ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

Lecture: 2

Steam Generator

Dr. Md. Ashiqur Rahman

Assistant Professor, ME, BUET
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ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

TODAYS LEARNING OBJECTIVES

What is a steam generator or boiler?
Importance and applications of steam/steam generator

History of steam generation

Steam generation fundamentals

Requirements of a good Boiler

ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

DEFINITION: STEAM GENERATOR

Traditionally known as Boiler

Definition: A boiler is an enclosed container

that provides a means for heat of combustion to
be transferred into the working media (water) until
it becomes steam.
Open vessels, generating steam at
atmospheric pressure are not considered
to be boiler

The heat is generated in the furnace part of the boiler, where fuel is
combusted. It is the function of the boiler to transfer this heat to the
water in the most efficient manner.
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ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

DEFINITION: STEAM GENERATOR

The steam circulates out of the boiler for use in various
process or heating appliances.
Closed system: when 100% of the steam
produced is returned to be reused.
Open system: a system that does not return
the condensate

From industrial context, steam boiler includes a complex

system for producing steam for using in a turbine or in an
industrial process.
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ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

APPLICATIONS OF STEAM
Integral components of steam turbines: prime movers to
produce electricity in all thermal and nuclear power plants.
Electricity generation

Heating
Space heating
Hot water supply
Industrial Processes
Sugar mills
Chemical industry
Paper Industry
Textile mills
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ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

APPLICATION OF STEAM
Distilled water for medicine and pharmaceuticals
Locomotives, Marine applications

ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

HISTORY OF STEAM GENERATION

Steam was used to get mechanical power as early as 2000
years ago.
Among the relics of ancient Egyptian civilization, records
are found of the use of hot air for opening and closing
temple doors.
James Watt is considered the father of the
modern steam engine (17th century).
Applications of steam power grew during the
1700s, when steam engines began to find
use in pumps and mills, and then in vehicles
such as tractors, ships, trains, cars and
farm/industrial machinery.
The age of steam lasted almost 200 years

Heron's Steam Engine

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ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

STEAM GENERATION FUNDAMENTALS

Let us consider a simple boiler Combustion of fuel produces heat, which
makes the water evaporate.
steam

The vapor or steam can escape through a

pipe to transport it to the desired location
water

A simplified schematic
of a boiler

Another pipe brings water (called feedwater) to the container to

replace the water that has evaporated and escaped.
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ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

STEAM GENERATION FUNDAMENTALS

The steam must be safely delivered in desired condition (as
regard its pressure, temperature, quality and required rate)
If steam leaves the boiler faster than water is added, the
pressure in the boiler falls. If water is added faster than it is
evaporated, the pressure rises.

ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

STEAM GENERATION FUNDAMENTALS

Why steam?
Water is a useful, cheap, and widely available medium to use
as a working fluid.
When water is boiled into steam, its volume increases about
1,600 times, producing a force that is almost as explosive as
gunpowder.
The force produced by this expansion is the source of power
in all steam engines.
It also makes the boiler a Dangerous Device!!

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ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

STEAM GENERATION FUNDAMENTALS

BOILING PROCESS
When the boiling temperature is reached (100C at atmospheric
pressure of about 101.3 kPa), the temperature of water does not
increase, rather the heat energy from the fuel results in a change of
phase from a liquid to a gaseous state, i.e., from water to steam.
The boiler provides a continuous process for this conversion
Steam, the gas phase of water, results from adding sufficient heat
to water to cause it to evaporate.
Steam contains a large amount of latent heat

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ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

STEAM GENERATION FUNDAMENTALS

Enthalpy:
A widely used expression for
energy changes in a system.
h = u + pv

Evaporation of water on Temperature- Enthalpy plot

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ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

STEAM GENERATION FUNDAMENTALS

EFFECT OF PRESSURE
If more fuel is burnt, more heat is
generated and transferred to water.
Thus, more steam is generated and
pressure rises inside the boiler.
When less fuel is combusted, less
steam is generated and the
pressure goes down.

At a higher pressure, water evaporates

at higher temperature.

For example, water evaporates at

184C at a pressure of 10 bar (10
atmospheric pressure).
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ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

PROPERTIES OF A GOOD BOILER

1. The boiler should be capable of generating steam at the required
pressure and of the required quality quickly and with minimum
fuel consumption.
2. The initial cost, installation cost and the maintenance cost of the
boiler should not be too high.
3. The boiler should be light in weight, should need the least amount
of brick work construction and should occupy small floor area.
4. The boiler should meet the fluctuating demands or steam supply
without being overheated
5. The different parts of the boiler should be easily approachable for
inspection and repairs.
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ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

PROPERTIES OF A GOOD BOILER

6. The boiler should offer the ease of dismantling the parts and
erection at site within reasonable time and labor.
7. There should be no deposition of mud and other foreign particles
on the heated surfaces

8. The boiler should conform to the safety regulations as laid down in

the "Boilers Act".

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