What is a boiler

Boiler

• Boiler is the heart of the process plant and steam system.
• A boiler is an enclosed vessel that provides a means for combustion and transfers heat to water until it becomes hot water or steam. The hot water or steam under pressure is then usable for transferring the heat to a process.
• In case of Liquid or gas fired boiler, fuel burns in the burner, whereas, in case of solid fuel fired boiler, fuel burns in furnace chamber and transfers heat to the boiler tubes.

Boiler

Function of a boiler :

• The function of boiler is to convert  feed water into steam.
• The fluid is contained in the boiler drum called shell and thermal energy released during combustion of fuel is transferred to water and this converts water into steam at the desired temperature and pressure.

Types of boiler

There are two general types of boilers:

Fire tube boiler

• In fire tube boiler the fire or hot gas are present inside the tubes and water surrounds these fire tubes. Since fire is inside the tubes and hence it is named as fire tube boiler.

Water tube boiler

• In water tube boilers, the water is present inside the tubes and the fire or hot gases surrounds these water tubes.