Uses on board ships

For main propulsion in steam powered ships

Producing steam for heating purposes
Exhaust gas boilers are used when the main engine is
running to recover waste heat from exhaust gas thus
improving the plant efficiency
Oil fired boilers are used when more power is required or
when in port
For powering COPTs and simultaneous production of IG
in tankers
For powering turbo generators

Steam

Properties/uses of steam

1.Water boils at a higher temperature when pressure increases

2.If the steam temperature is same as the corresponding boiling point
then it is called wet steam. It essentially contain minute water
droplets which has not been changed to gaseous state. If this steam
is further heated maintaining same pressure, all the water droplets
will be converted to steam. The temperature of the steam will remain
same until all the droplets has converted to steam. This steam is
called dry saturated steam. Any further addition of heat will increase
the temperature and the steam is called superheated steam.
3.Boilers directly produce only wet steam
4.For producing dry/superheated steam saturated steam has to be
heated outside the boiler in super heaters.
5.For normal heating purposes wet steam can be used
6.Super heated steam is used in turbines
7.After the use steam is cooled and pumped back into the boiler
through a hot well.
8.Steam traps are used at heating coil outlets to permit the flow of

The steam diagram

The following diagram gives the state water can exist at different
combination of temperature pressure and volume

Types of boiler
Water tube boiler

In water tube boilers as the name implies water is passed through

the tubes and the smoke or combustion gases passes outside it
Contains two drums called steam and water drums respectively
Steam drum contains half water and steam
Water drum contains only water
Numerous tubes connect these drums which are generally called
water tubes.
These
1.
2.
3.

tubes are categorized as

Generating tubes
Water walls
Down comers

Smoke tube boilers

Smoke tube boilers as the name implies smoke is passed

through tubes which is contained inside the cylindrical shell.
The end plates of smoke tube boilers need to be tied
together to prevent buckling. The smoke tubes themselves
serve this purpose also
The tubes are usually of multi pass design.
Modern smoke tube comes as packaged form complete with
fuel and water management system
Smoke tube boilers are more robust than water tube boilers
and requires comparatively less maintenance. Main
disadvantage is the size.

Comparison of smoke and water tube

boilers
Smoke tube

Water tube

Bulky

Compact

Low efficiency

Higher efficiency

Easy to maintain

Maintenance rather difficult

Robust

Delicate

Used for low capacity installations

Used in high capacity installation like

in crude tankers

High water quality to be maintained

Water quality not so stringent

Water level control is simpler

Water level control sophisticated

Fuel systems
Fuels used are the same as the in main engines
namely HFO
and Diesel
Pilot burners will be using MDO invariably
Different types of burners are used but the
rotary cup type
is more popular
The air required for combustion is to be
controlled correctly
in order to
Maintain good efficiency
Maintain the oxygen content of flue gas
Fuel system is to be maintained for achieving

Boiler water treatment

Water contains lots of dissolved substances
which will
precipitate upon evaporation
On continuous evaporation these chemicals
form scale
deposits on the heating surface and acts as
insulators
causing over heating of tubes
Some dissolved chemicals are corrosive
Water contains dissolved oxygen which causes
corrosion

Measures adopted for treating boiler

water
Using distilled water
Using chemicals to facilitate the formation for
soft
deposits which can be blown down
Using oxygen scavengers to remove oxygen
from water
Regular blowing down to clear settled solid
particles
Maintaining the boiler water slightly alkaline to
prevent
acidic corrosion

Lighting up of boilers
Boilers need to be heated from cold state slowly
to prevent damages caused by uneven
temperature and expansion
The exact procedure for lighting up will be given
in the manual
Lighting time for smoke tube boilers are more
compared to water tube boiler
Care should be taken for accommodating the
expansion of water in the boiler when heated up
The steam drum should be thoroughly purged to
eliminate oxygen before pressing up the boiler

Boiler fittings and accessories

Safety valve: It is used to relieve pressure and
prevent
possible explosion of a boiler.
Water level indicators: They show the
operator the level of
fluid in the boiler, also known as a sight glass,
water gauge
or water column is provided.
Bottom blow down valves: They provide a
means for
removing solid particulates that condense and
lie on the
bottom of a boiler. As the name implies, this

Hand holes: They are steel plates installed in

openings in "header" to allow for inspections &
installation of tubes and inspection of internal
surfaces.
Low- water cutoff: It is a mechanical means
(usually a float switch) that is used to turn off the
burner or shut off fuel to the boiler to prevent it
from running once the water goes below a certain
point. If a boiler is "dry-fired" (burned without
water in it) it can cause rupture or catastrophic
failure.
Surface blow-down line: It provides a means
for removing foam or other lightweight non-

Feed water pump: It is designed to circulate water back

to the
boiler after it has expelled some
of its heat.
Feed water check valve: A non-return stop valve in the
feed water
line. This may be fitted to
the side of the
boiler, just below the water
level, or to the
top of the boiler.
Boiler vent valve: This valve is used to vent the boiler
drum when
depresseurising.
Pressure gauge: to indicate the seam pressure inside the
boiler
Main steam stop valve: The valve through which all the

Survey of boilers
Boiler survey is conducted every two years for the
first eight years and yearly there after
Survey is carried out to ensure the safe operation
of boiler and to remain so until the next survey
The boiler will be inspected thoroughly both
internally and externally during survey
The boiler to be depressurized, drained and
cooled down for survey
All openings to be dismounted
All important valves and mountings to be
overhauled prior to survey and shown to the

Boiler casing and supports will be examined

Previous survey records will be consulted prior survey
Thickness measurement may be done if deemed necessary
After the survey all parts will be boxed up and boiler
pressed up in front of the surveyor
The surveyor then calibrate the pressure guage
The safety valve is then set by the surveyor
The safety valve for exhaust gas boiler will be set by the
chief engineer at sea and a report sent to class