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Facts About Commercial And Industrial Boilers

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By Donald Parker


A boiler refers to a vessel, usually closed, which his used for heating fluids. Fluids are heated but do not necessarily boil. In such a case, the word furnace is used more often in North America, especially Sutton, WV. The high pressure steam produced by heating fluid is used in various applications and processes. Such applications include boiler-based power generation, water heating, and central heating. Vapor from commercial and industrial boilers can also be used for sanitation and heating.

Today, the types of boilers being used are very many. The material used for manufacture depends on the type of boiler in question. The pressure vessel of the boiler is usually made from steel and its other alloys. Parts that come in contact with water are usually not made from stainless steel, especially stainless steels of austenitic types. The reason for this is because of stress corrosion cracking and corrosion.

Parts that are not exposed to water are often made from ferritic stainless steel. Copper and brass are often used in some applications, especially in smaller models of boilers because they are easier to fabricate. Copper has historically been used, but has dropped in popularity because of its high cost. Instead, cheaper alternatives like steel are dominating the industry. Wrought and cast iron are also still in use in certain applications such as domestic water heaters.

Initially, riveting was the main method used for joining the various parts of the equipment. However, with the advent of the 20th century, steel started gaining popularity as wrought iron became less used and welding became a better option. Welding parts together can be done faster and requires less labor than riveting.

However, steal falls short in some aspects where wrought iron excels. To start with, the rate of corrosion in steel is much higher than in wrought iron. Secondly, vulnerability to stress corrosion and localized pitting is higher in devices made from steel than those made from this iron. Lastly, wrought iron devices are more durable than steel ones.

A boiler uses different kinds of fuels for generating heat. Among them are oil, natural gas, wood, and coal. However, technological advancement has made it possible for production of electric steam models which rely on immersion-type or resistance heating elements. There is also increase in popularity of nuclear fission for generating steam used in power generation purposes.

The use and manufacture of these devices needs to be done at high levels of safety. For that reason, there are organizations that set design specifications and regulate standards and codes followed in the industry. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is one such organization that provides rules and directives to ensure compliance in how pressure vessels are designed and produced.

Steam generated from a boiler is an effective way of moving energy from one place to another. However, it needs to be confined in suitably made pipes. Otherwise, it can lead to damage of property and loss of life. Historically, these appliances have resulted in a lot of damages and deaths.




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