The large number of industrial process heating applications that require steam means that system requirements can vary greatly from one to the next. Rob Brown, technical manager for industrial boiler plants at Bosch Commercial and Industrial Heating, explains the need for a complete bespoke steam boiler system design, and the highlights the benefits of working with a (Read More)
multi-appliance manufacturer.
“The requirement for steam in industrial applications ranges greatly. From power stations through to food and drink manufacturing, the demand for steam spans across both the private and public sectors. What was once associated with locomotives and the industrial revolution, is still an essential product for a number of sophisticated modern technologies.
“In simple terms, a steam boiler consists of a pressure vessel with an integrated flame tube, reversing chambers and gas flues – all of which are surrounded by boiler water. The feed water is supplied through a water level controller which is fed by a duty/standby pump or external ring main system, independent of the heating. The steam escapes from the water level surface, through a crown valve, and is transported to its relevant application.
“When it comes to the physical delivery of steam to its point of use, the range of boilers available means different temperature and pressure requirements can be catered for. Using a steam boiler with three pass technology, it is possible to deliver saturated steam up to 235°C in temperature, at a pressure of up to 30 bar. This is ideal for applications that have medium to high output requirements such as hospitals, power stations and also process facilities that require a high transfer of heat.
“The introduction of steam boilers equipped with flame/smoke tubes, allow a greater recovery of heat contained in the flue gases. This increases the energy efficiency of the boiler by up to seven per cent in dry running operation, and up to fifteen per cent in condensing operations. By coupling this heat recovery capability with the latest burner technology, CO2 emissions can also be kept to a minimum. For those keen to establish favourable environmental credentials meanwhile, a completely neutral CO2 level is possible through the use of bio-oils or bio-gases for steam generation.
“When it comes to industrial plant applications, the heating provision should always be considered in its own right, as the requirements of the building, the application, and the end-user will always differ from case to case. That said, the steam boiler technology available to stakeholders in the industrial sector, is capable of providing a very efficient means of meeting process heating delivery requirements. The requirements of the application will ultimately determine how the system needs to be designed, and the fact that steam boiler systems are not procured in an ‘off the shelf’ manner, means bespoke system design is a necessity.
“Like any other market within the heating industry, there will continue to be product innovations which create new opportunities to maximise process heating efficiency. The key to maximising this is to work with a multi-appliance manufacturer which can design a bespoke system to meet the needs of the end user, whilst ensuring compliance with legislation requirements.
“It is important to bear in mind the fact that there is never such a thing as ‘one solution fits all’ when it comes to industrial process heating installations.”
For more information on Bosch Commercial and Industrial Heating and its range of steam boilers, visit http://www.bosch-industrial.co.uk or call 0330 123 3004.
