Even though steam technology has been largely supplanted by other means of transmitting heat and energy, many businesses still use industrial boilers. Hot steam is, after all, one of the best ways to sterilize metal surfaces for food or fermentation purposes. Steam is essential for many industrial processes as well Steam is also a very cost effective way to heat large buildings such as schools or industrial facilities. As such, industrial boilers are a necessary type of equipment for many companies and manufacturers.
There are two primary types of industrial boilers: water tube boilers and fire tube boilers. Fire tube boilers have a long line of flues which are kept filled with hot air by burners. Water is then pumped over these flues to absorb the heat and convert the water into steam. The pipe then passes through the area where the hot air goes out to the smokestack or other exhaust so as to superheat the steam and force it down the line. In coal based fire tube boilers, the exhaust lets up to the outside air in the form of a smokestack, but in many natural gas boilers the hot air is redirected elsewhere so as to not squander the heat. Fire tube boilers often require fans or other air systems in the exhaust to ensure proper airflow.
The second type of boiler is the water tube boiler, which has an enclosed space of superheated air with pipes of water running through it. This type tends to be preferred in modern applications, since it’s design means that it is less prone to catastrophic failure and that the steam can be heated to higher temperatures and pressures, which is key for preventing water-based rusting and corrosion. Like fire tube boilers, fans and ventilation systems may be necessary in order to keep the hot air flowing properly. Many smaller and newer boilers are of this type.
The type of boiler needed is dependent on what the boiler will be used for, what sort of fuel will be available to power it, and what requirements it has in terms of steam production and space. As such, it is essential that anyone seeking an industrial boiler have a representative or boiler salesman examine their facility and boiler needs. Potential buyers should also know that it is not always necessary or wise to buy a boiler. Often it is more cost effective to rent a boiler, especially one which will not be used during certain times of the year. This gives the company which is renting out the boiler time to examine the boiler and conduct maintenance, so as to ensure the boiler is free of potentially explosive defects.