POWER PLANT LAB ME-306(L)

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, PESHAWAR

Lab Report # 2:
Introduction to Steam Boiler

Objectives:
i. To understand what a boiler is and its working principle.
ii. To know about different types of boilers, its applications and selection factors for boiler.

1. Boiler:
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. It is also known as steam generator.

2. Working principle of boiler:

The simple boiler is like a barrel, consisting of a cylindrical steel shell, with the ends
closed by flat steel heads. It is partly filled with water and then sealed, after which a fire is
started beneath it. The fire and hot gases rise around the lower outside of the shell, the heat
being conducted through the steel into the water. This heats the water on the bottom of the
boiler first. Hot water being lighter than cold water, it rises, while the colder water in the upper
part, being heavier, sinks down to replace it and is in turn heated. These are convection
currents, and the process is known as circulation, which goes on continually while a boiler is
in service. Circulation is good in some boilers and poor in others, depending upon the design.

FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2018

 POWER PLANT LAB ME-306(L)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, PESHAWAR

3. Applications of steam boiler:

i. Power production
ii. For air conditioning
iii. Sterilization of surgical instruments
iv. Industrial applications

4. Desirable properties of boiler:

i. Safety
ii. Accessibility
iii. Efficiency
iv. Low capital and maintenance cost

5. Boilers selection factor:

i. Cost of boiler
ii. Space required
iii. Water and fuel availability
iv. Capacity requirement

6. Types of Boiler:
I. According to relative position of water and hot gases:
a. Fire tube boiler
b. Water tube boiler

II. According to position of furnace:

a. Internally fired
b. Externally fired

III. According to number of tubes:

a. Single tube
b. Multiple tube

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 POWER PLANT LAB ME-306(L)
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, PESHAWAR

IV. According to usage:

a. Stationary
b. Moving

V. According to axis of boiler:

a. Vertical
b. Horizontal

VI. According to fuel used:

a. Solid
b. Liquid
c. Gas

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