November 6, 2023
Steam Boiler Efficiency
By becoming more efficient, you are not only saving energy costs for your steam boiler, you are also saving on future maintenance and replacement costs. A well-maintained, optimally set up/operated, and treated boiler will require less energy and water.
Consistent Burner Tuning
It is important to release just the right amount of air into the system. There are consequences of incorrect oxygen amounts such as soot, smoke, carbon monoxide, and decreased efficiency. The burners should be monitored and tuned for seasonal weather changes too.
Optimize Combustion Efficiency
Combustion efficiency describes the effectiveness of consuming a fuel source to produce heat. The more efficient this ratio is, the less fuel will be required to heat an area. To achieve this efficiency, you should utilize flue gas analyzers and oxygen trim sensors. This will determine the right amount of excess air needed.
Thorough Chemical Water Treatment
Heat transfer surfaces on steam boiler systems can become very inefficient if they are not maintained. A scaled boiler could lose 20% of its efficiency and take just as long to descale as it took to accumulate it in some cases. This is why treating the water consistently makes financial sense. An expensive system with high energy efficiency could have corrosion, broken parts, and increased energy costs without treatment. Check out this guide for comprehensive instructions on boiler water treatment.
To schedule steam boiler water treatment fill out a contact form here or call us at 380-224-7395.
Use Economizers
Economizers utilize the unused hot flue gas and repurpose it to heat the system. The heat from the economizer can be directed to the incoming feed water, instead of leaving the system.
Clean the System
The surfaces that conduct heat transfer should be clean. There should not be scale, rust, or any other debris on it. The metal inside boiler systems has highly efficient heat conduction abilities. Anything else on that surface will act as an insulator and block heat transfer. Both the fireside and waterside are important to clean.
Blowdown as Little as Possible
Steam boilers need to utilize blowdown to remove contaminants from water. This helps prevent substances from building up on heat-transfer surfaces and maintains the heat-transfer ability of the water. Some systems can handle more cycles of water going through them than others. This is referred to as “cycles of concentration.” This can depend on how effective your chemical water treatment program is, the water quality in your area, and your boiler system.
For help setting up cycles of concentration for your system, or any inquiries related to chemical water treatment reach out here.
Matt Welsh
Matt Welsh is the Vice President and Water Consultant at Chardon Labs. He helps consult a wide range of customers utilizing various methods of water treatment, from chemical to chemical-free approaches, large and small applications, and across a wide range of geographical influences. With 20 years of water treatment experience, including a wide range of troubleshooting and service in potable water and non-potable HVAC and industrial applications, he is an expert in water treatment chemistry for cooling towers, boilers, and closed-loop systems.