ASTM A192 Tubes Used for Sugar Cane Bagasse Boilers

The cane sugar is usually extracted from sugar cane in a process that generates huge amount of bagasse. The bagasse is the dry pulpy fibrous residue that remains after sugarcane is crushed to extract their juice. So in a word, it is bio-waste. Fortunately, it can be used as a biofuel for the production of heat, energy, and electricity, and in the manufacture of pulp and building materials. The sugar cane bagasse features light weight, high volatile matter, high moisture, high sulphur content, low heating value and low ash fusion point.

A cane sugar mill in Sertaozinho, Brazil. Usually the bagasse boiler is constructed to generate electricity by a combustion process.

The ASTM A192 carbon steel seamless tubes can be used for the construction of various superheaters of in the bagasse boiler system. One important thing to mention is that the combustion gases are very abrasive since bagasse ash is not completely burned. The abrasion of the internal surface of superheater tube must be considered. Routine inspection on the wall thickness shall be done regularly. Replacement shall be done once the wall thickness is reduced to a level below the design safety limit. The expected lifespan of superheater tubes made of ASTM A192 steel can be 12 to 24 months in cane sugar industry.