What Are Boiler System Major Components

Boilers are generally used to provide a source of steam or hot water for facility heating and process needs. And in this article we will discuss what are the boiler system's major components and their functions.

water tube gas fired boiler

Feedwater Heaters

Feedwater heaters are energy recovery devices generally found only in large steam generating plants where all of the steam generated is not reduced to condensate by the steam user. This "waste steam" is reduced to condensate for return to the boiler in the feedwater heater. The boiler feedwater is used as a cooling medium to reduce the steam to condensate, which increases the temperature of the feedwater and, thereby, increases the thermal efficiency of the boiler.

Fuel Heater

Many boilers firing heavy fuel oil require fuel heaters to reduce the fuel viscosity, so the fuel can be atomized by the burner system for complete combustion.

Deaerators

A deaerator is a special case of feedwater heater that is designed to promote the removal of non-condensable gases from the boiler feedwater. The principal gases of concern are oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, which are major contributors to boilers, and steam and condensate piping corrosion problems. In small steam plants, a portion of the steam generated by the boiler is used to operate the deaerator if "waste steam" is not available. Failure to maintain and properly operate the deaerator can lead to early failure of the boiler, steam using equipment, and the steam and condensate piping.

water tube boiler system

Pumps

In most hot water systems, the system circulating pumps are electric motor-driven, end suction centrifugal pumps. In steam systems, the condensate return pumps are typically electric motor-driven, end suction, centrifugal or turbine-type pumps. Feedwater pumps are generally electric motor-driven, multiple-stage, end suction centrifugal pumps. The shutoff head of the pump must be greater than the steam or hot water system operating pressure.

Combustion Air Blowers

In many packaged boiler installations, the combustion air fan is designed and provided by the boiler manufacturer and is integral with the boiler housing. In installations where a stand-alone fan is provided, low-pressure centrifugal blowers are commonly used. An important characteristic of the blower is the ability to maintain a relatively constant air pressure over a wide range of airflows.

Flue

Flues (boiler firebox exhaust duct or boiler discharge stack) must be large enough to conduct the products of combustion away from the boiler with a minimum of duct friction loss. Flues may be fabricated from any material suitable for the operating temperature and pressure. Common materials of construction associated with packaged boiler installations are carbon steel and stainless steel.

Economizer

An economizer is an energy recovery device that uses the hot exhaust gases from the boiler (waste heat) to heat combustion air or feedwater.

Want to know more about boiler questions, contact zbg@zzboiler.comor call 86-371-86062323 !