Discussion on steam purging of stainless steel lubrication oil pipelines
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The standards state that thermal pipelines such as steam pipes should not be purged with steam, but at the same time it is specified that stainless steel lubrication pipelines can be purged with steam first and then cleaned with oil. Is this requirement contradictory?
Blowing with steam can be considered a form of degreasing, used to remove impurities such as sludge from inside the pipes. It’s just a cleaning method; ultimately, it depends on whether the results meet the acceptance criteria for effective cleaning. For reference.
The reason why steam purging is not allowed in thermal piping systems, I think, lies in the material used and the operating conditions. For example, in a hot water pipeline system at 90°C and 1 megapascal pressure, if purging is required, at least the same pressure of 1 megapascal is still needed; using steam for purging would exceed the design limits allowed by the material. Also, consider factors such as the expansion of the pipeline network. As for the stainless steel lubricant pipelines, first of all, they are not very long, and they are not in a closed state during flushing; basically, they are removed and cleaned separately. I think the reason for using steam is what was said on the second floor – it’s correct.
The issue of thermal expansion of pipes must be taken into account