Boilers have a wide range of applications across various industries. From garment factories and textile mills to everyday locations such as schools, dry cleaners, hospitals, and bathhouses, and extending to industrial uses like trains, ships, and thermal power plants, boilers are indispensable. Selecting the appropriate boiler not only enhances production efficiency and product quality but also significantly reduces carbon emissions, contributing to environmental protection and sustainable development for businesses. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the common types of boilers available on the market and their application scenarios, helping enterprises choose the boiler equipment that best meets their needs.
Boiler Applications in Various Industries
Apart from garment factories and dyeing plants, boilers are indispensable in various aspects of daily life. From schools, dry cleaners, hospitals, baths, and residential buildings to trains, ships, and thermal power plants, boilers are ubiquitous.
Common Types of Boilers on the Market
Did you know that the first kettle was invented in the 1700s century? Since then, the manufacturing process of boilers has made significant progress, but one thing remains unchanged: we still need boilers to supply steam and heat. There are many types of boilers on the market, each with its unique features and applications. Below are the main types of boilers and their application scenarios.
Electric Steam Boilers: Clean, Safe, and Environmentally Friendly
Electric steam boilers use electricity as an energy source, eliminating the need for fossil fuels and producing no combustion emissions. They operate relatively quietly and are suitable for environments with strict environmental requirements, such as hospitals, hotels, food processing plants, and other facilities where space is limited. The advantages of electric steam boilers include their clean and environmentally friendly operation, absence of combustion emissions, and reduced risk of ignition. Additionally, their compact size makes them ideal for space-constrained facilities. However, these boilers have higher operating costs, especially in areas with scarce or expensive electricity. They also require regular maintenance due to the presence of multiple circuit boards to avoid short circuits or aging issues.
High-Efficiency Gas Boilers: The Best Choice for Clean Energy
According to Global Market Insights, the global gas boiler market is expected to reach $20 billion by 2024, up from $15 billion in 2017, with an overall growth rate of 4%. Gas boilers use natural gas, liquefied gas, or city pipeline gas as fuel, making them the best substitutes for coal and oil. With thermal and fuel efficiency reaching up to 95%, they are widely used in residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The advantages of gas boilers include high fuel efficiency, low operating costs, and good environmental performance due to lower emissions. These boilers are suitable for areas with existing gas pipelines, although they require a higher initial investment and a stable gas supply.
Oil Boilers: Enhancing Efficiency and Reducing Energy Loss
Oil boilers use light oil or heavy oil as fuel, achieving a thermal efficiency of over 92%, making them suitable for chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. These boilers have high combustion efficiency, effectively shortening work time and reducing operating costs. The unique design of the oil boiler's bottom enhances combustion efficiency by converting excess fuel energy into more heat. However, oil boilers emit more carbon dioxide and harmful gases compared to gas boilers, impacting the environment. Despite this, their fuel costs are relatively low, making them ideal for businesses with strict cost control.
Biomass Boilers: Sustainable Carbon-Neutral Solutions
Biomass boilers use organic materials such as wood chips, fruit pits, or animal manure as fuel. The carbon dioxide released during combustion is equivalent to the carbon dioxide absorbed during the growth process, achieving carbon neutrality. These boilers are suitable for residential, commercial heating, and food processing industries. The main advantages of biomass boilers are their strong sustainability, abundant fuel sources, and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. Biomass fuel is a renewable resource with a stable price, unaffected by international market fluctuations. Additionally, biomass boilers can utilize agricultural waste and forestry by-products, reducing waste disposal costs and landfill use. Using biomass boilers also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enabling companies to fulfill their environmental responsibilities and receive government subsidies or tax incentives.
However, biomass boilers face challenges such as lower energy density, requiring larger fuel storage spaces and more fuel to generate the same amount of heat as oil or gas boilers. This results in higher initial installation costs and the need for proper fuel storage facilities. Furthermore, biomass boilers require regular cleaning and maintenance to prevent the accumulation of combustion residues that can affect boiler efficiency.
In practice, biomass boilers are widely used across various industries. For example, in agriculture, biomass boilers use agricultural waste to provide heat, reducing waste disposal costs and improving energy efficiency. In power plants, biomass boilers can be combined with other energy forms to enhance overall energy efficiency. In schools and hospitals, biomass boilers provide stable heating solutions, ensuring a comfortable environment.
Coal Boilers: Low-Cost High-Heat Solutions
The world’s coal reserves are approximately 1,139,471,430,000 tons, enough to last about 130 years. Coal is abundant and relatively inexpensive, making it the preferred choice for many large industrial enterprises such as power plants, large manufacturing industries, and heavy industries.
The main advantages of coal boilers are their low fuel cost and high heat output. The stable supply and low price of coal make coal boilers cost-effective during operation. Additionally, coal boilers produce a large amount of heat, suitable for high energy consumption industrial applications. Their simple design makes them easy to install and maintain, making them reliable for many industrial facilities.
However, coal boilers also face several challenges and limitations. The biggest challenge is their environmental impact. The coal combustion process produces a large amount of carbon dioxide, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides, which are major greenhouse gases and air pollutants. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), coal power plants emit approximately 2.23 pounds of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated. Moreover, coal combustion releases particulate matter and other harmful gases, posing threats to the environment and human health. Additionally, coal boilers generate a significant amount of coal ash and slag that needs to be handled, increasing operational costs. The initial investment cost of coal boilers is also higher, especially those equipped with advanced emission control devices.
Conclusion
The choice of boiler depends on the specific needs and environmental conditions of the business. Electric steam boilers are suitable for environments with high environmental requirements; gas boilers are the best choice for clean energy; oil boilers are ideal for businesses with strict cost control; biomass boilers are the best option for sustainable development; coal boilers are suitable for areas with abundant resources and insufficient power supply. OSHIMA provides a variety of boiler options, leveraging extensive product knowledge and excellent after-sales service to become your preferred boiler supplier. Contact us to learn more about boilers that suit your needs.
