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Technical Tips & Information
Boiler Efficiency Definitions
Boiler efficiency can be measured in a number of different ways and can lead to confusion.Combustion efficiency is measured by a stack analyzer and measures how efficiently you are burning your fuel. Typical readings for most any boiler are 80-81%. This measurement tells you little about the over efficiency of your boiler operations.
Fuel to steam efficiency is the comparison of fuel BTUs consumed compared to steam BTUs delivered to the plant. To arrive at the efficiency measurement, you need flow meters to measure fuel flow to the boilers and steam flow to the plant. Typically measurement ranges are 65-79% for firetube boilers. Water tube boilers will typically be 2-3% less. This is a much more accurate measurement of your boiler operations since it takes into account combustion efficiency, radiation losses, blow down, boiler load factors and other issues which are related to boiler operations.
In service efficiency looks at totalized fuel and steam flow rates over a period of typically 30 days. In essence, we are using the same flow meter data from fuel to steam efficiency data but looking at information recorded over a 30 day period. This measurement takes into account start up and load patterns for your boiler operations. It can be affected by the number of times your boilers start and stop, idle time, and your operating habits such as having no lead lag controls on multiple boilers in operation. Typical range for firetube boilers is 60-75% and a bit less for water tube boilers.
Without flow meters to measure fuel and steam flows, you are really operating your boilers without any real definitive efficiency information. In past days when fuel costs were low, it was probably not a major issue. Boiler fuel costs have more than doubled in the past 2 years. Where they will be in the future is any ones guess. With no meters, you are operating without any real information. We can provide a full range of meters to meet your requirements as well as doing the installation and start up if needed. Meters are also becoming more important to monitor emission information for governmental regulations.
Miura boilers provide 85% in service efficiency based on many installations in operation in Georgia since 1993. State of the art construction, PLC based boiler management controls, PLC based lead lag control systems, and economizers as standard all combine to offer this very high in service efficiency. If you are considering new boilers, adding boilers, or an upgrade to your steam system, please give us a call for more information on Miura boilers. Miura also offers a full range of hot water boilers which offer 80% in service efficiency. We can also provide a complete turn key installation.