New youth for oil boiler? (Cracked tank)

[Obamot]

What to do with a cylinder-shaped boiler - ~ 160 cm high by 90 cm ø - whose steel tank is cracked on the burner chamber side (no flooding but thermal shock)?

- Can we transform it into a potato boiler? (Recovered oil)
- In this case, where to put the oil tank, must it be implemented with the same security as an oil tank?
- By what / how to replace / repair the cracked part?
- Can a crack be repaired by welding?
- Can we transform the burner?
- As the tank is not insulated, what material should be used to avoid loss by heat dissipation?

In short it is a second unused boiler since it was replaced and I was wondering if it could find a second youth thanks to a transformation.

Thank you for your ideas for transformation (s), designs, etc. Any answer and link (s) on the doc about this subject welcome.

[boubka]

steel tank

and you are sure that it is steel, in general the furnace is made of cast iron.
if it is indeed steel you can try to weld.
but if it is cast iron, go to the recycling center.
possibly see the price of an item but I think it's not worth it.

[Obamot]

I was thinking of making a clean cut all around with a circular diamond grinding wheel, then resting this kind of bell on a flat support, made of refractory bricks ... And surrounded at the base, by a belt of refractory brick to prevent any release of flames.

Maybe I'm dreaming ...

PS: such a boiler is still more than 12 bricks ...

[boubka]

I do not understand well, I do not see the type of boiler it is.
a photo will be welcome ...

[Obamot]

In fact it is easy to describe (I just went to see).

Steel tank (everything is welded). The entrance to the burner is in the first third from the bottom, a sort of truncated pyramid which comes out of the body of the tank: also all welded.

If you have to weld the crack, I imagine it should be done with a process employing the highest temperature and resistant to expansion (which system to use? Argon, electric ... what else?).

But if there is a weakness, is it effective to solder? Or is it not better to cut with a torch and replace the cracked part to a width of about five centimeters. Can you weld a new part at this location?

[boubka]

I can't see well, but hey if it is conventional arc welded steel.
the resistance of the weld will be identical to the rest

[Obamot]

Thank you. I will try to take pictures.

Small questions:
- what is the melting temperature of metals for arc welding?
- what is the temperature of the flame from a burner?
- what could have caused a crack? A thermal shock? I ask the question to know if other cracks can appear subsequently in other places in view of the stresses undergone.
- is it common to see cracks form in the boiler tank?
- is this the most common reason for replacing a boiler?

[Ahmed]

Can you clarify if the cracked sheet was part of a wet or dry envelope?
In case 1, it is the corrosion which degrades the metal and it is difficult to repair; in case 2 it is the temperature differences which generate mechanical stresses and "tire" the wall.

[Obamot]

Dry (as said above) hence my fear. If we repair, will it not fail elsewhere?

[Ahmed]

Sorry! I had skipped the passage ...
If the sheet is "dry", the waterproofing requirement is less critical.

2 cases:
1- either the steel surrounding the crack is sound, then it is possible to re-weld with the arc to prolong the use of the boiler,
2- either the area is degraded, in this case it is necessary (or should!) Put in place a new liner or cut and replace.

There are grades of steel that are more suitable for heat, but it may not be essential ...

PS: you write:

I was thinking of making a clean cut all around with the circular diamond wheel.

Diamond cutting discs are reserved for construction materials (brick, concrete, paving stones, etc.).