Investigation into Steam Boiler Rupture: A Case Study of Egbin Electrical Power Business Unit (EEPBU), Lagos State

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the causes, effects and controls of Boiler rupture in Egbin Steam. Thermal power plant, Lagos State. Three classes of boiler rupture were investigated for twenty-nine cases of boiler rupture. The cases were grouped into classes through stratified sampling technique. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 95% level of significance was used to test the two research questions set for the study. The results of the study indicate that the various classes of boiler rupture are not equally significant, one class more prevalent and responsible for incessant forced power outages than the others. With respect to tube failure, the findings indicate that each of the various factors responsible is uniformly significant. Recommendations for proper maintenance planning, in order to prevent boiler rupture which could lead to forced power outage, were made. The effects of boiler rupture include reduction in load factor, plant utilization factor, profit, plant generation factor, plant efficiency and increase in down time, operation and maintenance costs.