5-1/2" Superheater Flues?

Kelly Anderson · **Posted:** Tue Apr 30, 2019 3:54 pm

Anyone have a source for these flues currently?

If not, Can anyone tell me the recent per foot price for 5-1/2" in 8 or 9 gage?

Many thanks.

hadder · **Joined:** Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:21 pm **Posts:** 169

Kelly,

Does Anderson Tube not handle this size?

Eric

Jeffrey Fefferlyn · **Joined:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:56 pm **Posts:** 39

hadder wrote:

Kelly,

Does Anderson Tube not handle this size?

Eric

According to AT's website, they carry 5.50" SA-178 tube. I think Kelly is after a certain gauge thickness that has become scarce. His complaint was the available thicker gauge tube heat absorption rate would cause issues with the fluesheets bowing and/or star cracking from unequal expansion/contraction with lighter gauge 2" tubes. Might be wrong, but that's what I recall.

Jeff

Kelly Anderson · **Posted:** Wed May 01, 2019 1:59 pm

I checked with AT first, but they do not stock it in any gage. He was going to ask the mill for P&A, so thought I would check in here as well.

Bobk · **Posted:** Wed May 01, 2019 10:43 pm

But why 8 or 9 gauge with the problems that can come with using a thicker wall tube? Have you checked the mills, not the fabricators, to see if they are currently running 5.5?

Kelly Anderson · **Posted:** Thu May 02, 2019 7:34 am

Bobk wrote:

But why 8 or 9 gauge with the problems that can come with using a thicker wall tube? Have you checked the mills, not the fabricators, to see if they are currently running 5.5?

Bob, 9 gage is what the boiler's original blueprints called for. Have you had sucess with thinner 5.5 flues?

Bobk · **Posted:** Thu May 02, 2019 1:05 pm

Kelly,
I didn't take into consideration the engineering behind increased thickness and OD of the tube. Nope, use 3.5" flues so 10 is just fine.

Dick_Morris · **Posted:** Thu May 02, 2019 4:28 pm

While on the subject of tubes - we are looking for a source for 10 ea. #SA-178-A 1.50" OD X .135 WASL, 20 ft lengths for repair of super heater assemblies.

A local supplier indicated they had a source, but due to a substitution and bad communications, when they arrived they were only .065 wall.

We are back to looking for a source. Any suggestions?

Bobk · **Posted:** Thu May 02, 2019 5:10 pm

[quote="Dick_Morris"]While on the subject of tubes - we are looking for a source for 10 ea. #SA-178-A 1.50" OD X .135 WASL, 20 ft lengths for repair of super heater assemblies.

shows on the floor.

https://www.metroboilertube.com/inventory.html

Dick_Morris · **Posted:** Thu May 02, 2019 8:08 pm

Bobk - Thanks, we sent them a note.

Donald Cormack · **Joined:** Fri Dec 17, 2010 2:41 pm **Posts:** 165

Dick_Morris wrote:

While on the subject of tubes - we are looking for a source for 10 ea. #SA-178-A 1.50" OD X .135 WASL, 20 ft lengths for repair of super heater assemblies.

A local supplier indicated they had a source, but due to a substitution and bad communications, when they arrived they were only .065 wall.

We are back to looking for a source. Any suggestions?

Superheater units are generally made of ASME SA-106 grade Gr. B or C compared to SA-178A which is typically used for flues and tubes. The ERW seam may promote corrosion of the units prematurely compared to the seamless SA-106 grade. You may have better luck with availability as well. Food for thought anyway.

Best,
DC

Kelly Anderson · **Posted:** Fri May 03, 2019 10:17 am

FWIW, NBIC limits superheater unit material choices to SA-178 gr A, SA-192, and SA-210.

ASME allows SA-106 for new construction. I'm not sure why there is a discrepancy.

5-1/2" Superheater Flues?

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