Steam boilers are one of the most efficient and powerful machinery that a lot of industries rely on. Not only are businesses the ones relying on them, but also, residential users, too. Steam boilers have a lot of purposes. Aside from heat and steam production, their performance indicators complete the important work processes in different industries.
It can be frustrating to choose the right steam boiler if you’re looking to purchase one. Most especially, if you know nothing about them and the factors that you should look out for. If you previously owned a steam boiler, you probably have an idea of how to choose a better steam boiler model. If you’re a business owner who relies on boilers for business operation, choosing a new boiler model surely is a no-brainer for you.
But, if it’s your first time looking for a steam boiler and doesn’t exactly know which aspects to prioritise, don’t worry. To help you, here are 5 tips to look for when purchasing a steam boiler.
1. Know which type of steam boiler you need
Before anything else, let’s start with the type of steam boiler that you’ll need. Before looking for certain characteristics, you should first know the type of boiler that you’re targeting. There are two types of steam boilers that people commonly choose from. They are the fire tube boiler and the water tube boiler.
In terms of size, fire tube boilers are bigger and would require a large floor area for installation. On the other hand, water tube boilers are easy to transport and are usually, smaller in size. Also, in terms of construction, water tube boilers are easier to construct than fire tubes. Since fire tube boilers have a design that is based on an old working principle, they are harder to clean and repair than water tube boilers.
The biggest difference between the two is their capability to produce temperatures and pressure. Between the two, the water tube boiler is the type that can produce higher temperatures and pressure. Also, water tubes are more utilised in large power plants.
Before you start your steam boiler hunt, know the type of boiler that you need. It would be best to identify the purpose of the boiler first. From there, do your research to understand better which type of boiler would work best for you. If you own a business that does process or manufacturing work, you’ll likely need a water tube boiler than a fire tube one.
2. Look into the startup time of boilers
Now that you know the type of boiler that you need, it’s time to look into performance capacities. One thing to know is that steam boilers usually take a while before they can operate after starting them. If you’re using the boiler for your business, you might need a certain time frame as to how fast the boiler can operate.
Usually, most boilers take about 5 to 20 minutes of startup time. This will also vary depending on the size of your boiler. If you have a big boiler size, it will likely take some time before it can be ready for operation.
As you scout for the best boiler, inquire and test out their startup time. If you’ll utilise the boiler for your business, it would be best to go for one with a reasonable startup time. But, it’s also important to not overlook and disregard the performance capacity of the boiler. Remember, startup time is just one aspect. Pressure and steam production are still important factors that you should never disregard.
3. Check its water volume capacity
Steam boilers need a certain water level and pressure to produce steam. That is why water volume in a boiler is important. If a boiler has a low water volume, it likely won’t be able to produce the right temperature for heat transfer. The same goes for the steam production that you need.
When scouting for the right steam boiler, make sure that you go for one that has a high water volume. Keep in mind that boilers need an adequate water area surface from which their steam will be released.
If you are to purchase a boiler for your business, this is very vital. Most especially if you’ll have a fast-paced workload that needs to be attended to. If a boiler has a high water volume, it means that it is capable of storing higher and more steam for its operation.
4. Choose one that can be attended quickly for maintenance
As you use your steam boiler, over time, problems can happen. And, that’s normal. At some point in time, you might need your vessel to be cleaned or a certain part to be replaced. Technically, boilers require low maintenance. But, once it needs to, it can be hard to have it fixed. Most especially if no parts supplier in your area is compatible with your steam boiler.
If you happen to find a highly efficient boiler model, take the time to ask about its maintenance precautions. Also, if ever the boiler breaks down, ask about the basic solutions that you can do for prevention. Should it need part replacements, know where you can bring it for repairs, as well as if other brands are compatible with the boiler.
It would be nice to find the best boiler that you can utilise for your business or home use. But, you should keep in mind that if ever your steam boiler needs to be repaired, you should be able to attend to it quickly. It would be such a hassle to stop your work operation because your boiler needs to be checked. To avoid any situation like that, know what to do and where to bring it to for repairs and maintenance.
Don’t overlook the importance of research and understanding how you’ll utilise the steam boiler
The 4 tips I discussed above are just some of the basic aspects that you should know and look for in a boiler. Other aspects will vary depending on how you’ll utilise the boiler to your advantage. Before you purchase one, make sure that you do your research.
Also, never underestimate the importance of understanding how you’ll make use of the boiler. That way, you get to look for one that can produce and meet the standards that you’ll need in your operation.
About the author:
Bianca Banda is a writer for Trilogy Boilers Australia, a veteran in specialized boiler and burner installations, servicing, engineering, industrial gas plumbing, and more.