ENGINEERING thermodynamics

Syllabus
Four circuits of thermal power plant
Four circuits of thermal
power plant
Four circuits of thermal power plant
Features of High-pressure Boilers:
High-pressure boilers have the following functions:
Forced circulation of water – in all modern high-pressure boilers, the force
circulation of water is maintained with the help of pumps. It increases the help of
pumps. It raises the mean temperature of heat addition and evaporation capacity
if the boiler.
Large number of small diameter tubes – the surface-area-to-volume-ratio (area
density) increases with the use of small-diameter tubes. It helps in a high rate of
the heat transfer to water flowing inside the tubes. Therefore, a large number of
small density tubes in a zigzag manner are used for water circulation in forced
circulation. Further, use of a short tube reduces the pressure loss and gives the
better control the quality of steam.
Higher steam pressure and temperature – the steam is generated at a pressure of
80 to 300 bars and temperature of 450°C to 585°C with two superheaters in
series. The use of such stream is very suitable for power generation. It increases
the thermal efficiency of the plant and reduces the moisture contents in low-
pressure stages of expansion in the turbine.
Improved mode of heat transfer – modern high-pressure boilers use the heat
transfer by radiation along with conduction and convection. The total heat-
receiving equipment is divided into several parts. So they can easily be located in
various zones of the furnace for most efficient heat transfer to the water circuit.
Improved mode of heating – the high-pressure boilers use the following methods
for improved heat transfer rate:
Evaporative of water above the critical pressure of steam.
Heating of water by mixing superheated steam for high heat transfer rate.
Increasing the combustion of air velocity over the tube.
Pressurized combustion – for increasing the combustion rate and thus heat-
release rate, pressurized air is used in the furnace. It gives a large amount of heat
in a small space.
Compactness – the high rate of heat transfer inside the boiler reduces the overall
size of the boiler, and the boiler becomes compact.
High efficiency – High-pressure boilers have better firing methods, monitoring,
furnace conditions, control flue gases and water velocity.
Intensive heating – the furnace temperature in high-pressure boilers is high
enough and therefore, 70% of heat is transferred to water by radiation. This is a
faster way of heat transfer.
Once through construction – in high-pressure boiler operating at and above the
critical pressure, the water directly flashes into steam in the tube itself. It
eliminates the need of a boiler drum.
Advantages of High-pressure Boilers:
1. High-pressure boilers use the forced circulation of water which
ensures the positive circulation of water and increased
evaporative capacity.
2. They require less heat of vaporization.
3. They are compact and thus require less floor space.
4. Due to the high velocity of water, the tendency of scale
formation is minimized.
5. All parts are uniformly heated and the danger of overheating is
minimized.
6. The steam can be raised quickly to meet the variable load
requirements without the use of complicated control devices.
7. The plant efficiency is increased.
8. With the use of high-pressure boilers, the steam generation is
economical.
Superheater
A superheater is a device used to convert saturated
steam or wet steam into superheated steam or dry steam.

Did you know that boilers do not generate 100% saturated

steam (dry steam)? When a steam boiler heats up water,
bubbles breaking through the water surface will pull tiny
water droplets in with the steam. Unless a superheater is
used, this will cause the steam supply to become partially
wet (wet steam) from the added liquid.
T-S diagram versus p-v diagram
pure substance
Ideal rankine cycle representing a steam
thermal power plant
Ideal rankine cycle representing a steam
thermal power plant
Different processes of an Ideal rankine cycle
representing a steam thermal power plant
Different processes of an Ideal rankine cycle
representing a steam thermal power plant
Ideal rankine cycle representing a steam
thermal power plant
P-v diagram for an Ideal rankine cycle
t-s diagram for an Ideal rankine cycle
t-s diagram for an Ideal rankine cycle
h-s diagram for an Ideal rankine cycle
h-s / MOLLIER DIAGRAM FOR AN IDEAL RANKINE
CYCLE
boiler
Mountings
Water level indicator Safety valve Pressure gauge
Steam stop valve Feed check valve

Accessories
1. Air preheater
It is used to recover heat from the exhaust gases.
It is installed between the economiser and the chimney.
2. Super heater
It is placed in the path of hot flue gases from the furnace.
A super heater is an important accessory used in the boiler.
Its main function is to increase the temperature of saturated steam without
raising its pressure.
3. Economiser
It is used to heat the feed water by the utilization of heat
from the hot fuel gases before it leaves the chimney.
A economiser improves the economy of the steam boilers.
4. Feed pump
It is used to deliver water to the boiler.
CLASSIFICATION OF BOILERS
The boiler may be classified as :
1.Horizontal, vertical or inclined
2. Fire tube & water tube
3. Externally fired & internally fired
4. Forced circulation & internally fired
5.High pressure & low pressure
6. Forced circulation & natural circulation
7. Stationary & portable
8. Single tube & multi tube boilers
1. Horizontal , vertical or inclined

If the axis of boiler is horizontal, the boiler is

called horizontal.
If the axis is vertical then it is called vertical.
If the axis is inclined then it is called inclined.
Advantage of horizontal boiler:
a. it should be repaired easily.
b. occupies less floor area.
2. Fire tube & water tube boiler

In the fire tube boiler the hot gases are

inside the
tubes & the water surrounds in the tube.
ex. Cochran, locomotive etc.
In the water tube boiler the water is
inside the
tube & the hot gases are surround them.
ex. Stirling
3. Externally & internally fired

The boiler is known as externally fired

if the fire is
outside the shell.
ex. Babcock & wilcox
In case of internally fired boilers, the
furnace is located
inside the boiler shell.
ex: cochran, lancashire etc.
4. Forced circulation & natural circulation

In forced circulation type of boilers the

circulation of
water is done by forced pumps.
ex. Velox,lamont .
In natural circulation type of boiler the
circulation of
water in boiler takes place due to natural
convention.
ex. Lancashire, babcock.
5. High pressure & low pressure boilers

The boilers which produce steam at

pressure of
80 bar and above are called high pressure
boiler.
ex. Velox
The boiler which produce steam at pressure
below 80 bar are called low pressure boiler.
ex. cochran
MAIN TYPES OF Boiler
COCHRAN BOILER
COCHRAN BOILER
COCHRAN BOILER
COCHRAN BOILER
COCHRAN BOILER
BABCOCK & WILCOX BOILER
BABCOCK & WILCOX BOILER
BABCOCK & WILCOX BOILER
BABCOCK & WILCOX BOILER- main parts
BABCOCK & WILCOX BOILER- working : 3 circuits
 FIRE TUBE BOILER -----VERSES---- WATER TUBE BOILER

Characteristics FIRE TUBE WATER TUBE

BOILER BOILER
(1)Tube Hot gases Water
Content circulates inside circulates
the tube inside the tube

(2)Example Vertical Babcock &

Lancashire, Wilcox, Stirling ,
Cornish, Modern Boilers
Locomotive ,
Nestler.
 FIRE TUBE BOILER -----VERSES---- WATER TUBE BOILER

Characteristics FIRE TUBE WATER TUBE

BOILER BOILER
(3)Thermal More due to Less due to
Energy large volume of small volume of
Reserve water. Meet water. Meet
sudden demand sudden
of steam with demand of
less pressure steam with
drop. great pressure
drop.
 FIRE TUBE BOILER -----VERSES---- WATER TUBE BOILER

Characteristics FIRE TUBE WATER TUBE

BOILER BOILER
(4)Water Less important More important
treatment due to thicker due to thin
shell plate shell plate

(5)Load on Greater water Less water

super heater space leading to space leading
quick release of to produce wet
steam , steam. More
conducive to dry load on Super
steam. heater.
 FIRE TUBE BOILER -----VERSES---- WATER TUBE BOILER

Characteristics FIRE TUBE WATER TUBE

BOILER BOILER
(6)Constructio Simple. Complicated.
n and cost Low initial and High initial and
maintenance maintenance
cost cost
(7)Size Can be made to Cannot be
Small size. made to very
small size.
(8)Pressure 20 bar ≥ 125 bar
limit
 FIRE TUBE BOILER -----VERSES---- WATER TUBE BOILER
Characteristics FIRE TUBE WATER TUBE
BOILER BOILER

(9)Steam generation Long Very rapidly steam

time generated.

(10)Tube Explosion Very dangerous to Less serious as

seriousness steaming plugging of tube.

(11)Furnace Cannot be altered due Can be altered due to

proportion and to internal fixing. external fixing.
shape
(12) Application Generally for Heat Generally for power
supply and heat supply
​STEPHEN WILCOX PATENTS THE WATER
TUBE BOILER IN 1856
​STEPHEN WILCOX PATENTS THE WATER
TUBE BOILER IN 1856
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