Boiler room, as one of the critical components in building and industrial installations plays a key role in supplying heat and hot water. Considering the significant importance of these systems’ performance, the proper selection and maintenance of boiler room components can significantly influence energy efficiency and cost reduction. Moreover, familiarity with the structure and various components of the boiler room is essential for engineers and technicians to maximize the performance and safety of these systems.
What is a boiler room?
It is a part of a building or industrial facilities responsible for heat production, distribution, and supplying domestic hot water. This system comprises various interconnected components, including filters, water softeners, dosing systems, boilers, burners, pumps, heat exchangers, expansion tanks, and deaerators, all working together. Boiler room is typically located in basement or ground floor of buildings, where easy access to equipment and facilities is available. Additionally, this area should be away from residential units and equipped with proper ventilation to minimize noise and pollution.
Different types of boiler rooms
Boiler rooms are divided into the following types based on various applications: residential-commercial boiler rooms and industrial boiler rooms. Additionally, based on the type of heating system, they can be divided into two categories of hot water boiler rooms and steam boiler rooms.
Different boiler room types in terms of application
These systems are divided into the following types based on various needs and applications:
Residential-commercial boiler room
This type provides centralized heating and hot water for residential and commercial buildings. Residential-commercial boiler room produces and distributes the necessary heat and hot water for buildings using hot water boilers, piping systems, pumps, and control systems. For small buildings, a heating package is the ideal choice; a compact and independent system that simultaneously provides hot water and space heating. However, for large buildings such as skyscrapers and shopping centers, a hot water boiler is used in the central boiler room, which provides and distributes the required hot water and heating for the entire building in a centralized and stable manner.
Industrial boiler room
Industrial boiler room is a centralized system designed to supply hot water, steam, and heating needs in various industries. These systems use steam boilers to produce high-temperature and high-pressure steam, and hot water boilers to supply hot water. The steam produced in the steam boiler is used in various industries for multiple applications, such as providing energy for industrial processes, electricity generation in power plants, sterilization in the pharmaceutical industry, and also in the food industry.
Different types of boiler rooms in terms of type of heating system
Boiler rooms are classified into the following categories based on the type of heating system used:
Hot water boiler room
These boiler rooms are used to produce hot water, which is applied in central heating systems and sanitary hot water supply. In these systems, water is heated to a specific temperature and then directed towards radiators or fan coils for space heating, or towards a storage tank to supply domestic hot water. These types of boiler rooms are used in both residential-commercial buildings and industrial units.
Steam boiler room
A steam boiler room is used to produce high-temperature, high-pressure steam. The steam generated in these systems is used in large industries for thermal processes, power generation, or other industrial processes. These types of boiler rooms are typically used in industrial units such as power plants, petrochemical plants, food industries, and other large industries.
Main components of hot water boiler rooms and steam boiler rooms
The main components of boiler rooms can be explained separately for hot water boiler room and steam boiler room. In hot water boiler rooms, the components include water treatment systems (filters, water softeners, and chemical dosing systems), circulator pumps, hot water boilers, burners, expansion tanks, heat exchangers (like coiled tanks), pipes, and fittings. In steam boiler rooms, some components are the same as those in hot water boiler rooms, but there are also additional components like deaerators, condensate tanks, and blowdown tanks. Additionally, instead of hot water boilers and circulator pump, steam boiler rooms use steam boiler and feedwater pump.
Water treatment system
One of the components of a hot water boiler room is the water treatment system, which involves a set of processes designed to enhance water quality and remove pollutants, harmful substances, and impurities.
Proper water treatment prevents problems like corrosion, scale formation, equipment damage, and reduced system efficiency. The water treatment system has three main components: a water filter, a water softener, and a chemical dosing system. The water filter removes suspended particles and larger impurities such as dirt. The water softener minimizes calcium and magnesium ions, preventing scale formation in boilers, tubes, and other equipment. The scale, caused by water hardness, can reduce system efficiency, increase energy consumption, and shorten the equipment lifespan.
Hot water boiler
A crucial component of a hot water boiler room is the hot water boiler itself, which is used to provide the hot water required for heating systems and domestic hot water supply. It operates by heating water to a set temperature using fuels like natural gas or oil. The hot water is then pumped to heating systems such as radiators and fan coils or to heat exchangers, like coiled tanks, for domestic hot water heating. After losing its heat, the water returns to the boiler, where it is reheated to continue the cycle.
Burner
Another important component of a hot water boiler room is the burner whose primary function is to produce a flame by burning fuel (natural gas, oil, or heavy oil) and transfer the energy generated from the fuel combustion to the heat transfer fluid in the boiler. Burners are categorized into gas burners and oil burners based on the type of fuel used. Gas burners utilize natural gas, while oil burners use light oil for combustion. For optimal combustion, the mixing of fuel and air must be precise and in the correct ratio to maximize energy output while minimizing emissions like NOx and carbon dioxide. Safety is also a major concern, as any malfunction in the burner can lead to explosions or fires.
Expansion tank
Another component of a hot water boiler room is the expansion tank. This tank is designed to compensate for changes in water volume within the system. As the water heats up, its volume expands, leading to an increase in system pressure. The expansion tank absorbs this extra pressure to prevent damage to the equipment. There are two main types of expansion tanks:
- Open expansion tank: This type of tank is a simple, lidless container that is directly exposed to the atmosphere. It is commonly found in older systems and is usually installed at the highest point of the system.
- Closed expansion tank: This type is found in modern boiler rooms and adjusts excess pressure using an internal diaphragm.
Heat exchanger
Another component of a hot water boiler room is the heat exchangers, which are devices used to transfer heat between two fluids. In boiler rooms, indirect heat exchangers are more common. It means heat transfer occurs without direct mixing of the two fluids. One common type of heat exchanger is the coiled tank. This type consists of a heating coil inside the tank. Hot water from the boiler flows through the coil, transferring heat to the water in the tank. These types of heat exchangers are often used to provide domestic hot water for homes, hotels, offices, and buildings.
Circulator pump
Another part of a hot water boiler room is the circulator pump, which plays a crucial role in circulating and distributing hot water throughout the heating system. This centrifugal pump continuously transfers hot water from the boiler to the heat exchangers and other parts of the heating system, then returns the cooled water to the boiler for reheating. The circulator pump ensures a constant flow of water, preventing pressure loss in the system. In general, the circulation pump is used to circulate hot water in the heating system, while the feed water pump is used to supply inlet water to the steam boiler.
Pipes and fittings
These components are another part of a hot water boiler room, as they transfer hot water, cold water, or steam within the system. These pipes must be made of materials resistant to high temperatures and pressure, and should be properly insulated to prevent energy loss. The fittings should also be designed to withstand varying pressures and temperatures, ensuring that no leaks occur.
Components of steam boiler room
In steam boiler rooms, many of the components used in hot water boiler rooms, such as the water treatment system, burner, expansion tank, coiled tank, pipes, and fittings are common. However, additional components such as the deaerator, condenser tank, and blowdown tank are added to these boiler rooms. Additionally, instead of the hot water boiler and circulator pump, steam boilers and feed water pumps are used in steam boiler rooms. These changes are due to the specific requirements of steam systems for generating and managing steam, which differ from those for hot water.
Steam boiler
One of the components of a steam boiler room is the steam boiler, which is responsible for producing steam by heating water. In this device, water is converted into steam with the help of heat generated from the fuel combustion (such as gas, oil, or heavy oil). The steam produced in the boiler is directed to various parts of the system for using in heating or industrial processes. By generating high-pressure steam, the steam boiler provides the necessary energy for many heating and industrial applications and is considered as a critical component in steam boiler rooms.
feedwater pump
Another key component of a steam boiler room is the feedwater pump, which provides high pressure water to the steam boiler. It pumps treated water from the deaerator to the boiler to be used in steam production. The feed water pump must be able to supply water at the right pressure and flow rate, as sufficient pressure is essential for the boiler to operate efficiently. The main difference between this pump and the circulator pump lies in their applications and pressure requirements. The feed water pump is a multistage pump designed for supplying high-pressure water to the steam boiler, while the circulator pump is a centrifugal pump used for circulating water at medium pressure in a hot water boiler room.
deaerator
Another component of the steam boiler room is the deaerator, which is designed to remove oxygen and carbon dioxide gases from the feedwater. The presence of these gases in the water causes it to become acidic, ultimately leading to corrosion and damage to the boiler equipment. The deaerator operates by directing a portion of the steam produced by the boiler into the deaerator, which raises the temperature of the water inside. As the temperature increases, the solubility of the dissolved gases in the water decreases, causing the oxygen and carbon dioxide to separate from the water. These gases are then expelled through the vent at the top of the deaerator. This process helps maintain the health of the boiler, improves its efficiency, and prevents damage to the system.
condenser tank
The condenser tank is a key element of the steam boiler system, which is responsible for collecting and storing water resulting from steam condensation. After the condensed water exits the system, it is collected in the condenser tank and sent back to the boiler as feedwater to re-enter the steam generation cycle. This water recovery process not only reduces water consumption but also improves the efficiency of the steam boiler by returning preheated water to the system.
blowdown tank
One of the essential parts of the steam boiler system is the blowdown tank. During steam generation, minerals and impurities gradually accumulate at the bottom of the boiler, which can damage equipment and reduce boiler efficiency. To prevent this issue, the blowdown valve, installed at the bottom of the boiler, discharges water containing these impurities into the blowdown tank. The primary function of the blowdown tank is to reduce the temperature of the discharged water before it enters the sewage system and to release excess steam contained in it. The excess steam escapes through the vent at the top, while the collected water is directed to the sewage system from the tank’s bottom.
The operation of a residential-commercial boiler room
In residential heating systems, the main function of the boiler room is to provide the necessary heat for space heating and hot water supply. The boiler room heats water to a specified temperature using hot water boilers, which is then circulated through pumps to the building’s heating circuit, including radiators, fan coils, or underfloor heating. When hot domestic water is required, the hot water flows through the coil of a coiled tank, heating the domestic water inside the tank. After heat transfer and heating the space or providing domestic hot water, the cooled water from the heating systems returns to the boiler room to be reheated in the boiler and re-enter the heating and domestic hot water supply cycle.
Intelligent boiler rooms
These boiler rooms are advanced systems that offers modern technologies and automation to deliver optimal performance for heating, cooling, and hot water supply. Through the use of sensors, controllers, and Building Management Systems (BMS), these boiler rooms automatically monitor and regulate temperature, pressure, and fluid flow. One of the primary features of intelligent boiler rooms is their automatic control, which adjusts temperature and flow based on the building’s actual requirements, helping to reduce energy consumption. Furthermore, intelligent boiler rooms allow for remote monitoring and management, giving operators the ability to assess the system’s condition at any time and from any location. In general, intelligent boiler rooms are recognized as efficient and effective solutions for managing energy and optimizing the performance of heating and cooling systems in buildings.
Boiler Room; A Perfect Blend of Security and Efficiency
Boiler Rooms as the heart of thermal Systems in Buildings and Industries, play a pivotal role in providing heat and hot water to buildings and industries. Proper selection and maintenance of boiler room components are essential for optimizing performance and reducing energy costs. With technological advancements, intelligent boiler rooms have emerged, automatically identifying and fulfilling the heating and cooling needs of buildings. These systems, using modern sensors and remote management capabilities, not only reduce fuel consumption but also enhance the comfort of the residents.
