Industrial boilers: description, types, functions. Industrial expertise of boilers

Equipment for the production of thermal energy has been used by man for several centuries. Throughout this time, the designs of the units have changed, allowing owners to obtain ever higher performance indicators. Nowadays this segment of industrial machinery is represented by a variety of options that differ in size, performance, type of fuel used and other parameters. In the new generation, industrial boilers also acquire automatic control systems with functional relays and control panels. Such additions contribute to the improvement of ergonomics and reliability of the units.

Features of industrial boilers

Unlike household models, industrial equipment is calculated for servicing productive facilities that require high heat output. To fulfill this task, the producers of boilers are oriented. Usually these are massive structures that represent a complex multi-component system of mechanisms and communications. In classical units, devices are used that ensure the production of water vapor or hot water. In the traditional set of elements, which have industrial boilers, include combustion chambers, smoke exhausters, water treatment and nutrient installations, as well as protective devices. As the requirements for production indicators increase, this list expands, supplemented by new components of the working infrastructure.

What are the functions of industrial boilers?

A traditional unit of this type serves to generate steam, which is then used as a medium for driving motors. In particular, such tasks are performed in power units of locomotives and turbines of power plants. For modern industry, steam production is less relevant, and the function of supplying thermal energy comes to the fore. A kind of technical heat is required for the needs of various industries, including textile production and agriculture. In municipal services, industrial heating boilers are also used, which also provide the preparation of hot water. Depending on the operating conditions and the requirements for the equipment, a boiler with these or other properties and capabilities is selected. To understand the differences between variations of such aggregates, one should familiarize themselves with their classification.

Classification of equipment

There are two approaches to the separation of industrial boilers - based on the types of coolant and the fuel used. As for the first feature, water is used most often as a working environment, although steam also does not lose its relevance. Less commonly, mercury, various antifreezes and other mixtures are used, which basically perform the functions of technological support of the target objects. The structural features that industrial boilers possess are more pronounced in the classification of aggregates by the type of fuel used. In this case, equipment is allocated, working on solid-state resources, gas mixtures, electricity, etc.

Steam Units

Representatives of this category, as the name implies, is designed to produce steam. Units of industrial type produce it for the needs of technical support. In particular, such equipment is used in woodworking enterprises. Steam influence allows to keep optimum parameters of humidity in drying chambers. In medicine, industrial steam boilers serve to sterilize overalls and working equipment, and agriculture uses them in the manufacture of fertilizers and mixed fodders. It is important to separate saturated and superheated steam . In the industries listed above, a saturated heat carrier is used. Superheated steam, in turn, finds application in special turbines of power plants. Therefore, boilers of this type are also called energy boilers. Often, the aggregates that produce superheated steam are used in a single complex with generators of saturated thermal media. This nuance also makes it possible to relate power plants to industrial boilers.

Hot water boilers

This is one of the most extensive categories of industrial boilers. Water - heating models are used to prepare working media under high pressure. Boiling of water in the equipment is not allowed, and the pressure indices at all points do not exceed the threshold values for creating conditions for saturation of the coolant. Water heaters are mainly used for the purpose of heat supply. In particular, they are used in public utilities to service district boiler houses. Distributed and industrial hot water boilers designed to provide the function of thermal power plants. These are the so-called peak aggregates, the functions of which are reduced to the allocation of additional heating. In this case, boilers of this type are also subdivided into water and gas-tube models. Water tube installations have a screen heating surface, which includes boiling elements with a liquid heat carrier content. The heat exchange process is realized by heating the tubes with combustion products. Gas tube models also contain small pipes on the working surface of the heating, but directly the combustion products are used as the coolant.

Gas fired boilers

Engineering and utility equipment operating on gas fuel is traditionally considered to be the most economical in terms of operating costs. In addition, the full cycle of processing of combustion products is also reflected in the minimum emission of harmful particles into the atmosphere. Also, the advantages of such boilers include a high rate of heating, which allows you to serve large areas without delays. Not yet across the country, but in general there is a tendency for stable gas supply, so the relevance of such equipment is also growing. But industrial gas boilers have serious drawbacks. The most important of them is security. Still, the exploitation of gas in the form of a fuel component and partly of a coolant is theoretically a threat of an explosion. Realizing this nuance, manufacturers are trying to minimize such risks. For such purposes, automatic control systems for boilers are improved, and their bodies are made of high-strength modern materials.

Solid fuel equipment

Such boilers use firewood, peat, pellets, coal, etc. as a fuel resource. The design of the unit provides for an ash pit, in which the processed products are sent as fuel burns. In the need for constant maintenance of equipment with cleaning and cleaning ash and the loading of solid fuel components is one of the main disadvantages of such models. However, it is industrial units in this sense that are not so problematic, since they are supplied with automatic mechanisms for fulfilling the tasks of content. In addition, industrial solid fuel boilers are autonomous. While most analogues involve connection to basic engineering communications, such an aggregate is completely independent and requires only timely delivery of fuel. The duration of work with the return of thermal energy is small, which limits the scope of application of a solid fuel boiler.

Universal boilers

The concept of universal equipment today is most fully disclosed on the example of solid fuel and bio-boiler. The relevance of models that can work on several fuels is due to the desire of producers to promote biofuel. Not all consumers are ready to switch to fuel granules, therefore, the developers, almost as an option, supply classical industrial boilers with cameras for working with the same pellets. As a result, we obtain hybrid designs that are characterized by their multifunctionality and financial efficiency.

Expertise of industrial boilers

It has already been noted that gas boilers are considered the most dangerous equipment in their class, but certain risks presuppose the operation of other types of units. To prevent undesirable situations at the enterprises, special examinations are carried out, the purpose of which is to check the condition of the equipment and the quality of performance of maintenance standards. An expert examination of the industrial safety of boilers is carried out in the following cases:

• After the development of the assigned resource of the unit.
• After recovery from the consequences of the accident.
• After repair operations or equipment upgrades.

Also, the need for expertise can be caused by doubts as to the performance of the rules of operation. Especially if there were violations of the instructions or defects in the boiler itself.

Manufacturers

The segment is wide enough and it is possible to find a suitable option for almost any task. For example, under Byworth brand reliable and durable water-heating boilers with a capacity of 1000-5000 kW are produced. The range also includes models for working on solid fuels and diesel. If high industrial safety of boilers is required, then it makes sense to refer to the products of De Dietrich Thermique. The company produces a family of reliable combined aggregates with cast-iron housings that can be used to service utilities and manufacturing enterprises. For smaller scale tasks, it is worthwhile to consider the Turkish models of Erensan hot water boilers. The units are suitable for both gas fuel and liquid supply.

Conclusion

In addition to the principle of operation and structural design, the boiler equipment is also characterized by performance indicators. The capacity of the furnace, the generated power, as well as the volumes of thermal energy are no less important parameters that characterize the operation of the unit. Recently, the importance of safety issues of such equipment has been increasing. Regular industrial expertise of boilers allows timely detection of equipment malfunctions, as well as deviations from the standards of its maintenance. However, manufacturers themselves in different directions increase the safety of their products. Suffice it to note the improvement of control systems and control of boilers, additional strengthening of buildings and increasing maintenance requirements.