Soot blower

A soot blower is a retractable or fixed lance that jets steam, compressed air, or water across boiler and economizer tube banks to strip soot and ash that insulate the heat transfer surface. On the exhaust gas economizer, soot deposits cut heat recovery and, on a residual-fuel uptake, can ignite into a soot fire that overheats the tubes. Regular blowing during the watch, with the gas side hot, keeps the surface clean and the gas-side dew point in check. The blowing medium and timing are set by the boiler maker; over-blowing with water risks thermal shock and cold-end sulfuric acid corrosion of the tubes.