All boilers, whether hot water or steam, depend on fuel to run. The heating process is initiated when the burner heats or evaporates the water inside it, which is ultimately transported via pipe systems. Hot water boilers rely on pumps to move the heat through the system, while steam boilers are transported with the pressure generated in the heating process. Eventually, cooled water or condensed steam is returned back through the pipes to the boiler system so that it can be heated once again. While the boiler is generating energy in the form of heat, flue gases, a byproduct of this process, are removed through a chimney system - which is why regulating the emissions of industrial boilers is taken very seriously.
There are a number of considerations to factor when determining the best boiler for your steam generation needs like operating pressure, steam pounds/hour output, demand fluctuation, general application requirments and total cost of ownership, etc.
Two primary boiler types, the firetube boiler and the watertube boiler, are essentially opposite in design. The firetube boiler passes combustion gas inside a series of tubes surrounded by water in a vessel to produce steam, while a watertube instead sends water through a series of tubes surrounded by combustion gas used to transfer heat energy and produce steam.
A dryback boiler has a rear wall that is lined with refractory, a wetback boiler has a rear wall that is jacketed by water. Because of this fact, wetback boilers typically boast higher efficiency than dryback boilers as the heat from combustion goes directly into heating water instead of refractory. Wetback boilers are also more forgiving with load changes as the reversal chamber of the boiler is totally submerged in water creating an even heat transfer on the intermediate tube sheet to furnace joint.
One of the most important accessories you can have for your steam boiler is a water softener, which serves several purposes and plays a crucial role in helping your boiler avoid malfunctions and run more efficiently. Let's go back to the basics and walk through how water softeners are used in steam boilers.
Purchasing a new boiler is a big decision for any company or organization. It means investing thousands of dollars in a piece of equipment you’ll be using for many years to come. Needless to say, it’s not a venture you should take lightly. You need to know ahead of time exactly what you should be looking for in a new boiler.
Boilers are often distinguished by fuels that power them. The kind of fuel makes an essential difference in operating costs and environmental impact, so it’s important to learn about the various types of boiler fuel.
Coal, is a common boiler fuel. It dominates the global energy arena due to its abundance, affordability and wide distribution across the world. The most commonly used coal fuels include anthracite, bituminous coal, sub-bituminous coal, lignite and peat.
Any unusual noises should always be treated seriously.
One of the first things to check if a boiler is unusually noisy is the boiler's thermostat. If the thermostat is malfunctioning, water can become too hot and begin to boil, which could cause loud noises. If the thermostat is broken it may need to be replaced to prevent the water from heating up so much.
Another reason for a noisy boiler could be mineral deposits. As the water heats up inside the boiler, minerals may sink to the bottom of the tank and affect the heat exchange. This may create hot spots within the boiler in which water is overheated, leading to loud noises.
Low water pressure is also a concern that can result in loud noises. If water pressure is low, the boiler is tend to be overheat.
Safety is always a top priority when working with industrial boilers, at least it should be. Fortunately, safety has become less of an issue with more modern water tube boilers. Compared to traditional fire tube boilers, water tube boilers are far safer, almost to the point where you don’t have to worry about a catastrophic explosion taking place.
