What is Steam Boiler?

Steam
boiler
or
simply
a
boiler is basically a closed
vessel type apparatus which can
produce desired steam from water
by combustion of fuel.

History
Boilers were built as early as the 1st
century AD by Hero of Alexandria but were used
only as toys. Not until the 17th century was
serious consideration given to the potential of
steam power for practical work. The first boiler
with a safety valve was designed by Denis
Papin of France in 1679; boilers were made and
used in England by the turn of the 18th century.
Early boilers were made of wrought iron; as the
advantages of high pressure and temperature
were realized, manufacturers turned to steel.
Modern boilers are made of alloy steel to
withstand high pressures and extremely high
temperatures.

Block Diagram

Efficiency of Steam Boiler

The percentage of total heat exported by outlet steam
in the total heat supplied by the fuel(coal) is called steam
boiler efficiency.

It includes with thermal efficiency, combustion

efficiency & fuel to steam efficiency. Steam boiler
efficiency depends upon the size of boiler used. A typical
efficiency of steam boiler is 80% to 88%. Actually there are
some losses occur like incomplete combustion, radiating loss
occurs from steam boiler surrounding wall, defective
combustion gas etc. Hence, efficiency of steam boiler gives
this result.

Parts of a Steam Boiler

Pressure Gauge- this indicate the

pressure in the steam in the boiler.
Water Level Indicator- this indicate the
water level in boiler
Safety Valve- to prevent the increase of
steam pressure in the holler above ts
design pressure.

Blow-off Cock- passage in removing the

impurities in the boiler
Steam Stop Valve-regulates the flow of
steam supply outside.
Feed Check Valve- this is where the
high pressure feed water is supplied

Types of Boiler

Fire Tube Boiler

In fire tube boiler, the

fuel is burnt inside a furnace.
The hot gases produced in the
furnace then passes through
the fire tubes. The fire tubes
are immersed in water inside
the main vessel of the boiler.
As the hot gases are passed
through these tubes, the heat
energy of the gasses is
transferred to the water
surrounds them.

Advantages
1) Compact in construction.
2) Fluctuation of steam demand can be met easily.
3) Cheaper than water tube boiler.
Disadvantages
1) Due to large water the required steam pressure
rising time quite high.
2) Output steam pressure cannot be very high
since the water and steam are kept in same vessel.
3) The steam received from fire tube boiler is not
very dry.
4) In a fire tube boiler, the steam drum is always
under pressure, so there may be a chance of huge
explosion which resulting to severe accident.

Water Tube Boiler

A water tube boiler is
such kind of boiler where the
water is heated inside tubes
and the hot gasses surround
them. This is the basic
definition of water tube boiler.
Actually this boiler is just
opposite of fire tube
boilers where hot gasses are
passed through tubes which
are surrounded by water.

Advantages
1) Larger heating surface can be
achieved by using more numbers of water
tubes.
2) Due to convectional flow, movement
of water is much faster than that of fire tube
boiler, hence rate of heat transfer is high
which results into higher efficiency.
3) Very high pressure in order of 140
kg/cm2 can be obtained smoothly.
Disadvantages
1.Efficient control system is needed
2.Capital Cost is high

Fuel for Steam Boiler

Wood
Coal
Diesel
Natural Gas
Nuclear Energy

Advantages
Easy to Control
Cost Effective
Non-Hazardous, Environment ,Sound
And Hygienic
Uses Variety of Fuel

Disadvantages
The working
boiler is harsh
temperatures and
take place. The
variously exposed

environment of a steam
because of the high
the changes of state that
interior components are
to air, water and steam.

Application
Marine
applications
Steam
turbine
Locomotives

Thank You!