When a boiler explodes, it rapidly releases large quantities of steam and scalding water that can cause extensive damage to nearby equipment or personnel. Failure is also caused by overpressurization and insufficient water levels, the latter of which causes overheating and vessel failure. This condition causes reduced steam quality, poor efficiency and, under worst-case circumstances, catastrophic boiler failure. While this results in an efficient means to transfer energy, it can also easily cause corrosion or scaling due to improper boiler operation or poor construction. When water is boiled into steam, it expands rapidly and can travel through tubes or pipes at over 60 miles/hr (100 km/hr). BPV service providers may indicate that they specialize in a particular type of boiler or heating method. Other boilers may be heated by electric or hydronic (steam) methods. Image credits: Citizendium | Energy Efficiency Guide for Industry in Asiaīoilers may also use one of several different combustion materials, including coal, biomass fuels, wood, gas, and oil. Simple sectional boilers consist of a firebox which directly heats a corresponding water chamber.Ī fire-tube (left) and water-tube boiler. Sectional boilers are constructed of several cast iron sections which are bolted together. The tubing is surrounded by a boiler drum filled with hot gases from the furnace the heat in the drum is transferred to the water tubing to generate steam.
Water-tube boilers feed water through a system of tubing. The tubes pass through a water-filled drum in order to transfer heat to the water. They may use three separate designs to accomplish water heating:įire-tube boilers feed hot gases through tubes connected to the furnace. Pressure vessels are typically defined as boilers or tanks designed to operate at pressures much higher than ambient pressure, typically delineated as greater than 15 psig.Īll boilers are designed to include a heat source (furnace) and a heat exchanger - typically a system of tubes or piping - which allows water to be heated above its boiling point. Hot water boilers are common in commercial applications such as comfort heating, dishwashing, and clothes laundering, while steam boilers are more often used to drive turbines for power generation as well as for industrial heating applications. They consist of a fuel- or electric-powered energy source which heats water and/or generates steam. Boiler and Pressure Vessel Basicsīoilers are common devices for industrial heating and humidification applications. They may additionally provide cleaning, calibration, failure analysis, component testing, and part replacement services. Boiler and pressure vessel (BPV) service providers specialize in the repair, rebuilding, maintenance, installation, and on- site construction of boilers, pressure vessels, piping, and safety valves.
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