Steam Boilers: Essential Checks, Part 2 Scaling UP! H2O

“Don’t shortcut boiler safety. Do it once, do it right, and don’t put your life or someone else's life at risk.” - Barry Higgins
Happy days are here again! Dive deeper into the realm of steam boilers with Part 2 of our exclusive interview with the brilliant Barry Higgins from AquaChem. If you enjoyed last Friday's episode, get ready for an even more profound exploration into the intricacies of boiler management.
In this episode, Barry takes us on a journey through advanced topics crucial for every water treater and industry enthusiast. Discover the significance of pH management, from its intricate relation to alkalinity to the cautionary notes on caustic demand above pH 11. Barry emphasizes the importance of precise pH meter calibration, advocating for separate probes in high pH ranges and the use of single-use cells for calibration.
Explore the nuances of the blowdown system as Barry stresses the effectiveness of short, pulsating blowdowns for optimal sludge removal. Uncover the distinctions between bottom and top blowdowns and the potential pitfalls of leaving the blowdown open for extended periods. Safety measures take center stage as Barry shares a personal account, highlighting the critical importance of regular checks on low and high-level probes, weekly boiler checks, and alarm tests.
Water level monitoring becomes a fascinating topic, discussing variations due to steam density, the significance of steady levels, and the importance of checking sight glasses for signs of corrosion. Barry wraps it up with insights into boiler water sampling, offering guidance on ideal sampling locations and considerations when a sample cooler is unavailable.
Join host Trace Blackmore as he continues his conversation with Barry Higgins, unraveling advanced boiler checks and sharing invaluable wisdom. Get ready for a knowledge-packed episode that elevates your expertise in industrial water treatment. Happy days, indeed!
 
Timestamps
01:00 - Trace Blackmore reminds you to share your water resources with others
03:40 -  Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals 
08:30 - Interview with Barry Higgins, Boilers Part 2
34:30 - Lightning round questions
40:00 - Closing thoughts with Trace
48:15 - Drop by Drop With James McDonald 
 
Quotes
“Do it once, do it right, and don’t put your life or someone else's life at risk.
It’s not worth your life. Don’t shortcut boiler safety. Get the steam properly in one hour, not two minutes.” - Barry Higgins
“You have to check all your levels and check all your probes and make sure all these alarms are working.” - Barry Higgins

“Jump in, you’ll love working with water. If you like to solve problems this is a job for life. You will never have two days that are exactly the same.” - Barry Higgins
“I'm a water treater, I'm not a Magician.” - Barry Higgins 
“Advice for water treaters on day one: Be bold. Make hard decisions that come your way, don't be scared of them. It’s gonna be a roller coaster. It's gonna be up. It's gonna be down, but just go with the flow and learn. If you get a knock get back up again and and learn learn from why you failed and just keep going” - Barry Higgins 
 
Connect with Barry Higgins
Phone: +353 87 987 8606
Email: bhiggins@aquachem.ie
Website: www.aquachem.ie 
LinkedIn: in/barry-higgins-bagrsc-59030225
company/aquachem-dac
Read or Download Barry Higgins’ Press Release HERE
 
Links Mentioned
Ep 340 Alkalinity and pH
Ep 281 The One About The Power of Kindness with Kathleen Edelman
Ep 117 The One With Temperament Expert, Kathleen Edelman
Ep 179 Another One that Teaches Us to Communicate Better with Others
Robert Boyle, Boyle’s Law
The Rising Tide Mastermind
AWT (Association of Water Technologies)
 
Books Mentioned
Drive by Daniel Pink
Traction by Gino Wickman
I Said This, You Heard That by Kathleen Edelman
I Said This, You Heard That, Workbook by Kathleen Edelman

I Said This, You He