inspection of the tubes. Properly equipped thermal imagers like FLIR GF309 may be utilized to allow imaging of the interior of the furnace, even through visually opaque flame.
Internal temperatures of furnaces can be more than 1700°C. The steel tubes inside the furnace could not withstand these temperatures without the cooling effect that the pumped product provides. Without proper flow, tube life can be shortened considerably. In addition to insufficient oil flow, tubes can develop hotspots for a variety of reasons.
It is important to note that the specific process may vary depending on the type of furnace, its operating conditions, and any applicable industry standards or regulations. It is recommended to consult the manufacturer’s guidelines and follow any specific instructions provided. Additionally, it is advisable to involve qualified professionals or technicians with experience in furnace maintenance and inspection.