Engineering Training

INFORMATION SHEET
BOILER CONSTRUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The D-type boiler has been installed in U.S. Navy ships since 1950.
Whether 600 psi or 1200 psi, D-type boiler construction is basically
the same with a few exceptions, such as number of fuel oil burners
and overall size and volume.
REFERENCES
(a) Boilers NSTM Chapter 221
(b) Fireman NAVEDTRA 10520 Series
(c) Boiler Technician 3&2 NAVEDTRA 10535B
(d) Principles of Naval Engineering 10788 H
(e) Boiler Operation and Maintenance Manual NAVSEA 0951-LP022-6010
INFORMATION
A. Main propulsion boilers provide steam to the main propulsion turbines and
auxiliary services in order to supply all shipboard steam systems in
accordance with demand. (refer to Figure 1). It is designated as a D-type
boiler because of the relative positions of the drums and side header which
form the letter D. All D-type boilers are designated as uncontrolled
superheat boilers because all the steam generated by the boiler must pass
through the superheater. Superheater outlet temperature is a result of the
combustion gas flow in proportion to the total amount of steam flow through
all ranges (0 - 120%). The design characteristics ensure that the temperature
will stabilize at set point. The degree of superheat is calculated by
subtracting steam drum temperature from the actual reading on the
superheater outlet temperature gage. In this lesson we will examine the
components of the boiler and then we will bring everything together by
describing how water and steam is generated and circulated through the
boiler. The flow path of combustion gases through the boiler will also be
discussed.

D TYPE BOILER

Figure 1

B. The economizer is a multi-pass heat exchanger located above the main

generating bank at the base of the exhaust stack, so that combustion gas will
give up a lot of its remaining heat to the incoming feedwater before passing
out the stack (Refer to Figure 2) The incoming feedwater absorbs about
100-200F sensible heat from the exhaust gases. Fins are installed on the
economizer tubes to increase the heating surface area further, helping to
increase efficiency.

ECONOMIZER

Figure 2

C. The steam drum is located at the top of the boiler to provide an upper
reservoir for the water covering the generating tube bank. Water is
distributed from the steam drum to the lower drums and headers by pipes
called downcomers. Generated steam is also collected and is separated from
the water in the steam drum. Boilers are also equipped with safety valves to
relieve excessive pressure. The valves are located on the steam drum and
superheater outlet. They are designed to relieve sufficient pressure to safely
steam the boiler at 120% with boiler steam stop valves closed (refer to
Figure 3). These valves are discussed in detail in lesson 62B-206.
D. Air vents or air cocks are installed on top of the steam drum to expel air
from inside the steam drum during cold boiler light-off or when filling the
boiler. The air vents or air cocks are shut when the boiler starts generating
steam.

SAFETY VALVE CONFIGURATION

Figure 3

E. The internal fittings in the steam drum help distribute the water evenly
throughout the drum, separate the generated steam from the water and
remove moisture from the steam before it leaves the boiler (refer to Figure
4).
1. Lower baffle plates or apron plates Separate the incoming feedwater
and generated steam and direct the steam to the separators.
2. Primary separators (cyclone separators) Separate most of the water
from the steam by giving it a cyclone or rotary motion so that the
water particles are expelled from the steam by the centrifugal forces.
These separators are vertically mounted in the steam drum so that the
steam rises out the top and the water falls back into the steam drum.
3. Secondary separators (chevron dryers) Remove additional moisture
from the steam by changing the direction of steam flow several
times. The steam passes on but the moisture cannot make the
direction change with the steam. These separators are mounted above
the primary separators and direct steam to the dry box which collects
the steam at the top of the steam drum, directing it to the steam outlet
piping to the superheater.
4. Feedwater leaves the economizer and enters the boiler through the
internal feed pipe and becomes "boiler water." Perforations along the
side of the feed pipe allow water to be distributed evenly throughout
the steam drum (refer to Figure 4)

STEAM DRUM INTERNALS

Figure 4

5. Since suspended solids may accumulate on the surface of the water

in the steam drum, there must be means of removing them. The
surface blow pipe is used to remove these light suspended solids
from the surface of the water and to reduce the total dissolved solid
content of the boiler water. Suspended solids usually consist of oil,
salt contaminants, or excessive treatment chemicals which can cause
foaming on the water surface. Dissolved solids usually consist of salt
contaminants and treatment chemicals that are in solution.
F. The D-type boiler uses the principle of accelerated natural circulation to
circulate water through the boiler. To enable this principle to work,
relatively cool water will naturally circulate through large diameter pipes to
distribution points low in the boiler. The downcomers are these large
diameter pipes connecting the steam drum with the water drum and lower
headers to ensure proper circulation by delivering water from the steam
drum to the water drum and lower headers. The downcomers are located
between the inner and outer air casing to protect them from the direct radiant
heat of the furnace.
G. The water drum is located at the bottom of the boiler below the main
generating bank and acts as a lower reservoir of water for distribution to the
main generating bank. Also, this large drum serves as a collection point for
solids (sludge) that precipitate to the bottom that are removed by bottom
blowdown.
H. The sidewall header is located along the furnace sidewall connecting
sidewall tubes from the furnace floor to the steam drum. It distributes water
to the sidewall tubes and provides another blowdown point for sludge
removal. The sidewall tubes are two inch tubes which protect the boiler
sidewall refractory from the direct heat of combustion and generate a small
amount of steam.

I. The lower rearwall header is located along the furnace rearwall from the
furnace floor to the steam drum or upper header to provide a lower junction
for rearwall tubes. It distributes water to the rearwall tubes and provides yet
another blowdown point for removal of sludge. The rearwall tubes are two
inch tubes which protect the boiler rearwall refractory from the heat of
combustion and generate some steam.
NOTE: By using wall tubes, more of the heat in the furnace is absorbed by
water and less refractory material is required, thereby increasing boiler
efficiency and reducing the boiler weight.
J. The upper rearwall header is often called the "floating header" because of its
free-standing design. It is located along the rearwall of the furnace roof to
provide an upper junction for the rearwall tubes. It collects the steam
generated in the rearwall tubes and direct it to the steam drum through riser
tubes.
K. Riser tubes are large tubes located above the furnace roof to provide a
connection between the upper rearwall header and the steam drum.
L. Superheater screenwall tubes help protect the superheater from direct radiant
heat of the furnace. The screen tubes consist of two to three staggered rows
of two inch tubes which are usually connected from the steam drum to the
water drum. Some boilers have a screenwall header installed parallel to the
superheater along the furnace floor as a lower connection and a blowdown
point for sludge.
M. The steam passes through the superheater picking up sensible heat (about
300-400 F) which increases the energy of the steam, allowing it to perform
more work. The superheater is composed of superheater headers which
distribute steam to the superheater tubes or elements and direct it from the
inlet to outlet piping. These headers and elements can be either vertically or
horizontally mounted. (Refer to Figure 5).

SUPERHEATER

Figure 5

N. The bulk of the steam generated by the boiler is formed in the main
generating bank because it has the largest heating surface. This is a large
group of one inch tubes which run from the water drum to the steam drum
and are located behind the superheater.
O. Since these boilers are uncontrolled superheat and the plant is designed to
use lower temperature steam in many applications to help reduce
construction and maintenance costs, the steam needed for these services
must pass through a desuperheater. The desuperheater is a multi-pass tube
bundle which is located in the water drum in most boilers. There are several
boilers which have the desuperheater in the steam drum. As the superheated
steam passes through the tube bundle, it gives up heat to the boiler water in
the water drum.
P. The boiler is protected from the high temperatures of combustion by the
refractory. Refractory lines the inside surface of the inner casing enclosing
all of the furnace area and extending to the outer row of generating tubes.
There are several different types of refractory which work together to
protect the boiler.
1. Firebrick is a heavy casted refractory used as the outer layer of
refractory and is exposed to the direct flames of combustion. It has
poor insulating qualities, but it will withstand direct flame contact.
2. Insulating brick is a lightweight casted refractory used between the
insulating block and firebrick. It has good insulating properties, but
it will not withstand direct contact with flame.

3. Insulating block is a pressed fiber material used next to the inner

casing. It has the highest insulating properties of the various
refractory, but it will not withstand direct contact with flame.
4. Burner tiles are preformed refractory used to form burner cones
around where the burner assembly protrudes into the furnace. Burner
tiles are a specially shaped, heavy casted refractory used next to the
insulating brick around the burner openings. They have poor
insulating qualities, but they will withstand direct flame contact.
5. High temperature castable refractory is used to fill in gaps in
refractory or where shaping is needed to cover irregular shaped
items. It is used to patch refractory or to smooth uneven areas
between brickwork. It is packaged dry and must be mixed with water
prior to use, very much like cement or plaster.
6. Baffle tiles are a specially shaped refractory made of silicon carbide
for use in some boilers to form baffles on superheater screen tubes.
These baffles direct the flow of combustion gases across the
superheater to help maintain the temperature within design
parameters.
7. When the refractory is installed and stacked, it must be held in place.
Anchor bolts are used for preformed refractory. The anchor bolts are
connected to the inner casing to support and retain the refractories in
position.
8. Since the boiler expands and contracts with heating and cooling,
expansion joints are built into the refractory to allow for the thermal
expansion and contraction.
Q. Since the boiler expands and contracts as it heats up and cools down, sliding
feet are installed to allow the boiler to move easily. The feet are located
below the boiler, usually under the front end of the sidewall header and
water drum. There is a greased phosphor-bronze friction plate on which
these feet will move. The planned maintenance system (PMS) requires
lubricating the sliding feet every month. Some newer ships have permalube
sliding feet which never require lubrication. Failure of the sliding feet to
move can cause cracks in the air casing and can cause header handhole plug
leaks. Movement indicators are installed on the sliding feet which have to be
checked prior to light off, during warm up, and after the boiler is on line to
ensure positive movement of the sliding feet. Each time sliding feet are
checked the results should be logged in the fireroom operating log. (Refer to
figure 6)
SLIDING FEET CONFIGURATION

Figure 6
R. The boiler is enclosed by casings which provide an airtight boundary from
the boiler furnace up through to the stack area. The inner casing encloses the
boiler fireside area to the base of stack to provide an airtight lining between
the combustion air space and furnace to contain the products of combustion
within the boiler and support the refractory materials. The outer casing
encloses the entire boiler from the bilge to the stack to provide double
encasement so the boiler air pressure is not affected by the fireroom
atmosphere. The combustion air flows through this space between the inner
and outer casing and is directed to the air registers. The stack is located
above the boiler economizer and extends to above the superstructure to carry
boiler combustion products safely away from the ship. The inner stack or
smoke pipe provides a path for combustion gases to the atmosphere, the
outer stack supports the inner stack and provides a space to receive
incoming combustion air to the boiler and protects personnel from the hot
inner stack surfaces.
S. The fireroom watch team must be able to monitor the exhaust gases to help
maintain a clear smoke free stack. Smoke indicators and periscopes are
installed to allow monitoring of the stack gases leaving the boiler. The
smoke indicator is an electro-mechanical device and the periscope is an
optical device. All ships have periscopes and many have electro-mechanical
smoke indicators or stack gas analyzers. These devices are located above the
economizer at the base of the stack so that combustion gases leaving the
boiler must pass through its line of sight or the sensing element. From

monitoring the stack gases, the combustion process can be adjusted for
maximum efficiency or a casualty situation can be detected (Refer to Figure
7)
TYPICAL PERISCOPE CONFIGURATION

Figure 7
T. Maintaining proper boiler water level is one of the most critical aspects of
boiler operation. To be able to monitor this critical parameter water level
indicators are installed. There are two types, a direct reading gage glass
mounted on the steam drum and a remote water level indicator. The gage
glass gives a direct measurement of the steam drum water level. The remote
water level indicator gives an inferential indication of the steam drum water
level.
1. The direct reading gage glass may be isolated or removed for
maintenance if necessary but, at least two remote water level
indicators must be installed and working. (Refer to Figure 8).
REMOTE WATER LEVEL INDICATOR

Figure 8
2. There are usually two remote water level indicators in the fireroom
for each boiler. They are located on the lower level and the
BTOW/console station. There is also a remote indicator located at
the throttle station for the engine served by that boiler.
3. There are high and low water alarms installed in the remote water
level indicators. They are set to alarm when the steam drum water
level reaches 7 inches above normal or 6 below normal inches on
most steam ships.
U. Because air casing fires sometimes occur in the boiler, a steam smothering
system is installed between the inner and outer casings. This piping comes
from the 150 psi desuperheated steam system and is perforated to allow the
steam to fill the casing and smother the fire. The piping is located at the
lower portion of the casing under the furnace floor and/or brickpan. Steam
can be admitted to the furnance by filling the air casing and then opening the
air registers. (Refer to figure 9).

STEAM SMOTHERING CONFIGURATION

Figure 9
V. Once the steam flowing through the superheater is what keeps it from
overheating, there must be a means of providing a flow prior to any steam
pressure forcing a flow. This means is called the superheater protection
steam system. The inlet is connected to the steam drum steam outlet piping
and outlet is connected to the desuperheater outlet piping. This arrangement
provides steam flow through the superheater during light-off and securing. It
is also the entry point for the steam used to provide a steam blanket lay-up.
The steam bled off the boiler to provide the flow is routed to the auxiliary
exhaust system. When the boiler is being secured, this system needs to be
aligned to prevent over-pressurization of the boiler because it is still
generating steam. This system is commonly called the superheater bleeder.
(Refer to figure 10)
SUPERHEATER PROTECTION SYSTEM

Figure 10
W. Fuel oil burners are located on the boiler front and extend into the furnace to
provide a means of firing the boiler. Depending on boiler design two to six
burners are installed in the boiler. (Refer to Figure 11).
BURNER ASSEMBLY

Figure 11
1. The burners deliver fuel and air to the boiler furnace in the proper
mixture to obtain optimum combustion. The two main components
of an oil burner are the atomizer assembly and the air register
assembly. The atomizer divides the fuel oil into very fine particles,
the air register admits combustion air to the furnace and promotes
mixing of the air and the fuel oil spray.
2. The types of atomizers used on ships are straight mechanical, steam,
and vented plunger, as described below.
3. In straight mechanical atomization, all the oil pumped to the
atomizer is sprayed into the furnace. The firing rate of this type of
burner is controlled by varying the supply fuel oil pressure and
changing sprayer plate sizes.

4. In steam atomization, steam is used to help atomize the oil into

minute particles and to project a cone-shaped spray of atomized oil
into the furnace.
5. The vented plunger type atomizer is designed to permit a wide range
of operation using the straight mechanical pressure atomization
principle without the need to change sprayer plate sizes or use steam
atomization. It is found in 1200 psi boilers.
X. Because the combustion gases leave ash or soot deposits on the tube
surfaces which inhibit efficient heat transfer, the soot must be removed. Soot
blowers use steam to blow soot off of the tube surfaces. In addition to acting
as an insulator, this soot forms sulfuric acid when it becomes wet and
eventually corrodes the tube metal.
1. Boilers have varying numbers of soot blowers but, there are two
basic types, rotary and stationary. They use unreduced desuperheated
steam as the motive force which is reduced in the element by an
orifice to 300 psi for rotating units and approximately 150 psi for
stationary units. Using relatively hot steam at a reduced pressure
minimizes moisture in the steam which can lead to erosion or acid
corrosion.
2. The rotary type of soot blower has multi-nozzle elements. The soot
blower head steam valve is actuated by a cam when the element is
rotated. The element can be turned by a crank, chain, or an air or
electric motor. Steam is admitted from the head into an element
which incorporates uniformly spaced nozzles/holes to evenly
distribute steam along the area covered. (Refer to figure 12)
ROTARY SOOT BLOWER

Figure 12
3. The stationary type of soot blower usually has one or two rows of
nozzles directed to the area immediately near the drums of the boiler.
Steam is admitted for a short duration by a manually or power
actuated stop valve.
4. The soot blower element must be kept cool and clean during
operation. To accomplish this, a small amount of air is piped into the
element through a small air line. This air is called scavenging air and
comes from the combustion air that pressurizes the boiler air casing.
This allows a small amount of air to enter the soot blower element to
keep it cool and clean. There is a check valve installed in this line to
prevent steam from entering the air casing during soot blower
operation.
5. The operation of soot blowers is called "blowing tubes." Tubes are
blown on the following minimum occasions:
a. After leaving port
b. Before entering port
c. After making heavy smoke
d. Once each week when steaming

NOTE: EOSS requires tubes to be blown prior to securing a boiler, if

possible.
Y. Since the boiler water chemistry control systems, Chelant or Coordinated
Phosphate, both settle sludge to help maintain water purity, there must exist
a means to remove this sludge. The bottom blowdown system is used to
remove sludge from the water drum and the lower headers. The surface
blowdown system is used to remove suspended particles in the water and
provide a means of changing out the water in the boiler to lower the
conductivity and dissolved substances. Both systems share a common piping
arrangement with an overboard guarding valve and overboard discharge
valve. (Refer to figure 13)

SURFACE/BOTTOM BLOWDOWN PIPING

Figure 13
1. Surface blowdowns are conducted on a steaming boiler as needed to
maintain boiler water within the proper chemical control limits. The
Chelant system also uses an occasional scum blow to maintain
limits.
2. A boiler is bottom blown only when it is secured. Never bottom blow
a steaming boiler since this could cause a loss of natural circulation
and boiler damage. Boilers shall be secured and bottom blown every
360 steaming hours if the Chelant treatment system is installed or
every 168 if the Coordinated Phosphate (COPHOS) system is in use.
There are many conditions that require a boiler to be bottom blown.
For a complete listing refer to NSTM 221 or 220 volume II.

A. Knowing the water/steam flow through the boiler is critical to understanding

the interrelationships of the boiler components. A summary follows:
1. The flow begins when feedwater enters the economizer inlet header
and flows through the economizer tubes to the outlet header picking
up approximately 100-200 F of sensible heat to about 350F.
2. Feedwater leaving the economizer enters the steam drum via the
internal feed pipe. The feed pipe distributes the water evenly along
the length of the steam drum.
3. Boiler water then flows over the baffle plates to the ends of the drum
where the cooler more dense water flows down through the
downcomers to the water drum and lower headers.
4. Water in the water drum and lower headers is distributed to the
various generating tubes to replace the water being generated into
steam.
5. As water rises through the tubes, it is exposed to the combustion
gases through the tube walls increasing the water temp which
decrease it's density, allowing it to continue the flow upward.
6. Continuing upward, a portion of the water changes to steam and
enters the steam drum under the baffle plates. The water-steam
mixture is guided to the primary separators which separate the
excess water from the steam by centrifugal motion. Separated water
falls back to the steam drum above the baffle plates.
7. Steam exits the primary separator and enters the secondary
separators where the rapid changes in direction of flow causes it to
give up more moisture. Moisture removed drains back to the steam
drum above the baffle plates.
8. All accumulated steam is directed to the dry box. The quality of
saturated steam leaving the steam drum is designed to be 99.75%
moisture free.
9. Steam flows through the saturated steam line to the superheater inlet
header. It makes four passes through the superheater increasing
steam temperature 300-400 F to approximately 850 F and then
exits through the outlet header.
10. Superheated steam leaves the outlet header and a portion is routed to
the desuperheater inlet based upon system demand. All remaining
steam goes through the main steam stop to the main steam system to
provide superheated steam to the main engine turbines, ship's service
turbine generators (SSTG), and on some ships, the main feed pumps
(MFP).
11. The steam that passes through the desuperheater which is submerged
in the water drum, gives up superheat to the surrounding water.
Steam leaving the desuperheater passes through the auxiliary steam
stop to provide steam to all auxiliary system demands.
12. A summary of the combustion gas flow follows:
a. Combustion gases flow from the furnace through the
screenwall tubes, superheater tubes, main generating bank,

and economizer. The hot combustion gases then pass through

the inner stack and finally exit the stack to the atmosphere.
(Refer to figure 1)