The main function of this Department is to carryout statutory
inspections and issuing fitness certificates to Boilers in the state
periodically, in order to avoid Boiler explosions.
OBJECTIVES:
Steam
Generating Boiler at elevated pressure and temperature is highly
explosive in nature and explodes when it is suddenly exposed to
atmospheric pressure due to failure of Boilers. Such explosion
causes destruction of life and property around Boilers. Therefore ,
Boilers Act, Indian Boiler Regulation 1950 framed to ensure proper
design, construction, operation and maintenance of Boilers and
thereby avoid Boiler explosions.
LAWS
ADMINISTERED:
- 1. The Boilers Act, 1923 (Central Act)
- 2. Indian Boilers Regulations, 1950 (Central
Regulations)
- 3. Andhra Pradesh Boiler Rules, 1967
- 4. Andhra Pradesh Economiser Rules, 1959
- 5. Boiler Attendant Rules, 2011
- 6. Boiler Operation Engineer Rules, 2011.
ORGANISATION::
The Administrative machinery provided to Boilers Department are all Mechanical Engineering Graduates with knowledge in design, Construction, Operation and maintenance of Boilers, and also in Metallurgy, Process of combustion, heat transfer etc..
FUNCTIONS OF
THE DEPARTMENT:::
This Department carries out statutory annual inspections (Third
Party Inspections) of all Boilers and related equipment in the state
by visiting each Boiler.
The Boilers which are fit and safe are certified for use for a
period not exceeding 12 months. Repairs are ordered for unfit
Boilers.
Whenever an accident occurs to a Boiler, the accident Inspection and
failure analysis is carried out by the Department.
a) Thorough
Examination:
At the time of periodical issue of Fitness certificate for a Boiler
in use, the Boiler is thoroughly Examined in open condition. In this
examination, every square inch of a Boiler is thoroughly examined
for identifying defects. As some damage during use is common, it
requires high Engineering skills to assess the engineering
deficiency of a particular damage. Modern methods like ultrasonic
thickness gauging is used for measuring thickness of various Boiler
components.
b)
Hydraulic Test:
After Thorough Examination, Boiler pressure parts are subjected to
150 percent of its working pressure to test its ultimate fitness in
order to assess the affect of deficiencies.
c)
Inspection during Repairs:
Wherever required, repairs shall be carried out to a Boiler. It
requires very high degree of Engineering skills, knowledge of codes,
etc. to decide the nature and extent of minimum repairs to be done
to regain the original design strength of a Boiler. Stage wise
inspections are carried out during repairs.
d)
Steam Test:
Once after erection of a Boiler and whenever there is change in the
working pressure or increase in rating (Heating surface) Steam Test
is carried out to assess the performance and fitness of a Boiler in
use. Steam Test is conducted by subjecting the Boiler to the highest
working pressure in presence of the officer of Boilers Department.