• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Science
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Tech
Boiler Efficiency Is Less About Age And More About Control

Boiler Efficiency Is Less About Age And More About Control

December 3, 2019
Kleemann │ Interlinked PRO plant train impresses in the Caribbean

Kleemann │ Interlinked PRO plant train impresses in the Caribbean

January 27, 2023
EXPANDING THE VALUE PROPOSITION OF THE PDS

EXPANDING THE VALUE PROPOSITION OF THE PDS

January 19, 2023
advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT
2023 to Usher in Strong Growth in Mining and Industrial Private LTE Networks

2023 to Usher in Strong Growth in Mining and Industrial Private LTE Networks

January 19, 2023

Wirtgen South Africa holds annual dealer conference

January 17, 2023
Eriez-India Granted ISO 9001:2015 Certification

Eriez-India Granted ISO 9001:2015 Certification

January 13, 2023

Eurasian Resources Group and the University of Kolwezi develop curriculum to meet mining skills demand in the DRC

December 13, 2022

Another successful turnkey modular construction and transit solution from thyssenkrupp Uhde delivered to a key customer

December 13, 2022
Epiroc to acquire leading provider of collision avoidance systems for mines

Epiroc to acquire leading provider of collision avoidance systems for mines

December 13, 2022
New Cat® bolt-together buckets for underground loaders lower costs for assembly and transportation, reduce machine downtime

New Cat® bolt-together buckets for underground loaders lower costs for assembly and transportation, reduce machine downtime

December 11, 2022

EPSA and Immersive Technologies Partner in Global Mining Workforce Development

December 11, 2022

THE JUNIOR INDABA 2023

December 11, 2022
Atlas Copco and Reality Wellness celebrate their 20-year journey in putting employee well-being first

Atlas Copco and Reality Wellness celebrate their 20-year journey in putting employee well-being first

December 10, 2022
  • About AMB
  • Magazine Archive
  • Contacts
Sunday, February 5, 2023
African Mining Brief
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Home
  • News
  • Events
  • Industry
  • People
  • Projects
  • Press Releases
  • Magazine Archive
MAGAZINE ARCHIVE
ADVERTISE
  • Home
  • News
  • Events
  • Industry
  • People
  • Projects
  • Press Releases
  • Magazine Archive
No Result
View All Result
African Mining Brief
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Events
  • Industry
  • People
  • Projects
  • Press Releases
  • Magazine Archive
Home Commentary

Boiler Efficiency Is Less About Age And More About Control

by Dennis Ayemba
December 3, 2019
in Commentary
0
Boiler Efficiency Is Less About Age And More About Control
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Businesses that require boilers for their operation are usually faced with a choice between acquiring new boiler units, or refurbished ones. One of the most common misconceptions in the market is that refurbished units are less efficient or will have shorter life spans than brand new boilers.

This is according to Jonathan Probert, CEO of EP Dryden Combustion – a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Partners – who says that boilers generally have particularly long life spans, and can operate at peak efficiency for decades.

“We routinely come across boiler units that have been in operation for 30 years, and even a handful that are in great condition after 50 years of service. With that said, there are also much younger units that get condemned.”

Probert explains that an important differentiator that determines the life cycle of a boiler, is how it is operated and maintained. “The truth is that boiler units themselves have not evolved much over the last 25 years. Aside from one or two variations, most boilers operate similarly and are mostly manufactured in the same manner. The belief that older or newer boilers are somehow superior to one another is therefore a misperception in our opinion.”

He adds that factors like scale build-up caused by a carry-over of hardness in boiler feedwater as well as insufficient oxygen scavenging play a significant part in shortening the life span of boilers. “Water-side scale acts as an insulator on the heat transfer surfaces of the boiler.

If left unchecked this could lead to overheating of the surface (usually presenting as sagging of boiler tubes), often accompanied by tube to tube plate leaks. Oxygen levels in feedwater need to be kept to a minimum to avoid corrosion.

This can be achieved through the use of deaerators and/or chemical treatment (through the addition of oxygen-scavenging sulphites). Other operational issues such as ensuring optimal fuel combustion and regular efficiency cleans, all aid in prolonging the life of the boiler.”

In fact, the boiler’s control system is more important than the age of the boiler, according to Probert. He says that the boilers refurbished by EP Steam have on numerous occasions outperformed new units, chiefly because they are paired with the company’s proprietary control systems.

Also read: CSIR invents mine wastewater treatment technology

“We have dedicated a lot of research and development hours to creating a flexible control system and software that ensures peak efficiency. In many instances, we have seen this bespoke control system outperforming the systems provided by the original equipment manufacturers and we have been contracted by clients to replace the systems on brand new boiler units because of the increased efficiency that this offers.”

So when it comes down to comparing brand new boilers with refurbished ones, Probert is of the opinion that there is little difference between the two options. “It is true that the older dry back and semi-wet back boiler designs are less efficient, but a boiler of say 20 or 30 years old, professionally-refurbished and fitted with our bespoke control system, will most likely outperform its youngest rival.”

In light of this, combined with the fact that refurbished boilers can be delivered in about half the time and at about half the price of new boilers, Probert argues that an advanced control system makes the debate around new versus refurbished largely irrelevant .

“In closing, he says that the real question for any operation should not be whether they need a new or refurbished boiler unit, but rather which combination of boiler shell and control system will offer the optimum efficiency most economically and in the shortest possible time,” Probert concludes.

Tags: boiler feedwaterboilerscontrol system
Share196Tweet123Share49
Dennis Ayemba

Dennis Ayemba

Oct - Dec 2022 Magazine

  • About AMB
  • Magazine Archive
  • Contacts

© 2022 African Mining Brief I All Rights Reserved Powered by Clivo.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Events
  • Industry
  • People
  • Projects
  • Press Releases
  • Magazine Archive

© 2022 African Mining Brief I All Rights Reserved Powered by Clivo.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In