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Electric steam boiler

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For other types of electric boiler, see Electric boiler.

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An electric steam boiler is a type of

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boiler where the steam is generated

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using electricity, rather than through the

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combustion of a fuel source. Such

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boilers are used to generate steam for

process purposes in many locations, for

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example laundries, food processing

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factories and hospitals. Although they

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are more expensive to run than gas-

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fired or oil-fired boilers they are popular because of their simplicity and ease of
use. Because of the large currents required, they are normally run from a threephase electricity supply. They convert electrical energy into thermal energy with
almost 100% efficiency but the overall thermal efficiency is variable, depending
on the efficiency with which the electricity is generated.

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Electric Steam Boiler on the TSGB

Contents [hide]
1 Making steam with an electric boiler
2 Advantages
2.1 Safety of operation of electric boilers over fuel heated boilers
2.2 Other benefits

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2.3 Sustainability
3 Disadvantages
4 Potential future
5 See also
6 References

Making steam with an electric boiler

[edit]

The process of creating steam with an electric boiler is fairly simple. Electricity is
run through a heating element that acts as a resistor to create heat through
resistance. Water from the system or holding tank is then run over or near this
hot element in a pipe or tank, heating the water to a suitable temperature, then
making the water hot enough to boil and become saturated steam,[1] at which
point the saturated steam is transported to wherever it is needed via the steam
pipes that exit the body of the electric boiler. Electric steam boilers work in a
very similar way to fire heated boilers with the exception of what heats the
water.

Advantages

[edit]

Some experts that work with boilers on a day-to-day basis feel that electric
boilers are actually superior to fuel heated boilers in a few ways. Those experts
say[2] that using electric boilers may actually be cheaper than using a fuel
heated boiler, while also possibly being much more environmentally friendly.
The electric boilers also require less equipment to be installed than a traditional
boiler helping to reduce the high installation costs that will come with a fuel
heated boiler. Electric Boilers can fit into smaller areas due to the way they are
constructed and the lack of required parts that a fuel heated boiler requires to
operate.[2]

Safety of operation of electric boilers over fuel heated boilers [edit]

Because electric boilers do not use complicated forms of heat exchange for
example tradition fuel heated boilers require multiple different parts to operate
successfully they do not contain many of the potential hazards that a fuel
heated boiler can present. Electric boilers are also much easier to maintain
because they do not need tube replacement that a fire heated boiler would
require, due to soot and fuel residue, or any of the fire maintenance required for
a fire heated boiler.[3] Electric boilers have smaller carbon footprints than their
traditional cousins: fuel heated steam boilers, and require less space overall[4]
making them a good choice for a smaller operations that are in need of a boiler.

Other benefits [edit]

Some other possible benefits that should be considered are sustainability due to
their low maintenance requirements, marketability due to the idea of green is
better,[3] regulations because it is not as dangerous to run than a traditional fire
heated boiler.

Sustainability [edit]
Electric steam boilers are more sustainable than their cousins the more
traditions fire heated boiler. They are more sustainable because they do not
require as much energy to be put into them for efficient operation at capacity.
This is due to the fact that there is not a lot of energy lost when the transfer of
heat from the heating apparatus to the water occurs, unlike traditional fire
heated boilers where there is a substantial amount of energy loss because of
the way that the flames must be kept lit and healthy.[2] Marketability: Electric
steam boilers are much more marketable then regular boilers to people that
would use them for small applications because it can be sold with the idea that it
is green and much healthier for the environment that buying and operating a fire
heated boiler.[3]

Disadvantages

[edit]

Electric boilers are sometimes looked down upon by some experts for multiple
factors. These factors stem from the fact that the electricity that is used to
power electric steam boilers has to be generated somewhere. As well as the

use of electricity it is not free especially considering that most electric boilers
require a good deal of electricity to run at efficient and full capacity, which add
on top of the problems of using it to boil water. Generating the power required
to run an electric boiler can create just as many if not more pollution/emissions
than burning fuel in the traditional boiler. Electricity is expensive, and with
expected rises in the price of electricity the use of it in electric boilers will come
with a large price.[3] Also one other possibility is in the event of a power outage,
or a brownout, the boiler would become unusable, whereas gas boilers do not
necessarily need an external power source to run.

Potential future

[edit]

Some feel electric boilers will be competitive in the market for years to come,
due to the efficiency, and perks that an electric steam boiler offers over the
traditional fire heated boiler. Experts also feel that electric boilers have a large
amount of marketability, which will greatly help keep them relevant in the
industry. Electric boilers also have lighter regulations than fire heated boilers,
which can make them an attractive choice to some potential buyers.

See also

[edit]

Electric-steam locomotive
Steam generator (railroad)
Electrode Boiler

References

[edit]

1. ^ Stultz, S. C. (1992). Steam: its generation and use. (40 ed., Vol. 1).
Barberton: The Babcock & Wilcox Company.
2. ^

a bc

Malek, M. (2005). Boiler Design. Power boiler design, inspection and

repair (). New York: McGraw-Hill.

3. ^

a bc d

Junge, S. (2009). Cost-effective electric boilers.Heating/Piping/Air

Conditioning Engineering,81(1), BSE22-BSE26.

4. ^ Blarke, M. (2012). Towards an indeterminacy-friendly energy system:
Comparing electric boilers and heat pumps in distributed cogeneration. Applied
Energy, 91(1), 349-365.

Categories: Boilers

This page was last modified on 9 July 2014, at 06:14.

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