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Who should attend?

People entering the field with no license
Operators at any experience level who have learned on-the-job with little or no formal classroom training
Operators at any experience level looking for a good review
Boiler operators who will be taking a Minnesota Boiler Operator Exam
Anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of their boiler system, including boiler operators, maintenance personnel, energy system managers and supervisors, purchasing agents, facility managers, plant managers, and boiler owners

You will leave with:

The knowledge needed to pass your state boiler exam
Increased knowledge of boilers and related systems regardless of your current skill level
A new understanding of steam and hot water theory
In-depth knowledge of boiler code and state boiler laws
A certification of completion for Boiler, Operation, Maintenance and Safety

Course topics/dates

Thursday, Oct. 11

Introduction to boilers and boiler systems

CenterPoint Energy Heating System Rebate Programs
Introduction to steam and hot water systems
Firetube boilers
Watertube boilers
Steam drum internals
External steam/moisture separators
Cast-iron sectional and modular boilers
Electric boilers
Hot water vs. Steam
Heat exchangers

Wednesday, Oct. 18

Introduction to thermodynamics

Why are boiler systems dangerous?
Mass vs. Weight
Force and pressure
Temperature and heat transfer (moving Btu: CFM, ΔP, ΔT, GPM, HVAC system dynamics, heat exchangers)
Power/energy
Work and heat
First and second laws of thermodynamics
Expansion due to heat
Superheated and saturated steam
Pump head and cavitation
Water hammer (condensate induced and hydraulic shock)

Combustion, fuels and draft

Introduction to boiler combustion
Fuel supply and burners
Boiler draft equipment

Wednesday, Oct. 25

Basic controls and safety devices

Pressure controls
Safety valves, relief valves and safety relief valves
Water columns and gauge glasses - level control
Recent case histories; sprung services clients
Combustion controls
Temperature indication
Controls and safety devices - steam systems
Controls and safety devices - hydronic systems

Heating, process and utility boiler systems

Steam heating systems
Process steam systems
Hot water heating systems
Process hot water systems
Process and instrumentation diagrams

Thursday, Nov. 1

Boiler system operations and water treatment

Startup
Normal operations
Shrink/swell
Log book procedures
Pump cavitation
Shutdown/layup
Emergency boiler operation
Hot Water heating boiler operation
Water treatment - pretreatment, internal feedwater treatment
Bottom and continuous blowdown
Steam vs. jot water treatment
See handout - commercial building performance and comfort factors

Boiler system maintenance and repair

See handout - basic tools
Preventive maintenance
ASME/CSD-1 maintenance recommendations
Annual maintenance
Steam trap testing and repair
Two steam trap testing videos
Boiler Cleaning

2023 Boiler Training Seminar Agenda