How Does a Boiler Work?

A boiler is a vessel that contains water, which isthe boiler four times before letting out the stack.
heated to a desired level in order to produceThe firetube boiler systems can release up to
steam by burning natural gases, coal, oil and wood25,000lbs or 750hp of steam per hour. About
pellets. The steam hence produced is piped to a80% of the boilers that are in use today belong
spot where it can be utilized to run the productionto this particular category.
units, to sanitize an area, to sterilize equipments,Watertube Boilers: The fuel or hot gases are
to warm up the surroundings, to heat up thereleased on to and the area around the outer
water, etc.surface of tubes filled with water. The tubes are
A boiler is comprised of a separate containervertically arranged in the shell. Watertube boilers
called burner, which is attached to it. The steamare generally built in rectangular shape with two or
needed to heat homes, buildings and otherthree drums. While the top drum is used for
structures is created by the fuel that is burnedseparating water and steam, the bottom drum is
and supplied to the boiler from the burner. Naturalused to collect the sludge. They are usually utilized
gas is released into the boiler through a specialwhen more than 750hp of steam per hour is
pipe, tank that is pressurized is used to supply therequired.
oil while the wood pellets are propelled into theThe fuel or hot gases released into the boiler
burner. These fuels interact with air and arefrom the burner heats up the water causing the
burned in order to provide the necessary heattemperature to rise up to 212 degree Fahrenheit.
needed to convert water into steam.That is when the steam is formed. The steam
Once the fuel is supplied into the burner andgenerated is then circulated throughout the building
heated up to the required point, the gases or theor home using radiators, vents and pipes,
fire from the fuel is directly released into thespecifically created for heat transferring.
boiler to heat up the water. This can happen inSome of the heat is retained in the boiler as the
one of the two ways depending on the type ofheat required for keeping the building or home
boiler used.warm needs to be regulated, or else they will get
There are mainly two types of boilers that workoverheated. Since more steam is produced as the
in different ways to produce heat.temperature increases, it is essential to check the
Firetube Boilers: The most commonly used areboiler and ensure that excess pressure is not built.
firetube or shell boilers. In firetube boilers the fireTo check the pressure build up, run your boiler for
or hot gases released from the burner are runshort durations of time. Furthermore, they have
through within the tubes inside the shell of theto be maintained regularly to keep them in
boiler with water surrounding them. The tubes areoptimum working condition.
set in banks in order to let the gases go through