A boiler economizer (also known as an economizer) are mechanical devices intended to reduce energy consumption or perform a useful function such as preheating a fluid. A boiler economizer is essentially a heat exchanger that makes a system more energy efficient by taking enthalpy in fluid streams that are hot, but not hot enough to be used in a boiler – hence recovering more useful enthalpy and improving the steam boiler’s efficiency.
The integration of a biomass system is relatively simple. In most cases the systems are retro fitted and replace a fossil fuel boiler. The biomass boiler replaces the existing fossil fuel boiler, but the downstream heating system will remain the same, so there is no need to replace the radiators or whatever emitters are in place.
Steam boilers use a contained heat system to generate steam. The steam travels through pipes in the building’s walls where they emerge at radiators in heating systems. The radiators warm from the steam’s heat. As the steam gives off its heat, it condenses back to liquid water and returns to the tank. A boiler system of this type that does not allow outside water sources is a closed system and is highly efficient for using all the condensed water. An open network may be required in operations where the steam or water gets contaminated in such a way that it cannot return to the boiler for reuse.
Low-pressure boilers operate at a lower pressure and reach lower temperatures than high-pressure steam boilers. Water in low-pressure boilers is not heated beyond 250ºF, and the steam pressure does not exceed 15 psi (pounds per square inch).
A condensing boiler can condense the water vapour in the flue gases and withstand the corrosive and acidic qualities of the flue gas condensate. Although most boilers can condense the flue gasses, only boilers that have heat exchangers constructed from materials able to withstand the corrosion should be used in condensing application. Condensing boilers with primary and secondary heat exchanger do not work well as they are not able to fully condense and defeat the purpose of using a condensing boiler. Also, boilers with this arrangement are prone to condensation in the primary heat exchanger at lower firing rate which can cause damage to the heat exchanger.
The most obvious use of boilers in any building, including hospitals, is typically heating for the facility. A reliable steam boiler is one of the most economical ways to provide heat across a large space, especially one with multiple floors.
One of the biggest issues related to natural gas explosions is that in the industrial world, people just don’t understand that natural gas piping repairs are different from other piping repairs.
