Boiler Definitions & Terminology By:-Raza Sialvi

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 A - scan - In ultrasonic testing, a method of data presentation on a CRT with the horizontal

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baseline indicating distance or time and the vertical deflections from the baseline indicating
amplitude of the ultrasonic reflection.
 A.S.M.E. — American Society of Mechanical Engineers — Founded in 1880, ASME is a 120,000-
member professional organization focused on technical, educational and research issues of the

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engineering and technology community. ASME sets internationally recognized industrial and
manufacturing codes and standards that enhance public safety.
 A.S.T.M. — American Society of Test and Materials — one of the largest voluntary standards
development organizations in the world and a trusted source for technical standards for materials,
products, systems, and services. Known for their high technical quality and market relevancy,

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ASTM International standards have an important role in the information infrastructure that guides
design, manufacturing and trade in the global economy.
 Absolute pressure - The pressure above zero pressure, equal; to gauge pressure plus atmospheric
pressure absorbed to total heat input. This does not include heat loss from the boiler shell.
 ACCUMULATOR - (STEAM) A pressure vessel containing water and/or steam, which is used to

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store the heat of steam for use at a late period and at some lower pressure.
 Acid cleaning - The process of cleaning the interior surfaces of steam-generating units by filling the
unit with a dilute acid accompanied by an inhibitor to prevent corrosion and by subsequently
draining, washing, and neutralizing the acid by a further wash of alkaline water.
 Acidity - Represents the amount of free carbon dioxide, mineral acids, and salts (especially sulfates
or iron and aluminum) which hydrolyze to give hydrogen ions in water; is reported as
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milliequivalents per liter of acid, or ppm acidity as calcium carbonate, or pH, the measure of
hydrogen ion concentration.
 ADIABATIC FLAME TEMPERATURE - The theoretical temperature that would be attained by
the products of combustion provided the entire chemical energy of the fuel, the sensible heat content
of the fuel and combustion above the datum temperature were transferred to the products of
combustion. This assumes: No heat loss to surroundings and no dissociation.
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 AFUE — Annual Fuel Usage Efficiency. Ratio of annual output of useful energy or heat to annual
energy input to heater. Only heat leaving as hot water is deemed usage and calculated as part of
space heating efficiency.
 AFUE - Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, a standard government rating for energy Efficiency.
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Agglomeration - Groups of fine dust particles clinging together to form a larger particle.
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AIR - The mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, and other gases, which with varying amounts of water
vapor, forms the atmosphere of the earth.
 AIR ATOMIZING OIL BURNER - A burner for firing oil in which the oil is atomized by
compressed air, which is forced into and through one or more streams of oil which results in the
breaking of the oil into a fine spray.
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 Air Bleed - Device to let air out from a radiator or another high point
 Air Conditioner - a device used to decrease the temperature and humidity of air which moves
through it.
 AIR DEFICIENCY - Insufficient air, in an air-fuel mixture, to supply the oxygen required for
complete oxidation of the fuel.
 Air heater or air preheater - Heat-transfer apparatus through which air is passed and heated by a
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medium of higher temperature, such as the products of combustion or steam.

 AIR INFILTRATION - The leakage of air into a setting or duct.
 Air purge - The removal of undesired matter by replacement with air.
 Air separator-Connects to the cold feed and expansion on open systems
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 AIR VENT - A valved opening in the top of the highest drum of a boiler or pressure vessel for
venting air.
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  AIR, SATURATED - Air which contains the maximum amount of water vapor that it can hold at its

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temperature and pressure.
 Air-atomizing oil burner - A burner for firing oil in which the oil is atomized by compressed air

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which is forced into and through one or more streams of oil, breaking the oil into a fine spray.
 AIR-FREE - The descriptive characteristic of a substance from which air has been removed.
 Air-fuel ratio - The ratio weight, or volume, of air to fuel.
 ALARM - A suitable horn, bell, light or other device which when operated will give notice of

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malfunction or off normal condition.
 Alkalinity - The amount of carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides, and silicates or phosphates in the
water; reported as grains per gallon, or parts per million as calcium carbonate.
 Allowable working pressure - The maximum pressure for which the boiler was designed and
constructed; the maximum gauge pressure on a complete boiler; and the basis for the setting on the

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pressure relieving devices protecting the boiler.
 Alloy - Material having metallic properties with two or more elements.
 AMBIENT AIR - The air that surrounds the equipment. The standard ambient air for performance
calculations is air at 80 °F, 60% relative humidity, and a barometric pressure of 29.921 in. Hg,
giving a specific humidity of 0.013 lb of water vapor per lb of dry air.

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 AMBIENT TEMPERATURE - The temperature of the air surrounding the equipment.
 Amplitude - In ultrasonic testing, the vertical pulse height of a signal, usually base to peak, when
indicated by an A-scan presentation.
 ANALYSIS - Quantitative determination of the constituent parts.
 ANALYSIS, ULTIMATE - Chemical analysis of solid, liquid or gaseous fuels. In the case of coal
or coke, determination of carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, and ash.
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 Anode Rod - a sacrificial metal used to protect against corrosion in a hot water heater.
 API American Petroleum Institute.
 AQUASTAT — a thermostat that measures the temperature of water and opens or closes a circuit.
 AQUASTAT - Water limit temperature control, a safety device often used on boilers.
 Arc Welding A group of welding processes wherein coalescence is produced by heating with an
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electric arc. Ashpan: A container beneath the furnace, catching ash and clinker that falls through the
firebars. This may be made of brickwork for a stationary boiler, or steel sheet for a locomotive.
Ashpans are often the location of the damper. They may also be shaped into hoppers, for easy
cleaning during disposal.
 ARRESTER - A device to impede the flow of large dust particles or sparks from a stack, usually
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screening at the top.

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 AS-FIRED FUEL - Fuel in the condition as fed to the fuel burning equipment.
 ASH - The incombustible inorganic matter in the fuel.
 ASH — the solid residue of combustion. The chemical composition of an ash depends on the
substance burned. Wood ash contains metal carbonates (e.g., potassium carbonate) and oxides
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formed from metals originally compounded in the wood.

 ASH PIT - A pit or hopper located below a furnace where refuse is accumulated and from which
refuse is removed at intervals.
 Ash Pit - The ash pit is the space where ashes accumulate under the fire. The ashes fall through the
fire grate into a (often) removable box.
 ASH-FREE BASIS - The method of reporting fuel analysis, whereby ash is deducted and other
constituents are recalculated to total 100%.
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 ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

 ASPIRATING BURNER - A burner in which the fuel in a gaseous or finely divided form is burned
in suspension, the air for combustion being supplied by bringing into contact with the fuel, air drawn
through one or more openings by the lower static pressure created by the velocity of the fuel stream.
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 AS-RECEIVED FUEL - Fuel in the condition as received at the plant.

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  As-Welded The condition of weld metal prior to any mechanical treatment.

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 ATMOSPHERIC AIR - Air under the prevailing atmospheric conditions.
 ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE - The barometric reading of pressure exerted by the atmosphere. At

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sea level 14.7 lb per sq in. or 29.92 in. of mercury.
 Atomization - The process whereby a volume of liquid is converted into a multiplicity of small
drops. The principal goal is to produce a high surface area to mass ratio so that the liquid will
vaporize quickly and thus be susceptible to combustion.
 Atomizer- A device by means of which a liquid is reduced to a very fine spray.

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 Atomizer - part of an oil gun which breaks up the fuel oil flow into tiny particles by both
mechanical means the use of an atomizing medium. The oil and atomizing medium mix together in
the atomizer and then flow to the oil tip to be discharged into the furnace.
 Attemperator - Apparatus for reducing and controlling the temperature of a superheater vapor or of

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a fluid.
 Audible sound - Vibrations in a gas, liquid, or solid with components falling in the frequency range
of 16Hz to 20Hz.
 Automatic lighter or igniter - A means for starting ignition of fuel without manual intervention.
Usually applied to liquid, gaseous, or pulverized fuel.

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 Automatic Welding -Welding with equipment which performs the welding operation without
adjustment of the controls by a welding operator.
 AVAILABILITY FACTOR - The fraction of time during which the unit is in operable condition.
 Available draft - The draft which may be utilized to cause the flow of air for combustion or the
flow of products for combustion.
 AWWA American Water Works Association.
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 AXIAL FAN - Consists of a propeller or disc type of wheel within a cylinder that discharges air
parallel to the axis of the wheel.
 Back Gouging The removal of weld metal by arc gouging or grinding from the other side of a
partially welded joint to assure complete penetration upon subsequent welding from that side.
 Backing ring - A strip of thin plate used on the inner surfaces of the abutting ends of pipe, tubes, or
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plates which are butt-welded. Its purpose is to prevent irregularities at the base weld and to permit
penetration at its root.
 BAFFLE - A plate or wall for deflecting gases or liquids.
 BAFFLE TILE - A tile for deflecting gases.
 BAFFLE-TYPE COLLECTOR - A device in gas paths utilizing baffles so arranged as to deflect
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dust particles out of the gas stream.

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 Bag - A deep bulge in the bottom of the shell or furnace of a boiler.

 BAG FILTER - A device containing one or more cloth bags for recovering particles from the dust
laden gas or air which is blown through it.
 BAG-TYPE COLLECTOR - A filter in which the cloth filtering medium is made in the form of
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cylindrical bags.
 Balanced draft - The maintenance of a fixed value of draft in a furnace at all combustion rates by
control of incoming air and outgoing products of combustion.
 Balanced Flue -A natural draft room sealed appliance
 BAROMETER — device for measuring atmospheric pressure.
 BAROMETRIC PRESSURE - Atmospheric pressure as determined by a barometer usually
expressed in inches of mercury.
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 Barrel - The cylindrical portion of a firetube boiler shell that surrounds the tubes.
 BASE LOAD - Base load is the term applied to that portion of a station or boiler load that is
practically constant for long periods.
 Base Metal -The material to be welded.
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  Baseboard Heating - heating elements around the perimeter of a room used to give off heat

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produced by hot water circulating through them.
 BEADED TUBE END - The rounded exposed end of a rolled tube when the tube metal is formed

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over against the sheet in which the tube is rolled.
 Beta Ratio - For a single orifice the beta ratio is the ratio of the orifice bore diameter to that of the
upstream pipe diameter. However, since in burner designs typically there is more than one orifice at
a riser pipe exit, the beta ratio is equal to the square root of the ratio between total area of the fuel

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ports to that of the upstream pipe area.
 Bias - The output plus (or minus) some arbitrary value.
 Black light - In magnetic particle inspection, light in the near ultraviolet range of wavelengths, just
shorter than visible light.
 Blast furnace gas - Lean combustible by-product gas resulting from burning coke with a deficiency

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of air in a blast furnace.
 BLIND NIPPLE - A nipple, or a short piece of pipe or tube, closed at one end.
 Blowback - The number of pounds per square inch of pressure drop in a boiler from the point where
the safety valve pops to the point where the safety valve reseats.
 Blowback ring - An adjustable ring in a safety valve, used to control the amount of blowback.

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 BLOWDOWN - Boiler water that is removed from the boiler in order to maintain the desired
concentration levels of suspended and dissolved solids in the boiler and removal of sludge.
 Blowdown - The drain connection including the pipe and the valve at the lowest practical part of a
boiler, or at the normal water level in the case of a surface blowdown. The amount of water blown
down.
 Blow-down cock: a valve mounted low-down on the boiler, often around the foundation ring, which
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is used to periodically vent water from the boiler. This water contains the most concentrated
precursors for sludge build-up, so by venting it whilst still dissolved, the build-up is reduced. When
early marine boilers were fed with salt water, they would be blown-down several times an hour.
 BLOWDOWN SAFETY VALVE - The difference between the pressure at which a safety valve
opens and at which it closes.
 BLOWDOWN VALVE - A valve generally used to continuously regulate concentration of solids in
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the boiler, not a drain valve. (Often called continuous blowdown.)

 BLOW DOWN SAFETY VALVE - The difference between the pressure at which a safety valve
opens and at which it closes.
 BLOWER - A fan used to force air under pressure.
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 Blower - a unit used with a furnace to circulate air through a network of ducts.
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 BLOW-OFF VALVE - A specially designed, manually operated, valve that connects to the boiler
for the purpose of reducing the concentration of solids in the boiler or for draining purposes. (Often
called bottom blowdown.)
 BOILER - A closed vessel in which water is heated, steam is generated, steam is superheated, or
any combination thereof, under pressure or vacuum by the application of heat from combustible
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fuels, electricity or nuclear energy.

 Boiler - a heating unit that uses water (or steam) circulated throughout the home in a system of
baseboard heating units, radiators, and/or in-floor radiant tubing.
 BOILER - an enclosed vessel in which water is heated and circulated under pressure, either as hot
water or as steam, for heating or power.
 Boiler -An appliance to heat water (heat generator)
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 BOILER EFFICIENCY - The term Òboiler efficiency" is often substituted for combustion or
thermal efficiency. True boiler efficiency is the measure of fuel-to-steam efficiency.
 Boiler header (box) - A pressure part of the boiler consisting of a flat tube sheet into which the ends
of the water tubes are rolled. In a parallel plane is a tube cap or handhole sheet. The two sheets are
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spaced about 4 to 8 in. or more apart. The top and bottom and both ends are flanged together and

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 riveted or may be closed by a narrow flanged strip of plate riveted to each sheet. Circulating nipples

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connect the top of the header and drum, or the header may be flanged and riveted directly to the
drum. Welding would be used today instead of rivets.

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 Boiler Heads - The end plates of the boiler.
 Boiler horsepower - The evaporation of 34 ½ lbs. of water per hour from a temperature of 212oF
into dry saturated steam at the same temperature. Equivalent to 33,475 Btu.
 Boiler Jacket - is an insulating layer around the entire boiler. Typically an insulating material such

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as hair, plaster, mud, wood or more recently fibreglass wool is sandwhiched between the boiler plate
and a thin metal sheet. The jacket keeps the boiler warm reducing lost heat.
 BOILER RATING - The heating capacity of a boiler expressed in boiler horsepower, Btu/hour, or
pounds of steam/hour.
 BOILER SHELL- The outer cylindrical portion of a pressure vessel.

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 Boiler suit: heavy-duty one-piece protective clothing, worn when inspecting the inside of a firebox
for steam leaks, for which task it is necessary to crawl through the firehole door .
 Boiler ticket: the safety certificate issued for a steam (locomotive) boiler on passing a formal
inspection after a major rebuild, and generally covering a period of ten years. Additional annual
safety inspections must also be undertaken, which may result in the locomotive being withdrawn

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from service if the boiler requires work. When the ticket "expires" the locomotive cannot be used
until the boiler has been overhauled or replaced, and a new ticket obtained.[citation needed]
 Boiler water - A term construed to mean a representative sample of the circulating boiler water,
after generated steam has been separated and before the incoming feed water or added chemical
becomes mixed with it so that its composition is affected. (ASTM - D860)
 Boiler, high-pressure, steam or vapor - A boiler in which steam or vapor is generated at a pressure
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exceeding 15 psig.
 Boiler, hot-water-heating - A boiler in which no steam is generated and from which hot water is
circulated for heating purposes and then returned to the boiler.
 Boiler, hot-water-supply - A boiler functioning as a water heater.
 Boiler, low-pressure-steam or vapor - A boiler in which steam or vapor is generated at a pressure
not exceeding 15 psig.
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 Boiling - The conversion of a liquid into vapor with the formation of bubbles.
 BOILING OUT - The boiling of highly alkaline water in boiler pressure parts for the removal of
oils, greases, etc.
 BOOSTER FAN - A device for increasing the pressure or flow of a gas.

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Bourdon tube - A hollow, metallic tube, bent semicircular, which forms the actuating medium of a
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pressure gauge.
 Breeching - A duct for transport of the products of combustion between parts of a steam-generating
unit to the stack.
 BREECHING - A duct that transports the products of combustion between parts of a steam
generating unit or to the stack.
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 Brick arch - A horizontal baffle of firebrick within the furnace, usually of a locomotive boiler. This
forces combustion gases from the front of the furnace to flow further, back over the rest of the
furnace, encouraging efficient combustion. The invention of the brick arch, along with the blastpipe
and forced draught, was a major factor in allowing early locomotives to begin to burn coal, rather
than coke.
 Bridgewall - A wall in the furnace over which the products of combustion pass.
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 Brinell test - A hardness test performed by pressing a steel ball of standard hardness into a surface
by a standard pressure.
 BRITISH THERMAL UNIT (Btu) - The mean British Thermal Unit is 1/180 of the heat required
to raise the temperature of 1 lb of water from 32 °F to 212 °F at a constant atmospheric pressure. A
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Btu is essentially 252 calories.

 Brittle - A metal is brittle when it permits little or no plastic deformation prior to fracture.
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  BTU — British Thermal Unit. Energy required to heat one pound of water from 59º F to 60º F. 1

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BTU = .000293 KWh (Kilowatt Hour).
 Btu (British Thermal Unit) - A standard measure of energy in the British unit system. 1 Btu is the

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amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a liquid by 1 degree.
 BTU/h - (British Thermal Units per hour) a standard rating for heat transfer capacity.
 Buckstay - A structural member placed against a furnace or boiler wall to limit the motion of the
wall against furnace pressure.
 BUCKSTAY - A structural member placed against a furnace or boiler wall to restrain the motion of

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the wall.
 Bulge - A local distortion or swelling outward caused by internal pressure on a tube wall or boiler
shell due to overheating. Also applied to similar distortion of a cylindrical furnace due to external
pressure when overheated, provided the distortion is of a degree that can be driven back.

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 Bunker C oil - Residual fuel oil (no. 6 fuel oil) of high viscosity commonly used in marine and
stationary steam power plants.
 BURNER - A device for the introduction of fuel and air into a furnace at the desired velocities,
turbulence and concentration.
 Burner - A device which combines fuel and air in proper proportions for combustion and which

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enables the fuel-air mixture to burn stably to give a specified flame size and shape.
 Burner assembly - A burner that is factory-built as a single assembly or as two or more assemblies
which include all parts necessary for its normal function when installed as intended.
 Burner block - Also called "burner tile", "muffler block," or "quarl". The specially formed
refractory pieces which mount around the burner opening inside the furnace. The burner block forms
the burner's airflow opening and helps stabilize the flame.
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 Burner capacity - Amount of heat release a burner can deliver (i.e., amount of fuel which can be
completely burned through a burner) at a given set of operating conditions.
 Burner windbox - A plenum chamber around a burner in which an air pressure is maintained to
ensure proper distribution and discharge of secondary air.
 BURNER WINDBOX PRESSURE - The air pressure maintained in the windbox or plenum
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chamber measured above atmospheric pressure.

 Burner atmospheric - A gas burner in which all air for combustion is supplied by natural draft, the
inspiriting force being created by gas velocity.
 Burner natural-draft type - A burner which depends primarily on the natural draft created in the
flue to induce the air required for combustion into the burner.
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 Burner power - A burner in which all air for combustion is supplied by a power-driven fan that
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overcomes the resistance through the burner to deliver the quantity of air required for combustion.
 Butt Weld -A weld joining two members laying in the same plane.
 Bypass - A link between the flow and the return to allow a continuous
 BY-PASS - A passage for a fluid, permitting a portion of the fluid to flow around its normal pass
flow channel.
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 Bypass temperature control - Control of vapor or air temperature by diverting part of or all the
heating medium from passing over the heat-absorbing surfaces, usually by means of a bypass
damper.
 C - Carbon element, the principal combustible constituent of all fuels.
 CaCO3 - Calcium Carbonate.
 Calorie - The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree C.
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The kilocalorie (kcal) is a typical unit of measure in the process industry, 1 kcal = 1000 calories.
 CALORIE - The mean calorie is 1/100 of the heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of
water from Zero C to 100 °C at a constant atmospheric pressure. It is about equal to the quantity of
heat required to raise one gram of water 1 °C. Another definition is: A calorie is 3600/860 joules.
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  CALORIE — the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of pure water 1

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degree Celsius (3,968 BTUs)
 CALORIMETER - Apparatus for determining the calorific value of a fuel.

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 CAPACITY FACTOR - The ratio of the average load carried to the maximum design capacity.
 CARBON - Element. The principal combustible constituent of all fuels.
 CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) — a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is about one and one-half
times as dense as air under ordinary conditions of temperature and pressure. It does not burn, and

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under normal conditions, is stable, inert and nontoxic. Although it is not a poison, it can cause death
by suffocation if inhaled in large amounts. (Carbon dioxide occurs in nature both free and in
combination. Because it is a product of combustion of carbonaceous fuels (e.g., coal, coke, fuel oil,
gasoline, and cooking gas), there is usually more of it in city air than in country air. Some sources
indicate that the natural balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is growing from its stable level

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of 0.13% to a predicted 0.14% by the year 2000. It is anticipated that this extra carbon dioxide will
fuel the greenhouse effect, warm the atmosphere, and further disrupt the natural carbon dioxide cycle
(see Global Warming).)
 CARRYOVER - The chemical solids and liquid entrained with the steam from a boiler.
 Carryover - The moisture and entrained solids forming the film of steam bubbles; a result of

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foaming in the boiler. Carryover is caused by a poor water condition within the boiler.
 Carryover: the damaging condition where water droplets are carried out of the boiler along with the
dry steam. These can cause scouring in turbines or hydraulic lock in cylinders. The risk is
accentuated by dirty feedwater.
 Casing - A covering of sheets of metal or other material such as fire resistant composition board
used to enclose all or a portion of a steam-generating unit.
 Cast Iron - a durable metal with an exceptional capability to hold and transfer heat.
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 CATALYST — a chemical that accelerates chemical reaction: a substance that increases the rate of
a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any change.
 CATALYTIC — involving or causing an increase in the rate of a chemical reaction by the use of a
catalyst.
 Caustic cracking - Also called caustic embrittlement cracking, usually occurring in carbon steels or
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iron-chromium nickel alloys that are exposed to concentrated hydroxide solutions at temperatures of
400 to 480 deg. F.
 CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEM — a system that produces heat in a centralized location and
distributes it throughout the structure.
 CENTRAL STATION - A power plant or steam heating plant that generates power or steam.
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 CENTRIFUGAL FAN - Consists of a fan rotor or wheel within a housing that discharges air at a
right angle to the axis of the wheel.
 CH System all the piping, controles & radiator configuration
 Changeover valve - Used on combination boilers to swap between heating and
 Check Valve - A Non-return valve that water can only pass in one direction
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 Check valve: or clack valve, from the noise it makes. A non-return valve where the feedwater enters
the boiler drum. They are usually mounted halfway along the boiler drum, or else as a top feed, but
away from the firebox, so as to avoid stressing it with the shock of cold water.
 CHEMICAL ANALYSIS - Determination of the principal chemical constituents.
 CHEMICAL FEED PIPE - A pipe inside a boiler drum through which chemicals for treating the
boiler water are introduced.
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 CHIMNEY - A brick, metal or concrete stack.

 Chimney Venting - a vertical vent used to transfer exhaust products from a boiler or furnace to the
outdoors.
 Circulating tube - A boiler tube used to connect the water spaces of two drums or the pressure parts
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of a boiler.

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  CIRCULATION - The movement of water and steam within a steam generating unit.

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 CIRCULATION RATIO - The ratio of water entering a circuit to the steam generated by that
passes that circuit in a unit of time.

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 CIRCULATOR - A pipe or tube to pass steam or water between upper boiler drums usually located
where the heat absorption is low. Also used to apply to tubes connecting headers of horizontal water
tube boilers with drums.
 Clad Vessel A vessel made from plate having a corrosion resistant material bonded to a base of less

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resistant material.
 Cladding A relatively thick layer of (> 0.04" ) of material applied by surfacing for the purpose of
improving corrosion resistance.
 CLEAN BURNING — describes a process where fuel is completely gasified and burned, producing
a minimum of polluting by-products such as smoke, creosote or ash.

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 CLEANOUT DOOR - A door placed so that accumulated refuse may be removed room a boiler
setting.
 Closed feedwater heater - An indirect -contact feedwater heater; that is, one in which the steam and
water are separated by tubes or coils.
 CLOSED SYSTEM — a closed heating system is one that is closed off from the environment and

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its heating fluid is not changed except for maintenance. (See Open System)
 Closing-in-line - The sealing by plastic refractory between a boiler shell or head and the firebrick
wall; used to prevent hot gases from contacting the boiler above the lowest waterline.
 CO - Carbon monoxide.
 CO2 - Carbon dioxide.
 Coating A relatively thin layer of (< 0.04" ) of material applied by surfacing for the purpose of
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corrosion prevention.
 Cold feed -To let cold water from the header tank into the system
 COLD INLET TEMPERATURE — Temperature of outside water entering water heating system;
typically 40º F. during cold months in U.S.
 COLLECTOR - A device used for removing gas borne solids from flue gas.
 Colloid - A finely divided organic substance which tends to inhibit the formation of dense scale and
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results in the deposition of sludge, or causes it to remain in suspension, so that it may be blown from
the boiler.
 Combined feeder cutoff - A device that regulates makeup water to a boiler in combination with a
low water fuel cut off.
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 Combustible - The heat-producing constituents of a fuel.

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 Combustible loss - The loss representing the unliberated thermal energy occasioned by failure to
oxide completely some of the combustible matter in the fuel.
 COMBUSTIBLES - The heat producing constituents of a fuel.
 Combustion - The burning of a fuel using air
 Combustion - the process of converting fuel into heat, requires oxygen.
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 COMBUSTION - The rapid chemical combination of oxygen with the combustible elements of a
fuel resulting in the release of heat.
 Combustion - The rapid reaction of fuel and oxidant (usually oxygen in air) to produce light, heat
and noise. Major products of combustion for hydrocarbon fuels (e.g., natural gas, refinery gas, fuel
oils) are carbon dioxide and water vapor. Trace products include carbon monoxide and nitrogen
oxides, which are pollutants.
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 Combustion (flame) safeguard - A system for sensing the pressure or absence of flame and
indicating, alarming or initiating control action.
 COMBUSTION AIR - Air used in the combustion process. Air contains oxygen which is required
to combust fuel.
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 Combustion chamber - See furnace

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  COMBUSTION CHAMBER - See Furnace.

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 COMBUSTION EFFICIENCY - The effectiveness of the burner to completely burn the fuel. A
well designed burner will operate with as little as 10 to 20% excess air, while converting all

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combustibles in the fuel to useful energy.
 Combustion efficiency - The fraction of carbon in the fuel that is converted into CO2 in the flue
gas, customarily expressed as a percent.
 combustion on one side and water on the other. This surface is measured on the side receiving the

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heat.
 Combustion rate - The quantity of fuel fired per unit of time, as pounds of coal; per hour or cubic
feet of gas per hour.
 Combustion -The burning of a fuel using air
 COMPLETE COMBUSTION - The complete oxidation of all the combustible constituents of a

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fuel.
 Complete Penetration -Joint penetration in which the weld metal completely fills the groove and is
fused to the base metal throughout its thickness.
 CONCENTRATION - (1) The weight of solids contained in a unit weight of boiler or feed water.
(2) The number of times that the dissolved solids have increased from the original amount in the

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feedwater to that in the boiler water due to evaporation in generating steam.
 Condensate - Condensed water resulting from the removal of latent heat from steam.
 CONDENSATE — water vapor condensing into water.
 CONDUCTION — heat transfer across a surface, or transfer of heat through a material by passing
from one molecule to another.
 Conduction - The transfer of heat by molecular collision. This process is more efficient in metals
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and other thermal conductors and poorer in fluids and insulators such as refractory.
 CONDUCTION - The transmission of heat through and by means of matter unaccompanied by any
obvious motion of the matter.
 CONDUCTIVITY - (1) A material property relating heat flux (heat transferred per unit area per
unit time) to a temperature difference. In American units, it is typically defined as the amount of heat
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(Btu) transmitted in one hour through one square foot of material 1 inch thick, with a temperature
difference of 1°F between the two surfaces of the material. (2) The property of a water sample to
transmit electric current under a set of standard conditions. Usually expressed as microhms
conductance.
 Conductivity - The amount of heat (Btu) transmitted in 1 hour through 1 sq. ft. of a homogenous
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material 1 in. thick for a difference in temperature of 1o F. between two surfaces of the material.
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 Continuous blowdown - The uninterrupted removal of concentrated boiler water from a boiler to
control total solids concentration in the remaining water.
 Control - A device designed to regulate the fuel, air, water, steam, or electrical supply to the
controlled equipment. It may be automatic, semi-automatic or manual.
 CONTROL - Any manual or automatic device for the regulation of a machine to keep it at normal
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operation. If automatic, the device is motivated by variations in temperature, pressure, water level,
time, light, or other influences.
 CONTROL VALVE - A valve used to control the flow of air, gas, water, steam or other substance.
 Control, limit - An automatic safety control responsive to changes in liquid level, pressure, or
temperature; normally set beyond the operating range for limiting the operation of controlled
equipment.
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 Control, operating - A control, other than s safety control or interlock, to start or regulate input
according to demand and to stop or regulate input on satisfaction of demand. Operating controls may
also actuate auxiliary equipment.
 Control, primary safety - A control responsive directly to flame properties, sensing the presence of
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flame and, in the event of ignition failure or unintentional flame extinguishments, causing safety
shutdown.
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  Control, safety - Automatic controls and interlocks (including relays, switches, and other auxiliary

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equipment used in conjunction to form a safety control system) which are intended to prevent unsafe
operation of the controlled equipment.

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 Convection - The transfer of heat or mass by large-scale fluid movements. When the process occurs,
due to density and temperature differences, it is termed natural convection. When the process occurs
due to external devices (such as fans), it is termed forced convection.
 CONVECTION — the transfer of heat that occurs due to the circulation of hot air.
 CONVECTION - The transmission of heat by the circulation of a liquid or gas. It may be natural,

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with the circulation caused by buoyancy affects due to temperature differences, or forced with
circulation caused by a mechanical device such as a fan or pump.
 Convection section - The part of a furnace between the radiant section and the stack. The area is
filled with tubes or pipes which carry process steam and which absorb heat via convection heat

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transfer from the hot gases passing through the area on their way out of the stack. The convection
section forms an obstacle to the combustion gas flow and can greatly affect furnace draft in the
radiant section of the furnace.
 Convective Heat - the natural circulation of air across a heat source to heat the air.
 Corrosion - The wasting away of metals as a result of chemical action. In a boiler, usually caused by

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the presence of O2, CO2, or an acid.
 Corrosion Allowance -Vessels subject to thinning by corrosion, erosion or mechanical abrasion
shall provide for an increase in thickness which is added to the design thickness.
 Corrosion fatigue - Cracks produced by the combined action of repeated or fluctuating stress and a
corrosive environment, which produces the cracking at lower stress levels or fewer cycles of stress
than would be the case if no corrosive environment were present.
 Course - A circumferential section of a boiler shell or drum. With usual diameters, the number of
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courses will equal the number of plates forming the shell or drum.
 Creep - The time-dependent stretching or strain, heavily influenced by temperature, of a material
under stress.
 CREOSOTE — a flammable, tar-like substance caused by unburned wood particulates mixing with
moisture. Burning unseasoned wood and/or low firebox temperatures are the most common causes.
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A creosote build-up inside the chimney or stovepipe can result in unpleasant odors and unsightly
discoloration and dripping on the stovepipe. In extreme cases, creosote represents a serious fire
hazard for homeowners. Chimneys should be cleaned at least once per year to control to prevent an
unsafe build-up.
 Crimping tool - A tool used to reduce the diameter of the end of a boiler tube preparatory to its
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removal from a boiler.

 Critical pressure and critical temperature - That point at which the difference between the liquid
and vapor states for water completely disappears.
 Cross-box - A boxlike structure to the longitudinal drum of a sectional header boiler forconnecting
circulating tubes.
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 CROWN SHEET - In a firebox boiler, the plate forming the top of the furnace.
 Crown Sheet - The Crown Sheet is the steel plate immediately above the fire, it seperates the fire
from the water and is typically not double walled. This is the hardest working part of the fire box as
it is heated the most. The sheet should never melt as a skilled operator will always keep it covered in
water. Should it become uncovered at any time it is likely that the boiler will fail unless the operator
cools the unit in time.
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 Crown sheet - The plate forming the roof of an internally fired furnace or a combustion chamber.
 CRUDE OIL - Unrefined petroleum.
 CSA (Canadian Standards Association) — a not-for-profit membership-based association serving
business, industry, government and consumers in Canada and the global marketplace. The
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organization works in Canada and around the world to develop standards that address real needs,

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 such as enhancing public safety and health, advancing the quality of life, helping to preserve the

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environment, and facilitating trade.
 C-scan - In ultrasonic testing a means of data presentation to show a plan view of the material, and

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of any discontinuities therein.
 CSD-1 - Abbreviation for the ASME standard for Controls and Safety Devices.
 Cylinder - Place for hot water storage (usually made from Copper)
 DAMPER - A device for introducing a variable pressure drop in a system used for regulating the

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volumetric flow of a gas, such as air.
 Damper: An adjustable flap controlling the air admitted beneath the fire-bed. Usually part of the
ashpan.
 DAVIT - The structure on large firetube boilers from which the front and rear doors are suspended
when opened.

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 Dba - "A" weighted average of the sound pressure levels over the entire frequency band. Intended to
be a more accurate representation of how a human hears sound.
 Dead Plates - Dead plates replace some or all of the fire grate. Typically only found in special
purpose boilers such as those burning straw, oil, or natural gas and other non solid fuels. The dead
plates stop cold air from being sucked into the flues cooling the water.

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 DEAERATION - Removal of air and gases from boiler feed water prior to its introduction to a
boiler.
 Deaerator - A type of feedwater heater operating with water and steam in direct contact. It is
designed to heat the water and drive off oxygen.
 Decibel - Unit of sound pressure or power. Abbreviation is "dB". 1 Watt of sound power is equal to
120 dB.
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 Deflector - A device used to change the direction of a stream of air or of a mixture of pulverized fuel
and air.
 DEGASIFICATION - Removal of gases from samples of steam taken for purity test. Removal of
CO2 from water as in the ion exchange method of softening.
 DELAYED COMBUSTION - A continuation of combustion beyond the furnace. (See also
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Secondary Combustion.)
 DESIGN LOAD - The load for which a steam generating unit is designed, considered the maximum
load to be carried.
 DESIGN PRESSURE - The pressure used in the design of a boiler for the purpose of calculating
the minimum permissible thickness or physical characteristics of the different parts of the boiler.
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 Design pressure - The pressure used in the design of a boiler for the purpose of determining the
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minimum permissible thickness or physical characteristics of the different parts of a boiler.

 Design Pressure The pressure used in the design of a vessel. It is recommended to design a vessel
and its parts for a pressure 10% above its operating pressure.
 DESIGN STEAM TEMPERATURE - The temperature of steam for which a boiler is designed.
 Design Temperature The maximum metal temperature expected under operating conditions.
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 DEW POINT - The temperature at which condensation starts.

 Diaphram Plate - The Diaphram plate or more correctly bezel is a plate with many small holes in
the bottom of the steam dome typical to the locomotive style boiler. The plate attempts to stop water
rising into the steam dome during hilly travel or splashing from rough roads.
 Differential - (of a control) the difference between cut in and cut out points.
 Diffusion (raw gas) flame - Combustion state controlled by mixing phenomena. Fuel and air diffuse
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into one another until a flammable mixture ratio is achieved.

 DIRECT SYSTEM — A radiant heating system where the heating fluid flows directly from the
heating unit to the tubes beneath the floor. (See Indirect System)
 Direct Vent - a boiler design where all the air for combustion is taken from the outside atmosphere
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and all exhaust products are released to the outside atmosphere, also known as sealed combustion.

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  DIRECT VENT — System used with an indoor heat source where intake air and combustion air are

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vented to the outside atmosphere.
 DISENGAGING SURFACE - The surface of the boiler water from which steam is released.

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 Disposal: The cleanup process at the end of the working day, usually involving dropping the fire and
blowing down the boiler.
 DISSOCIATION - The process by which a chemical compound breaks down into simpler
constituents, as do CO2 and H2O at high temperature.
 DISSOCIATION - The process by which a chemical compound breaks down into simpler

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constituents, as do CO2 and H2O at high temperature.
 DISSOLVED SOLID - Those solids in water which are in solution.
 DISTILLATE FUELS - Liquid fuels distilled usually from crude petroleum.
 DISTILLATION - Vaporization of a substance with subsequent recovery of the vapor by

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condensation. Often used in less precise sense to refer to vaporization of volatile constituents of a
fuel without subsequent condensation.
 DISTILLED WATER - Water produced by vaporization and condensation with a resulting higher
purity.
 Dome: a raised location on the top of the main boiler drum, providing a high point from which to

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collect dry steam, reducing the risk of priming.
 Downcomer - A tube or pipe in a boiler or waterwall circulating system through which fluid flows
downward between headers.
 DOWNCOMER - A tube or pipe in a boiler or waterwall circulating system through which fluid
flows downward.
 Downcomer: large external pipes in many water-tube boilers, carrying unheated cold water from the
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steam drum down to the water drum as part of the circulation path.
 DOWNTIME - Amount of time a piece of equipment is not operational.
 Draft - The difference between atmospheric pressure and some lower pressure existing in the
furnace or gas passages of the steam-generating unit.
 Draft control, barometric - A device that controls draft by means of a balanced damper which
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bleeds air into the breeching on changes of pressure to maintain steady draft.
 DRAFT DIFFERENTIAL - The difference in static pressure between two points in a system.
 Draft differential - The difference in static pressure between two points in a system.
 DRAFT GAUGE -A device for measuring draft, usually in inches of water.
 Draft Hood - a device that prevents a backdraft from entering the heating unit or excessive chimney
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draw from affecting the operation of the boiler or furnace.

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 DRAIN - A valved connection at the lowest point for the removal of all water from the pressure
parts.
 Drip leg - The container placed at a low point in a system of piping to collect condensate and from
which it may be removed.
 DRUM - A cylindrical shell closed at both ends designed to withstand internal pressure.
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 Drum - A cylindrical shell closed at both ends, designed to withstand internal pressure.
 DRY AIR - Air with which no water vapor is mixed. This term is used comparatively, since in
nature there is always some water vapor included in air, and such water vapor, being a gas, is dry.
 Dry back - The baffle provided in a firetube boiler joining the furnace to the second pass to direct
the products of combustion, that is so constructed to be separate from the pressure vessel and
constructed of heat resistant material. (Generally refractory and insulating material)
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 DRY GAS - Gas containing no water vapor.

 Dry steam - Steam containing no moisture. Commercially dry steam containing not more than 0.5
percent moisture.
 DRY STEAM - Steam containing no moisture. Commercially dry steam containing not more than
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one half of one percent moisture.

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  DRYBACK BOILER - Firetube boiler with a refractory lined back door. Door opens to allow

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maintenance and/or inspection.
 DRY-GAS LOSS - The loss representing the difference between the heat content of the dry exhaust

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gases and their heat content at the temperature of ambient air.
 DRY-GAS LOSS - The loss representing the difference between the heat content of the dry exhaust
gases and their heat content at the temperature of ambient air.
 Duct - A passage for air or gas flow.
 Ductless Split A/C Systems - A system that cools and dehumidifies air without the use of

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conventional duct work. The equipment location is split, with the condenser and heat pump outside
of the home and the air handler and controls inside.
 DUCTWORK — A system of metal or plastic conduits used to distribute warm air from a central
furnace throughout the house.

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 Economizer - A series of tubes located in the path of flue gases. Feedwater is pumped through these
tubes on its way to the boiler in order to absorb waste heat from the flue gas.
 ECONOMIZER - Utilizes waste heat by transferring heat from flue gases to warm incoming
feedwater.
 EDR - Equivalent direct radiation is the rate of heat transfer from a radiator or convector. It is

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equivalent to the square feet of surface area necessary to transfer heat at the same rate at which it is
produced by a generator. A single boiler horsepower equals 140 ft2 EDR.
 Efficiency - Of boiler operation: Output in heat units divided by input in heat units. The number of
Btus contained in all steam evaporated is useful output. The number of Btus contained in all fuel
supplied to the boiler is input.
 EFFICIENCY - The ratio of output to input. See also Combustion, Fuel-to-Steam and Thermal
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Efficiency.
 Efficiency Rating - the ratio of heat actually generated versus the amount of heat Theoretically
possible from the amount of fuel inputted.
 Ejector - A device which utilizes the kinetic energy in a jet of water or other fluid to remove a fluid
or fluent material from tanks or hoppers.
 ELECTRIC BOILER - A boiler in which electric energy is used as the source of heat.
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 Electric boiler - A boiler in which electric heating means serve as the source of energy.
 ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR - A device for collecting dust, mist or fume from a gas
stream, by placing an electrical charge on the particle and removing that particle onto a collecting
electrode.
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 Embrittlement - An intercrystalline corrosion of boilerplate occurring in highly stressed zones.

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Cracking may result.

 Emersion Heater An electric back up heater for water
 Emissivity - The efficiency with which a material radiates thermal energy, expressed as a fraction
between 0 and 1.
 Enthalpy - A thermal property of a fluid which is a function of state and is defined as the sum of
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stored mechanical potential energy and internal energy. It is generally expressed in Btu per pound of
fluid (joules per kilogram).
 Entrainment - The conveying of particles of water or solids from the boiler water by the steam.
 EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) — EPA leads the nation's environmental science,
research, education and assessment efforts. It works to develop and enforce regulations that
implement environmental laws enacted by Congress. It is also responsible for researching and setting
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national standards for a variety of environmental programs, and delegates to states and tribes the
responsibility for issuing permits and for monitoring and enforcing compliance. Where national
standards are not met, EPA can issue sanctions and take other steps to assist the states and tribes in
reaching the desired levels of environmental quality. The EPA also conducts environmental research
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and sponsors voluntary partnerships and programs.

 EQUALIZER - Connections between parts of a boiler to equalize pressures.
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  EQUIVALENT EVAPORATION - Evaporation expressed in pounds of water evaporated from a

a
temperature of 212 °F to dry saturated steam at 212 °F.
 EVAPORATION - The change of state from a liquid to a vapor.

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 Evaporation rate - The number of pounds of water evaporated in a unit of time.
 Evaporator - A pressure vessel used to evaporate raw water by means of a steam coil. The steam is
condensed by means of cooling water coils, and this distilled water is used as make-up for boiler
feed.
 EXCESS AIR - Air supplied for combustion in excess of that theoretically required for complete

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oxidation.
 Excess air - The amount of air needed by a burner which is in excess of the amount required for
perfect or stoichiometric combustion. Some amount of excess air, depending on the available fuel/air
mixing energy, is required to assure through mixing of the fuel and air for complete combustion.

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 Exhaust injector: a feedwater injector that economizes on steam consumption by using waste
steam, such as engine exhaust.
 EXPANSION JOINT - The joint to permit movement due to expansion without undue stress.
 Expansion PipeTo let air from the system (must be one size bigger than cold feed)
 Expansion Vessel - Used on sealed systems instead of an expansion tank

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 Explosion door - A door in a furnace or boiler setting designed to be opened by a predetermined gas
pressure.
 EXTERNAL TREATMENT - Treatment of boiler feed water prior to its introduction into the
boiler.
 Fan - A machine consisting of a rotor and housing for moving air or gases at relatively low-pressure
differentials.
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 Fan Flue - Can be use with room sealed or open flue boilers
 Fan performance - A measure of fan operation in terms of volume, total pressures, static pressures,
speed, power input, and mechanical and static efficiency, at a stated air density.
 FAN PERFORMANCE - A measure of fan operation in terms of volume, total pressures, static
pressures, speed, power input, mechanical and static efficiency, at a stated air density.
 Fan performance curves - The graphical presentation of total pressure, static pressure, power input,
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and mechanical and static efficiency as ordinates and the range of volumes as absciassas, all at
constant speed and air density.
 FCAW Flux Cored Arc Welding.
 FCAW -Flux Cored Arc Welding.
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 FEED PUMP - A pump that supplies water to a boiler.

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 FEEDWATER - Water introduced into a boiler during operation. It includes make-up and return
condensate.
 Feedwater regulator - A device for admitting feedwater to a boiler automatically on demand.
Practically a constant water level should result.
 FEEDWATER TREATMENT - The treatment of boiler feed water by the addition of chemicals to
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prevent the formation of scale or to eliminate other objectionable characteristics.

 FGR - Flue Gas Recirculation or the recirculation of flue gas with combustion air to reduce NOx
emissions.
 Field-tube: A form of single-ended thimble water tube with an internal tube to encourage
circulation.
 Filler Metal -Material added in making a weld.
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 Fillet Weld A weld of approximately triangular cross section joining two surfaces at right angles to
each other.
 Filling loop - Used to fill sealed systems with water
 FILTER - Porous material through which fluids or fluid - and solid mixtures are passed to separate
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matter held in suspension.

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  FIN - A fin is an extended surface, a solid, experiencing energy transfer by conduction within its

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boundaries, as well as energy transfer with its surroundings by convection and/or radiation, used to
enhance heat transfer by increasing surface area.

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 FIN TUBE - A tube with one or more fins.
 Fire dropping: Emptying out the remains of the fire after a day's work. A time-consuming and
filthy task; labour-saving ways to improve this became important in the final days of steam
locomotives.
 Fire Tubes - The fire tubes carry fire, heated gases, through the water space to heat the water. In the

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case of a return flue boiler there is one or more large tubes known as flues which carry the spent
gases (smoke) back to the stack above the smoke box.
 Firebar: Replaceable cast-iron bars that form the base of the furnace and support the fire. These
wear out frequently, so as designed for easy replacement.

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 Firebox - The equivalent of a furnace. A term usually used for furnaces of locomotive boilers and
similar types of boilers.
 Firebox - The space at one end of the boiler, or under the boiler, where the fire is made. Typically
surrounded by a double wall with water filling the space between the walls. All flat surfaces have to
be held and braced by the stay bolts lest the box warp under the intense heat. James Hansen added

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that the flat surfaces are held by stay bolts- not bars. Stays are actually threaded their entire length,
the holes they go into are threaded with a very long tap so the thread remains in pitch, and the stay is
screwed into both surfaces, then riveted and beaded on both sides. Stay bolts keep parallel surfaces
parallel to one another.
 FIRED PRESSURE VESSEL - A vessel containing a fluid under pressure exposed to heat from the
combustion of fuel.
 Firetube - A tube in a boiler having water on the outside and carrying the products of combustion on
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the inside.
 FIRETUBE - A type of boiler design in which combustion gases flow inside the tubes and water
flows outside the tubes.
 Fire-tube boiler: A boiler where the primary heating surface is tubes with hot gas flowing inside
and water outside.
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 Firing rate control - A pressure temperature or flow controller which controls the firing rate of a
burner according to the deviation from pressure or temperature set point. The system may be
arranged to operate the burner on-off, high-low or in proportion to load demand.
 FIXED CARBON - The carbonaceous residue less the ash remaining in the test container after the
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volatile matter has been driven off in making the proximate analysis of a solid fuel.
 Flame - A luminous body of burning gas or vapor.
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 Flame detector - A device which indicates if fuel, such as liquid, gaseous, or pulverized, is burning
or if ignition has been lost. The indication may be transmitted to a signal or to a control system.
 FLAME PATH — The path followed by superheated gases as they exit the furnace.
 Flame propagation rate - Speed of travel of ignition through a combustible mixture. (See flame
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speed)
 FLAME SAFEGUARD - A control that sequences the burner through several stages of operation to
provide proper air purge, ignition, normal operation, and shutdown for safe operation.
 Flame speed - The rate at which a flame can propagate in a combustion mixture. If the flame is
lower than the speed of the reacting flow, the flame may lift off the burner. If the flame speed is
higher than the speed of the reacting flow the flame may flash back into the burner.
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 FLAMMABILITY - Susceptibility to combustion.

 Flammability limits - The upper and lower bounds of the fuel/air mixture which will support
combustion. The upper flammability limit indicates the maximum fuel concentration in air that will
support combustion. The lower flammability limit indicates the minimum fuel concentration in the
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air that will support combustion. Outside of these bounds the mixture does not burn.

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  Flareback - A burst of flame from a furnace in a direction opposed to the normal flow, usually

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caused by the ignition of an accumulation of combustible gases.
 FLASH POINT - The lowest temperature at which, under specified conditions, fuel oil gives off

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enough vapor to flash into a momentary flame when ignited.
 Flashback - A phenomenon occurring only in pre-mix gas burners when the flame speed overcomes
the gas-air mixture flow velocity exiting the gas tip. The flame rushes back to the gas orifice and can
make an explosive sound when flashback occurs. Flashback is most common when hydrogen is

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present in fuel gas.
 FLASHING - The process of producing steam by discharging water into a region of pressure lower
than the saturation pressure that corresponds to the water temperature
 Flashing - The process whereby a drop in pressure or increase in temperature cause vaporization.
 Flow -PipeHot water flow from the boiler to rads or cylinder

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 FLOW RATE — The rate a liquid flows through a pipe or plumbing fixture, typically measured in
gallons per minute or hour (GPM/GPH).
 Flue - Where the fumes from the gas goes after burning
 Flue - A passage for products of combustion.
 Flue - the passageway that takes combustion exhaust from the combustion chamber to the flue

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collector and venting system.
 Flue gas - The gaseous products of combustion in the flue to the stack.
 Flue - A large fire tube, either used as the main heating surface in a flued boiler, or used as enlarged
firetubes in a locomotive-style boiler where these contain the superheater elements.
 FM - Factory Mutual.
 Foaming - Formation of steam bubbles on the surface of boiler water due to high surface tension of
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the water.
 FOAMING - The continuous formation of bubbles which have sufficiently high surface tension to
remain as bubbles beyond the disengaging surface.
 FOAMING - The continuous formation of bubbles which have sufficiently high surface tension to
remain as bubbles beyond the disengaging surface.
 FORCED AIR — A system that uses fans and blowers to move heated air through ducts to heat the
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home.
 Forced circulation - The circulation of water in a boiler by mechanical means external to the boiler.
 FORCED CIRCULATION - The circulation of water in a boiler by mechanical meansexternal to
the boiler.
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 Forced Draft - When first starting a fire, or when the engine is not working very hard, forced draft
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may be required to keep the fire burning and the flues free of still gases. The draft is usually induced
by blowing steam up the smoke stack sucking air through the fire and through the flues. Forced draft
is also induced by venting the exhaust steam into the stack via nozzles in the same manner as you
describe, causing SIGNIFICANT induced draft. This might be done on say a steam engine running a
sawmill. When working hard continuously a hotter fire is needed to keep the steam up. Most traction
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engines had their exhaust directed into the smokestack to cause draft. When I said SIGNIFICANT, I
meant it. James Hansen offered that the ZZ Geiser I ran would pull the fireman's hat off if he got too
close when feeding the beast with the firebox door open.
 Forced Hot Air - a furnace system using a blower to circulate air from within the home through the
furnace and back into the home. (As opposed to gravity circulation).
 Forced-draft fan - A fan supplying air under pressure to the fuel burning equipment.
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 FORCED-DRAFT FAN - A fan supplying air under pressure to the fuel burning equipment.
 FOSSIL FUEL — A hydrocarbon deposit, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from
living matter of a previous geologic time and used for fuel. All fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide
when burned and are a main cause of air pollution. (See greenhouse effect.)
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  FOULING - The accumulation of refuse in gas passages or on heat absorbing surfaces which results

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in undesirable restriction to the flow of gas or heat.
 Fouling - The accumulation of refuse in gas passages or on heat absorbing surfaces which results in

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undesirable restrictions to the flow of gas or heat.
 Foundation ring: The base of the firebox, where the inner and outer shells are joined.
 FREE ASH - Ash which is not included in the fixed ash.
 FUEL - A substance containing combustible used for generating heat.

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 Fuel NOx - NOx that is formed from nitrogen that is organically bound to the fuel molecule. Fuel
NOx is most often a problem with liquid fuel or coal burning. Once the nitrogen has been cracked
from the fuel molecule, the mechanism follows basically the same path as the prompt NOx
mechanism.
 FUEL OIL - A liquid fuel derived from petroleum or coal.

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 FUEL-AIR MIXTURE - Mixture of fuel and air.
 FUEL-AIR RATIO - The ratio of the weight, or volume, of fuel to air.
 FUEL-TO-STEAM EFFICIENCY - The ratio of heat added to boiler feedwater to produce the
output steam to the amount of energy inputted with fuel.
 Furnace - a heating unit that heats air by transferring heat in a metal combustion chamber to the air

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and circulating it through the house in a network of ducts.
 FURNACE — an enclosed space for the burning of fuel. There are many kinds of furnaces, the type
depending upon the fuel and the use to which the heat produced within it is put. Most familiar are the
furnaces used in the heating of buildings. In the hot-air furnace, fuel is burned within an inner wall
and air, led into a space between the inner and the outer wall, is heated and is led away to the various
rooms of the building. Hot-water (hydronic) furnaces, by which water is heated to be led through
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pipes to radiators, and furnaces that turn water to steam for heating purposes are common.
 Furnace - An enclosed space provided for the combustion of fuel.
 Furnace arch - Uppermost part of a radiant furnace (also called the "bridgewall", a term which
came from the original furnace designs and has remained in use). The last area in an upflow furnace
before the convection section.
 Furnace Draft - The negative air pressure generated by buoyancy of hot gases inside a furnace. The
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temperature difference between gases within the furnace and in the atmosphere along with furnace
and stack height basically determine the amount of draft generated by the furnace. Draft is generally
measured in negative inches of water column. ("-w.c."; 27.7 inches w.c. = 1 psig)
 Furnace explosion - A violent combustion of dust or gas accumulations in a furnace or combustion
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chamber of a boiler.
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 FURNACE PRESSURE - Pressure occurring inside the combustion chamber; positive if greater
than atmospheric, negative if less than atmospheric, and neutral if equal to atmospheric.
 Furnace release rate - The heat available per square foot of heat-absorbing surface in the furnace.
That surface is the projected area of tubes and extended metallic surfaces on the furnace side
including walls, floors, roof, partition walls, and platens and the area of the plane of the furnace exit
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which is defined as the entrance to the convection tube bank.

 Furnace volume - The cubical contents of the furnace or combustion chamber.
 FUSIBLE PLUG - A hollowed threaded plug having the hollowed portion filled with a low melting
point material.
 Fusible Plug - James Hansen added that the crown sheet Is fitted with a fusible plug. This plug is in
any ASME boiler and most others even if not built to code, as it is really stupid to not have one. It
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consists of a brass threaded plug with a tapered hole filled with tin. When the plug gets hot, the tin
melts and the steam and water puts the fire out. This is the most basic safety device on any boiler.
Since top of the plug is actually into the water space by 1" (2.54cm) it should melt out long before
the crownsheet is uncovered.
 Fusible plug: A safety device that indicates if the water level becomes dangerously low. It melts
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when overheated, releasing a jet of steam into the firebox and alerting the crew.
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  Gage cock - A valve attached to a water column or drum for checking water level.

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 Gage pressure - The pressure measured relative to the local atmospheric pressure. Gage pressure
may be negative. A negative gage pressure is known as suction or vacuum.

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 Galloway tubes: tapered thermic syphon water-tubes inserted in the furnace of a Lancashire boiler.
 Gas analysis - The determination of the constituents of a gaseous mixture.
 GAS BURNER - A burner that uses gas or fuel.
 GAS BURNER - A burner that uses gas or fuel.

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 GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR - A spring loaded, dead weighted or pressure balanced device
which will maintain the gas pressure to the burner supply line.
 Gas recirculation - The reintroduction of part of the combustion gas at a point upstream of the
removal point, in the lower furnace for the purpose of controlling steam temperature.
 Gas tip - The part of a burner which discharges the gas fuel via one or more openings into the

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furnace. The size, arrangement, and angular disposition of the openings in the tip have a major effect
on the size and shape of the flame.
 Gasification - The process of converting solid or liquid fuel into a gaseous fuel such as the
gasification of coal.
 Gate valve - A stop valve using the wedge-and-double-seat principle. It may be used to control

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fluids containing some solids, for when wide open, it operates on a straight-through flow. There is
little likelihood of its becoming obstructed.
 GAUGE COCK - A valve attached to a water column or drum for checking water level.
 Gauge glass - A glass-enclosed visible indicator of the water level in a boiler. Many gauge glasses
are tubular, but modern high-pressure practice and railroad locomotives use two thick, flat strips of
glass bolted between flanged plates, with the water and steam between the glass strips.
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 GAUGE GLASS - The transparent part of a water gauge assembly connected directly or through a
water column to the boiler, below and above the water line, to indicate the water level in a boiler.
 GAUGE PRESSURE - The pressure above atmospheric pressure.
 Gauge pressure - The pressure above that of atmospheric, 14.7 psi at sea level; absolute pressure
minus 14.7 at sea level.
 GLOBAL WARMING — An increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere,
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especially a sustained increase sufficient to cause climatic change. Click for more information.
 Globe valve - A stop valve using the round-disk-and-seat principle. Used where the fluid controlled
is comparatively clean.
 GMAC Gas Metal Arc Cutting. (Air Arc)
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 GMAW Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG).

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 GPM/GPH — gallons per minute or gallons per hour -- a measure of the amount of water flowing
through a fixture or pipe.
 GRADE - Oil classification according to quality, generally based on ASTM specifications.
 Grain - A unit of measure commonly used in water analysis for the measurement of impurities in
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water. (17.1 grains = 1 part per million - ppm)

 GRAINS (WATER) - A unit of measure commonly used in water analysis for the measurement of
impurities in water (17.1 grains = 1 part per million - ppm).
 GRAINS PER CU-FT - The term for expressing dust loading in weight per unit of gas volume
(7000 grains equals one pound).
 Grate - The Grate is a series of bars or narrow plates in the bottom of the fire box. The fire/fuel sits
on the grate and burns. The ashes fall through the grate into the ash pit.
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 GRAVITY - Weight index of fuels: liquid, petroleum products expressed either as specific, Baume
or A.P.I. (American Petroleum Institute) gravity; weight index of gaseous fuels as specific gravity
related to air under specified conditions; or weight index of solid fuels as specific gravity related to
water under specified conditions.
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  GREENHOUSE EFFECT — A term used to describe the heating of the atmosphere owing to the

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presence of carbon dioxide and other gases. Without the presence of these gases, heat from the sun
would return to space in the form of infrared radiation. Carbon dioxide and other gases absorb some

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of this radiation and prevent its release, thereby warming the Earth. This is an effect analogous to
what happens in a greenhouse, where glass traps the infrared radiation and warms the air. The
burning of fossil fuels adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, and therefore places the Earth at risk
from an increase of this effect.
 Groove Weld A weld made in the groove between two plates to be joined.

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 GTAW Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG).
 Hand Holes - Almost all boilers of any size have at least one hand hole to allow the boiler to be
inspected and cleaned with a pressure or force hose. There may also be hand holes dedicated to
inspection in areas of the boiler in which problems often occur. Such as the mud ring. In a more

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modern boiler there are hand or man holes to allow inspection of the entire interior surface.
 HANDHOLE - An access opening in a pressure part usually not exceeding 6inches in its longest
dimension.
 Handhole - An inspection, a sight, or a cleanout opening in a boiler; often elliptical and closed by a
handhole plate.

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 HANDHOLE COVER - A handhole closure.
 Handhole cover - A handhole enclosure.
 Hand-hole: A small manhole, too small for access but useful for inspection and washing out the
boiler.
 Hard water - Water which contains calcium or magnesium in an amount which requires an
excessive amount of soap to form a lather.
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 Hardness - A measure of the amount of calcium and magnesium salts in boiler water . Usually
expressed as grains per gallon or parts per million as CaCO2
 Head The end of a cylindrical shell. Types include flat, ellipsoidal, flanged and dished, conical and
hemispherical.
 Header - A distribution pipe supplying a number of smaller lines tapped off of it. A main receiving
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pipe supplying one or more main pipe lines and receiving a number of supply lines tapped into it.
 HEAT AVAILABLE - The thermal energy above a fixed datum that is capable of being absorbed
for useful work.
 HEAT BALANCE - An accounting of the distribution of the heat input, output and losses.
 HEAT EXCHANGER — A device that transfers heat from one fluid to another without a mixing of
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the fluids, such as air-to-water, water-to-water, or water-to-air.

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 HEAT EXCHANGER - A vessel in which heat is transferred from one medium to another.
 Heat Exchanger - the part of the boiler or furnace used for transmitting heat from the flame to air or
water for heating.
 Heat Exchanger - Where heat is transferred from the source to the destination
 Heat liberation - Amount of heat released during combustion of fuels. One of the criteria for
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determining what burner to use in an application.

 Heat release - The total quantity of thermal energy above a fixed datum introduced into a furnace by
the fuel, considered to be the product of the hourly fuel rate and its high heating value, expressed in
Btu per hour per cubic foot of furnace volume or square foot of heating surface.
 HEAT RELEASE RATE - Rate that describes the heat available per square foot of heat-absorbing
surface in the furnace or per cubic foot of volume.
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 Heat Transfer - the transmission of heat from the source (flame) to air or water.
 Heat-Affected Zone The portion of the base metal which has not been melted, but whose
mechanical properties have been altered by the heat of welding or cutting.
 Heating Capacity - the amount of usable heat produced by a heating unit
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  Heating surface - That surface which is exposed to the heating medium for absorption and transfer

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of heat to the heat medium per American Boiler Manufacturers Association (ABMA)
 Heating Surface - This is the entire surface area of the boiler which is exposed directly to hot gases

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and the radiant heat of the fire.
 HEATING SURFACE - Those surfaces which are exposed to products of combustion on one side
and water on the other. This surface is measured on the side receiving the heat.
 HEATING VALUE - The quantity of heat released by a fuel through complete combustion. It is

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commonly expressed in Btu per lb, per gallon, or cu-ft.
 HIGH EFFICIENCY — AFUE percentage used to describe furnaces- Low-efficiency furnace Less
than 71%- Mid-efficiency furnace 72% to 83% - High-efficiency furnace 84% and higher.
 High fire - The input rate of a burner at or near maximum.
 HIGH GAS PRESSURE CONTROL - A control to stop the burner if the gas pressure is too high.

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 High gas pressure switch - A switch to stop the burner if gas pressure is too high.
 HIGH OIL TEMPERATURE CONTROL - A control to stop the burner if the oil temperature is
too high.
 High-Alloy Steel Steel containing large percentages of elements other than carbon.
 High-boy - a term used to describe a furnace which has a small "footprint" but is tall. The blower is

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under the heat exchanger.
 Higher heating value - HHV, the theoretical heat the combustion process can release if the fuel and
oxidant are converted with 100% efficiency to CO2 and liquid H20.
 hot water
 Hot Water Boiler - a heating unit that uses water circulated throughout the home in a system of
baseboard heating units, radiators, and/or in-floor radiant tubing.
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 Hot Water Heater - a unit with its own energy source that generates and stores hot water.
 Hot well - A tank used to receive condensate from various sources on its passage back to a boiler
through the feedwater system. It usually is vented to atmosphere.
 HYDROCARBON - A chemical compound of hydrogen and carbon.
 HYDRONIC — Of or relating to a heating or cooling system that transfers heat by circulating a
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fluid through a closed system of pipes.

 Hydronics - the science of heating or cooling with water.
 Hydrostatic test - A pressure test by water at room temperature applied to a boiler to determine its
safety, as a check on repairs or to trace suspected leakage.
 HYDROSTATIC TEST - A strength and tightness test of a closed pressure vessel by water
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pressure.
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 Hydrostatic Test The complete vessel filled with water shall be subject to a test pressure which is
equal to 1.5 times the design pressure.
 Igniter - A burner smaller than the main burner, which is ignited by a spark or other independent
and stable ignition source and which provides proven ignition energy required to immediately light
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off the main burner.

 IGNITION - The initiation of combustion.
 IGNITION TEMPERATURE - Lowest temperature of a fuel at which combustion becomes self-
sustaining.
 Ignition temperature - the temperature required to initiate combustion.
 ILLUMINANTS - Light oil or coal compounds that readily burn with a luminous flame, such as
ethylene, propylene and benzene.
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 Impact Test Determination of the resistance of a material to breaking by impact. The test is
measured by breaking the material by a single blow.
 Impeller - The rotating wheel of a centrifugal pump.
 Impingement - The striking of moving flame against boiler parts, causing local overheating.
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 Incomplete combustion - The partial oxidation of the combustible constituents of a fuel.

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  INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION - The partial oxidation of the combustible constituents of a fuel.

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 Indirect Hot Water Storage Tank - a unit that works in conjunction with a boiler to generate and
store domestic hot water, it does not require its own energy source.

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 INDIRECT SYSTEM — A radiant heating system where the heat from the heating unit passes
through a heat exchanger before circulating through the tubes under the floor. (See Direct System)
 Induced draft fan - A fan exhausting hot gases from heat absorbing equipment.
 INERT GASEOUS CONSTITUENTS - Incombustible gases such as nitrogen which may be

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present in a fuel.
 In-floor Radiant Tubing - tubing, typically plastic or rubber, used in conjunction with heated boiler
water to heat floors.
 INHIBITOR - A substance which selectively retards a chemical action. An example in boiler work
is the use of an inhibitor, when using acid to remove scale, to prevent the acid from attacking the

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boiler metal.
 INJECTOR - A device utilizing a steam jet to entrain and deliver feed water into a boiler.
 Injector: a feedwater pump without moving parts that uses steam pressure and the Bernoulli effect
to force feedwater into the boiler, even against its pressure.
 Input rating - The fuel burning capacity of a burner at sea level in Btu per hour as specified by the

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manufacturer.
 Insulation - A material of low thermal conductivity used to reduce heat loss.
 INTEGRAL BLOWER - A blower built as an integral part of a device to supply air thereto.
 INTEGRAL-BLOWER BURNER - A burner of which the blower is an integral part.
 INTERLOCK - A device to prove the physical state of a required condition, and to furnish that
proof to the primary safety control circuit.
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 INTERMITTENT BLOWDOWN - the blowing down of boiler water at intervals.
 Intermittent firing - A method of firing by which fuel and air are introduced and burned in a
furnace for a short period after which flow is stopped, this succession occurring in a sequence of
frequent cycles.
 Intermittent ignition - An igniter which burns during light off and while the main burner is firing
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and which is shut off with the main burner.

 INTERNAL TREATMENT - The treatment of boiler water by introducing chemicals directly into
the boiler.
 Internally fired boiler - A firetube boiler having an internal furnace such as a scotch, locomotive
firebox, vertical tubular, or other type having a water-cooled plate type furnace.
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 Ion - A charge atom or radical which may be positive or negative.

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 Ion exchange - A reversible process by which ions are interchanged between solids and a liquid.
These ions exist throughout the solution and act almost independently.
 IRI - Industrial Risk Insurers.
 Joint Efficiency The ratio of the strength of a joint to the strength of the base metal (Expressed in
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Percent).
 Klinger gauge glass: A form of gauge glass where the water level is visible through a flat glass
window in a strong metal frame, rather than a cylindrical tube. These were popular with some
operators, and increasingly so for high pressure boilers.
 Lagging - A covering, usually of insulating material, on pipe or ducts.
 LAGGING - A light gauge steel covering used over a boiler, usually combined with insulation, to
provide a low temperature outer surface.
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 Laminar flow - Very smooth flow in which all the molecules are traveling in generally the same
direction. For internal flows, it occurs at Reynolds numbers less than 2000.
 Lap Joint A welded joint in which two overlapping metal parts are joined by means of a fillet, plug
or slot weld.
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  LEAKAGE - The uncontrolled quantity of fluid which enters or leaves through the enclosure of air

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or gas passages.
 Lethal Substance Poisonous gas or liquid of such a nature that a small amount of the gas or of the

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vapor of the liquid is dangerous to life when inhaled. It is the responsibility of the user of the vessel
to determine that the gas or liquid is lethal.
 LIBERATION - See Heat Release.
 Lift-off - This condition occurs when the fuel or fuel/air mixture velocity is too high, thus allowing

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the fuel to exit the stabilizing zone before it has achieved its ignition temperature.
 LIMIT CONTROL - A switching device that completes or breaks an electrical circuit at
predetermined pressures or temperatures. Also known as an interlock. See interlock.
 Lining - The material used on the furnace side of a furnace wall. It is usually high-grade refractory
tile or brick or plastic refractory material.

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 Liquid Penetrant Examination (PT) -A method of nondestructive examination. Typical
discontinuities found with this method are cracks and laminations.
 Live steam - Steam which has not performed any of the work for which it was generated.
 LOAD - The rate of output required; also the weight carried.
 LOAD FACTOR - The ratio of the average load in a given period to the maximum load carried

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during that period.
 Low draft switch - A control to prevent the burner operation if the draft is too low. Used primarily
with mechanical draft.
 Low fire start - The firing of a burner with controls in a low-fire position to provide safe operating
condition during light off.
 LOW GAS PRESSURE CONTROL - A control to stop the burner if gas pressure is too low.
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 Low gas pressure switch - A control to stop the burner if gas pressure is too low.
 LOW OIL TEMPERATURE CONTROL - (Cold Oil Switch) A control to prevent burner
operation if the temperature of the oil is too low.
 Low Water Cut-off - a device used to shut down a boiler in the event a low water Condition exists.
 LOW WATER CUTOFF - Safety device that shuts off the boiler/burner in the event of low water,
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preventing pressure vessel failure.

 Low-boy - a term used to describe a furnace which has a low profile. The blower is located on the
same level plane as the heat exchanger.
 Lower heating value - LHV, The theoretical heat the combustion process can release if the fuel and
oxidant are converted to 100% efficiency to CO2 and H2O vapor.
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 Low-oil-temperature switch - A cold-oil switch; a control to prevent burner operation if the

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temperature of the oil is too low.

 Low-water cutoff - A device to stop the burner on unsafe water conditions in the boiler.
 LUG - Any projection, like an ear, used for supporting or grasping.
 Lug - As applied to boiler suspension, a steel eyepiece fitted and riveted or welded to the curvature
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of a boiler shell or drum and connected by a steel U-bolt or sling rod to overhead steel structure;
used to support the weight of a boiler.
 Magnetic Particle Examination (MT) -A method of detecting cracks at or near the surface in
magnetic alloys.
 MAKE-UP - The water added to boiler feed to compensate for that lost through exhaust, blowdown,
leakage, etc.
 Makeup water - The amount of raw water necessary to compensate for the amount of condensate
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that is not returned in the feedwater supply to the boiler.

 Man Holes - Every large boiler has at least one man sized hole where the boiler space can be opened
and a man enter to clean and repair the unit. This hole must not be opened when the boiler is under
pressure, and typcially cannot be as the boiler pressure keeps it closed. Usually the man hole is a
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 plate inside the boiler which is held on by clamps on the outside. The pressure inside pushes on the

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plate helping it to seal.
 Manhole - An access opening to the interior of a boiler, elliptical and 11 in. by 15 in. or larger or

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circular 15-in. diameter or larger.
 MANHOLE - The opening in a pressure vessel of sufficient size to permit a man to enter.
 Manhole: an oval access door into the boiler shell, used for maintenance and cleaning. Manholes are
sealed with a removable door from the inside. As they are oval, this door may be turned and lifted

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out through the hole. Doors are clamped in place from the outside with one or two bridge clamps
spanning the hole and tightened down with a nut on a stud. As the cutting of a manhole weakens the
boiler shell, the surrounding area is strengthened with a patch.
 Manifold - A pipe or header for collecting a fluid from, or the distributing of a fluid to a number of
pipes or tubes.

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 MANUAL GAS SHUTOFF VALVE - A manually operated valve in a gas line for the purpose of
completely turning on or shutting off the gas supply.
 Manual reset device - A component of a control which requires resetting by hand to restart the
burner after safe operating conditions have been restored.
 MANUFACTURED GAS - Fuel gas manufactured from coal, oil, etc., as differentiated from

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natural gas.
 Material Test Report (MTR) -A document on which the material manufacturer records the results
of test examinations or treatments required by the material specification.
 MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE WORKING PRESSURE - The maximum gauge pressure
permissible in a completed boiler. The MAWP of the completed boiler shall be less than or equal to
the lowest design pressure determined for any of its parts. This pressure is based upon either proof
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tests or calculations for every pressure part of the boiler using nominal thickness exclusive of
allowances for corrosion and thickness required for loadings other than pressure. It is the basis for
the pressure setting of the pressure relieving devices protecting the boiler.
 MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS LOAD - The maximum load which can be maintained for a specified
period.
 MAXIMUM INSTANTANEOUS DEMAND - The sudden load demand on a boiler beyond which
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an unbalanced condition may be established in the boiler's internal flow pattern and/or surface
release conditions.
 MECHANICAL ATOMIZING OIL BURNER - A burner which uses the pressure of the oil for
atomization.

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Mechanical draft - The negative pressure created by mechanical means.


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Micron - One millionth of a meter, or 0.000039 in. or 1/25400 in The diameter of dust particles is
often expressed in microns.
 MINIATURE BOILER - Fire pressure vessels which do not exceed the following limits, 16 in.
inside diameter of shell; 42 in., overall length to outside of heads at center; 20 sq ft water heating
surface; or 100 psi maximum allowable working pressure.
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 Mixer - The part of a pre-mix burner (also gas-air mixer) which uses the kinetic energy of the high
velocity fuel gas stream to draw in part or all of the air required by the burner for combustion.
 MMBtu - Millions of Btus (British Thermal Units).
 MOISTURE - Water in the liquid or vapor phase.
 MOISTURE IN STEAM - Particles of water carried in steam, expressed as the percentage by
weight.
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 MOISTURE LOSS - The boiler flue gas loss representing the difference in the heat content of the
moisture in the exit gases and that at the temperature of the ambient air.
 Motorised valve -Device to alter or stop the flow of water
 Mud drum: a water drum, particularly one mounted low on the boiler whose function is primarily to
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trap mud from circulation.

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  Mud or lower drum - A pressure chamber of a drum or header type located at the lower extremity

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of a water-tube boiler convection bank which is normally provided with a blowoff valve for periodic
blowing off of sediment collecting in the bottom of the drum.

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 Mud Ring or Mud Drum - A typically cylindrical shaped space at the bottom of the water space.
Sediment, mud, and other impurities gather there. There is a special valve designed to vent the
accumulated rubbish before it can become baked onto the boiler plate. See blow down. Mud drum
refers to a water tube boiler, the lowermost drum, mud ring, to an upright. In a locomotive style

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boiler the blow down is at the lowest point of the boiler and sometimes there is another valve in the
water space around the firebox to be used when the boiler has cooled off.
 Mud-a sludge of boiler scale particles, precipitates and general impurities that builds up in the lower
parts of a boiler. Mud reduces water circulation and so a local buildup may lead to localized
overheating and possibly explosion.

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 Mudhole-A small manhole, too small for access but useful for washing out the boiler, either as an
inlet for a hose or as a drain for removed mud.
 Multifuel burner - A burner by means of which more than one fuel can be burned either separately
or simultaneously, such as pulverized fuel, oil and gas.
 MULTIFUEL BURNER - A burner by means of which more than one fuel can be burned.

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 MULTIPORT BURNER - A burner having a number of nozzles from which fuel and air are
discharged.
 N.P.T. — National Pipe Thread standard.
 Natural circulation - The circulation of water in a boiler caused by differences in density; also
referred to as thermal or thermally induced circulation.
 Natural Gas - any gas found in the earth (e.g. methane gas) as opposed to gases which are
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manufactured.
 NBIC -National Board Inspection Code.
 Net fan requirements - The calculated operating conditions for a fan excluding tolerances.
 NET POSITIVE SUCTION HEAT (NPSH) - The liquid pressure that exists at the suction end of a
pump. If the NPSH is insufficient, the pump can cavitate.
 Noise - An undesirable sound.
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 Normal cubic meter - (Nm3) The quantity of a gas that is present in 1 m3 at the thermodynamic
conditions of 1 atm and 0o C. For an ideal gas there are 22.41 Nm3 in 1 kmol.
 NOx - Abbreviation for all of the family of oxides of nitrogen.
 NOx - Any combination of nitrogen and oxygen in a compound form. The most common in terms of
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environmental considerations is NO, which constitutes 90% of combustion NOx emissions, and
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NO2. All NO is eventually converted to NO2 in the atmosphere. Hence, most regulations are written
to assume that the NOx which is emitted is in the form of NO2. Nox emissions are influenced by
many factors, including furnace temperature, flame temperature, burner design, combustion air
temperature, nitrogen content of liquid fuels, ammonia content of gas fuels, and other factors.
 Nozzle - A short flanged or welded neck connection on a drum or shell for the outlet or inlet of
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fluids; also a protecting spout for the outlet or inlet of fluids; also a projecting spout through which
fluid flows.
 Oil block - Usually a monolithic block located at the center of a burner assembly. The oil block acts
to stabilize the oil flame.
 OIL BURNER - A burner for firing oil.
 Oil burner - A burner that atomizes fuel oil and blows it into the combustion chamber in the form of
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a fine mist or vapor. Steam or mechanical motion plus air may be used as the operating medium.
 Oil gun - The assembly of parts in a burner which provides atomized fuel oil mixture to the furnace
for burning.
 Oil Heating - the production of heat by burning oil.
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  OIL HEATING AND PUMPING SET - A group of apparatus consisting of a heater for raising the

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temperature of the oil to produce the desired viscosity, and a pump for delivering the oil at the
desired pressure.

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 Oil tip - Part of the oil gun which discharges the atomized fuel oil mixture into the furnace through
multiple openings. The hole pattern in the tip has a great effect on flame size and shape.
 OMNI-Test Laboratories — Since 1979, OMNI has developed specialty services for analyzing and
assessing the impacts caused by biomass combustion processes. OMNI has provided these services

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to large and small public- and private-sector organizations. OMNI-Test Laboratories, Inc. was
established as a full service hearth product (Woodstove, Fireplace, Pellet stove, Outdoor Cooking
Appliances, Hydronic Water Heating Systems, Masonry Heater, and Gas Appliance) testing
laboratory with state-of-the-art emissions and safety measurement and analysis equipment. OMNI
has the same accreditations as Underwriters Laboratories and other recognized independent testing

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agencies.
 Open Flue -An appliance that takes in air for combustion from within the room it is fitted
 OPEN SYSTEM — An open heating system is one that is open to the environment or where the
heating fluid is continuously replaced. For example, a domestic water heater is an open system
because the heating fluid (fresh potable water) is constantly flowing through it. (See Closed System)

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 Open system -A system that has an expansion tank open to atmosphere
 Open vent -An expansion pipe
 Operating control - A control to start and stop the burner; it must be set below the high limit
control.
 OPERATING PRESSURE - The pressure at which a boiler is operated.
 Operating Pressure -The pressure at the top of a pressure vessel at which it normally operates. It
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can not exceed the maximum allowable working pressure (Stamped Pressure).
 ORGANIC MATTER - Compounds containing carbon often derived from living organisms.
 ORIFICE - (1) The opening from the whirling chamber of a mechanical atomizer or the mixing
chamber of a steam atomizer through which the liquid fuel is discharged. (2) A calibrated opening in
a plate, inserted in a gas stream for measure velocity of flow.
 Orifice discharge coefficient (Cd) - The ratio of the actual flow through an orifice to that of the
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theoretical or isentropic flow through an orifice. Basically this parameter is a measure of the orifice
efficiency. Valves are dimensionless and range from 0.61 for a thin-plate orifice to 0.85 for thick
plate square-edged orifices, and up top 0.90 - 0.95for tapered orifices.
 ORSAT - a gas-analysis apparatus in which certain gaseous constituents are measured by absorption
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in separate chemical solution.

 Orsat - An instrument for determining the chemical analysis of flue gas.
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 OVERPRESSURE - Minimum operating pressure of a hot water boiler sufficient to prevent the
water from steaming.
 Oxidation - Chemical combination with oxygen.
 OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE - An atmosphere which tends to promote the oxidation of immersed
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materials.
 Oxygen attack - Corrosion or pitting in a boiler caused by oxygen.
 Packaged boiler - A boiler equipped and shipped complete with fuel-burning equipment,
mechanical draft equipment, automatic controls and accessories; usually shipped in one or more
major sections.
 PACKAGED BOILER - A boiler supplied with all of its components - burner, controls and
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auxiliary equipment, designed as a single engineered package, and ready for on-site installation.
 PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) - The carcinogenic byproducts of some very sub-
stoichiometric combustion processes. Usually absent in process burners.
 PARTICLE SIZE - A measure of dust size, expressed in microns or per cent passing through a
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standard mesh screen. PASS - A confined passageway, containing heating surface, through which a
fluid flows in essentially one direction.
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  Particulates - The residue left over from coal and fuel oil combustion.

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 Pascals - A unit of pressure. One Pascal (Pa) is equal to a force of one Newton per square meter.
 Pass - A confined passageway, containing heating surface, through which fluid flows essentially one

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direction.
 PERFECT COMBUSTION - The complete oxidation of all the combustible constituents of a fuel,
utilizing all the oxygen supplied.
 Perfect or Stoichiometric combustion - The complete oxidation of all the combustible constitutes

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of a fuel, utilizing all the oxygen supplied.
 PETROLEUM - Naturally occurring mineral oil consisting predominately of hydrocarbons.
 pH - The hydrogen ion concentration of a water to denote Acidity or Alkalinity. A pH of 7 is
neutral. A pH above 7 denotes alkalinity while one below 7 denotes acidity. This pH number is the
negative exponent of 10 representing hydrogen ion concentration in grams per liter. For instance a

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pH of 7 represent 10-7 grams per liter.
 PILOT - (See also Ignitor.) A flame which is utilized to ignite the fuel at the main burner or burners.
 Pilot - A small burner which is used to light the main burner.
 Pilot flame establishing period - The length of time fuel is permitted to be delivered to a proved
pilot before the flame-sensing device is required to detect pilot flame.

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 Pilot, constant - A pilot that burns without turndown throughout the entire time the boiler is in
service.
 Pilot, proved - A pilot flame which has been proved by flame-failure controls.
 Pit - Corrosion localized in a small spot.
 PITOT TUBE - An instrument which will register total pressure and static pressure in a gas stream,
used to determine its velocity.
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 PITTING - A concentrated attack by oxygen or other corrosive chemicals in a boiler, producing a
localized depression in the metal surface.
 Plenum - An enclosure through which gas or air passes at relatively low velocities.
 Plug Weld A circular weld made through a hole in one member of a lap joint.
 Plug Weld -A circular weld made through a hole in one member of a lap joint.
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 Porosity -A cavity formed by gas entrapment during welding.

 PORT - An opening through which fluid passes.
 POST PURGE - A method of scavenging the furnace and boiler passes to remove all combustible
gases after flame failure controls have sensed pilot and main burner shutdown and safety shut-off
valves are closed.
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 Postpurge - A period after the fuel valves close during which the burner motor or fan continues to
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run, to supply air to the combustion chamber.

 Postweld Heat Treatment Heating a vessel to a sufficient temperature to relieve the residual stresses
which are the result of welding and forming.
 Postweld Heat Treatment -Heating a vessel to a sufficient temperature to relieve the residual
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stresses which are the result of welding and forming.

 POTABLE — fit to drink.
 ppm - Abbreviation for parts per million. Used in chemical determinations as one part per million
parts by weight.
 PRECIPITATE - To separate materials from a solution by the formation of insoluble matter by
chemical reaction. The material which is removed.
 PRECIPITATION - The removal of solid or liquid particles from a fluid.
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 PREHEATED AIR - Air at a temperature exceeding that of the ambient air. PRESSURE - Force
per unit of area.
 Preheating -Heat applied to base metal prior to welding.
 Pre-mixed flame - Before ignition, the fuel and air are intimately mixed. The combustion process is
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controlled by heat conduction and diffusion of radicals.

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  Prepurge period - A period on each start-up during which air is introduced into the combustion

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chamber and associated flue passages in volume and manner as to completely replace the air or fuel
air-mixture contained therein prior to an attempt to initiate combustion.

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 Pressure - As applied to boilers, the force exerted by a liquid or gas on a unit area. Three pressures
may be involved: gauge pressure, the unit pressure above atmospheric pressure; absolute pressure,
gauge pressure plus the atmospheric pressure; vacuum pressure; the pressure below atmospheric
pressure usually expressed in inches of Hg.
 PRESSURE DROP - The difference in pressure between two points in a system, caused by

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resistance to flow.
 PRESSURE VESSEL - A closed vessel or container designed to confine a fluid at a pressure above
atmospheric.
 Pressure, gas - The force exerted per unit area on a surface created by the collision of gas molecules

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with the surface.
 Pressure, static - The pressure of a gas measured at a point where the gas velocity is zero.
 Pressure, total - The sum of the static pressure and the velocity pressure of the gas.
 Pressure, velocity or dynamic - The pressure of flowing gas attributed to the impact of gas
molecules resulting from the velocity of the gas flow.

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 Primary air - Air introduced with fuel at the burners.
 Primary Flow the flow pipe from boiler to pump before any Motorised valve
 Priming - An induction of boiler water caused by the steam flow into the steam line. The water may
be in the form of a spray or a solid body.
 PRIMING - The discharge of steam containing excessive quantities of water in suspension from a
boiler, due to violent ebullition.
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 Procedure Qualification The demonstration that welds made by a specific procedure can meet code
standards.
 Process steam - Steam used for industrial purposes other than for producing power.
 PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION - The gases, vapors, and solids resulting form the combustion of
fuel.
 Programmer -A timer that will operate more than one channel
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 Prompt NOx - NOx formed at the initial stages of combustion that cannot be explained by either the
thermal mechanism or the fuel NOx mechanism. The prompt NOx mechanism requires the CH
radical as an intermediate, so the fuel must have carbon present to create prompt NOx.
 Propane - a manufactured gas typically used for cooking or heating.
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 Proportional control - A mode of control in which there is a continuous linear relation between
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value of the controller variable and position of the final control element (modulating control).
 PROPYLENE GLYCOL — a sweet colorless, viscous, hygroscopic liquid used as an antifreeze,
brake fluid, cosmetics and personal care items. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
determined propylene glycol to be "generally recognized as safe" for use in food, cosmetics, and
medicines.
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 Puff - A minor combustion explosion within the boiler furnace or setting.

 Pulsation - Rapid fluctuations in furnace pressure.
 PULSATION - Rapid fluctuations in pressure.
 Pump over run -Device to cool boiler down after call for heat has finished
 Pump-For circulating the water
 PURGE - To introduce air into the furnace and the boiler flue passages in such volume and manner
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as to completely replace the air or gas-air mixture contained therein.

 Purge interlock - A device so arranged that an air flow to the furnace above a minimum must exist
for a definite time interval before the interlocking system will permit an automatic ignition torch to
be placed in operation.
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 Push Nipples - metal sleeves used to join adjacent sections of a boiler.

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  Radiant - As applied to heat, having the property that permits heat to be transmitted by rays similar

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to those of light. To absorb radiant heat, an object must be in the "light" of the fire.
 Radiant Heating - the method of heating the walls, floors or ceilings in order to transfer heat to the

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occupants of a room.
 Radiant section - The part of a process heater into which the burners fire. Tubes mounted in this
area of the furnace receive heat principally via direct radiation from both burner flames and furnace
refractory. Physical volume arrangement of the radiant section has a great effect on burner choice

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and required flame patterns.
 Radiation - All warm bodies emit light (electromagnetic radiation - mostly infrared). When this
radiation is absorbed or emitted by a body, heat is transferred and termed "heat transfer by
radiation". Such heat transfer requires a line of sight (view factor) and is proportional to the fourth
power of the absolute temperature difference between bodies and the emissivity of the bodies.

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 RADIATION — the transfer of heat by emitting waves of energy
 RADIATION LOSS - A comprehensive term used in a boiler-unit heat balance to account for the
conduction, radiation, and convection heat losses from the boiler to the ambient air.
 Radiator - a heating element, typically metal, used in conjunction with water or steam to give off
heat.

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 Radio graphing The process of passing radiation through a weld joint obtaining a record of its
soundness upon a readable film.
 RATE OF BLOWDOWN - A rate normally expressed as a percentage of the water fed.
 Rated capacity - The manufacturer's stated capacity rating for mechanical equipment, for instance,
the maximum continuous capacity in pounds of steam per hour for which a boiler is designed.
 RATING - See "Load."
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 Ratio of specific heats (k) - Also known as isentropic coefficient. Is equal to the quotient of the heat
capacity at constant pressure and the heat capacity at constant volume. (Cp/Cv). This parameter is
tabulated for many pure components at standard conditions, but is technically dependent on the gas
composition and temperature. The values are dimensionless and range from 1.0 to 1.6.
 Raw water - Untreated feedwater.
 RAW WATER - Water supplied to the plant before any treatment.
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 REACTION - A chemical transformation or change brought about by the interaction of two

substances.
 REASSOCIATION - The recombination of the products of dissociation.
 RECIRCULATION - The reintroduction of part of the flowing fluid to repeat the cycle of
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circulation.
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 Recycle - The process of sequencing a normal burner start-up following shutdown.

 REDUCING ATMOSPHERE - An atmosphere which tends to 1) promote the removal of oxygen
from a chemical compound; 2) promote the reduction of immersed materials.
 REDUCTION - Removal of oxygen from a chemical compound.
 REFRACTION — the deflection from a straight path undergone by an energy wave in passing
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from one medium (as air or gas) into another (such as glass or ceramic) in which its velocity is
different.
 Refractory - A heat-insulating material, such as firebrick or plastic fire clay, used for purposes as
lining combustion chambers.
 REFRACTORY - Brickwork or castable used in boilers to protect metal surfaces and for boiler
baffles.
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 Regulator, gas pressure - A spring loaded, dead weighted or pressure balanced device which will
maintain the gas pressure to the burner supply line.
 Reheater - A device using highly superheated steam or high-temperature flue gases as a medium
serving to restore superheat to partly expanded steam; used often between high - and low-pressure
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turbines.

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  RELATIVE HUMIDITY - The ratio of the mass of water vapor present in a unit volume of gas to

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the maximum possible mass of water vapor in unit volume of the same gas at the same temperature
and pressure.

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 Relay - A device that is operative by a variation in the conditions of one electric circuit to start the
operation of other devices in the same or another electric circuit (such as pressure or temperature
relay).
 RELIEF VALVE (Safety Relief Valve) - An automatic pressure relieving device actuated by the

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pressure upstream of the valve and characterized by opening pop action with further increase in lift
with an increase in pressure over popping pressure.
 RENEWABLE ENERGY (RES) — sources that capture their energy from existing flows of
energy, from on-going natural processes, such as sunshine, wind, flowing water, biological
processes, and geothermal heat flows. Neither fossil fuels nor nuclear power are considered to be

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renewable.
 RESIDUAL FUELS - Products remaining from crude petroleum by removal of some of the water
and an appreciable percentage of the more volatile hydrocarbons.
 RESIN - A bead-like material used in chemical exchange for softeners and dealkalizers.
 RESISTANCE - Impediment to gas flow, such as pressure drop or draft loss through a dust

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collector. Usually measured in inches water column (iwc).
 RETURN FLOW OIL BURNER - A mechanical atomizing oil burner in which part of the oil
supplied to the atomizer is withdrawn and returned to storage or to the oil line supplying the
atomizer.
 Return trap - A trap designed to discharge its condensate against boiler pressure and feed to the
boiler without additional mechanical equipment.
 Return Water -Returning to boiler for re-heating
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 RINGELMANN CHART - A series of four rectangular grids of black lines of varying widths
printed on a white background, and used as a criterion of blackness for determining smoke density in
stack gas streams.
 Ringlemann chart - A series of four rectangular grids of black lines of varying widths printed on
white background, used in criterion of blackness for determining smoke density from chimneys.
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 Riser tube - A tube through which steam and water pass from an upper waterwall header to a drum.
 Rocking grate: An advanced form of firebar, where sections of the grate may be rocked or tipped to
either break up clinker within the fire, or to drop the fire after a day's work.
 Room Sealed -The boiler will take air for combustion from outside
 ROTARY OIL BURNER - A burner in which atomization is accomplished by feeding oil to the
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inside of a rapidly rotating cup.

 SADDLE - A casting, fabricated chair, or member used for the purpose of support.
 SAFE WORKING PRESSURE - See "Design Pressure."
 Safety shut down - The action of shutting off all fuel and ignition energy to the burner by means of
safety control or controls such that restart cannot be accomplished without operator action.
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 Safety Shut-off Device - any device used to shut down a heating appliance in the event an unsafe
condition exists.
 SAFETY SHUT-OFF VALVE - A manually opened, electrically latched, electrically operated
safety shut-off valve designed to automatically shut off fuel when de-energized.
 Safety valve - A valve that automatically opens when pressure attains the valve setting which is
adjustable; used to prevent excessive pressure from building up in a boiler.
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 Safety Valve (pressure relief valve) - The Safety Valve is a device designed to safely release
excess pressure within a boiler by opening at a preset pressure limit. If boiler pressure reaches this
limit, the valve opens and steam vents until the pressure has been reduced. A skilled operator will
rarely produce so much pressure that the valve opens. One of the keys to being a good operator is to
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only produce as much steam as required for any given job.The safety valve can actually make a low
water situation worse by using up water from the boiler and making it even hotter and making even
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 more steam until it gets to the point where the valve is unable to vent the steam as fast as it is made

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meaning pressure increases again, possibly to dangerous levels if left unchecked. Of course, at times
it is impossible to stop the valve lifting, such as when an operator is running an engine under load on

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a sawmill and the belt slips off or the mill operator stops a cut quickly the steam that was being used
in the engine suddenly isn't and may just escape through the safety instead if the pressure was close
to the limit. James Hansen offered some extra information on safety valves...Pressure should be
brought up to the point of release, and observed for results daily. What is the use of having a safety
device whose operation is unknown. It could be stuck. Doing so once a day under a controlled

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condition will test it under controlled conditions, and ensure it does not stick on a less than attentive
operator (no-one that we know right?) If it does not pop, and giving the hand lever a bump does not
cause it to release, the boiler pressure should be reduced, and the engine taken out of service until the
cause can be determined- either a faulty valve or maybe a faulty pressure gauge indicating too high.

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This should be entered into the engine log by the operator as being done.
 Safety valve drain - A hole of at least 3/8 in diameter required through the body below the valve-
seat level in safety valves larger than 2-in diameter; used to prevent condensate from collecting at
this point.
 Safety valve escape - A pipe conducting steam discharged from a safety valve to a safe location.


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Safety valve: an automatic valve used to release excess pressure within the boiler.
 Safety-valve lifting lever - A lever by which safety valve may be lifted from its seat.
 Safety-valve muffler - A silencer designed so that it will not cause appreciable restriction to steam
flow.
 Safety-valve nozzle - A flanged nozzle by which a safety valve is connected to a boiler shell or
drum.

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SAMPLING - The removal of a portion of a material for examination or analysis.
 SATURATED AIR - Air which contains the maximum amount of water vapor that it can hold at its
temperature and pressure.
 SATURATED STEAM - Steam at the temperature and pressure at which evaporation occurs.
 SATURATED TEMPERATURE - The temperature at which evaporation occurs at a particular
pressure.
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 SATURATED WATER - Water at its boiling point.

 SAW -Submerged Arc Welding.
 Scale - A deposit of medium to extreme hardness occurring on water heating surfaces of a boiler
because of an undesirable condition of boiler water.

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SCALE - A hard coating or layer of materials on surfaces of boiler pressure parts.


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Scrubber - An apparatus for the removal of solids from gases by entrainment in water.
 Scum valve: A blow-down valve mounted at the water-level of a boiler, used to blow-down lighter
oily or foamy deposits within a boiler that float on the water-level.
 Seal weld - A weld used primarily to obtain tightness and prevent leakage.
 Seal Weld Weld used primarily to obtain tightness.
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 Sealed Combustion - a boiler design where all the air for combustion is taken from the outside
atmosphere and all exhaust products are released to the outside atmosphere, also known as direct
vent.
 Sealed system - Water sealed from the atmosphere (needs expansion vessel)
 SECONDARY AIR - Air for combustion supplied to the furnace to supplement the primary air.
 Secondary Circulation an hot water circuit used with cylinders which gives instant hot water at all
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taps (needs a bronze pump"

 Secondary combustion - Combustion which occurs as a result of ignition at a point beyond the
furnace.
 SECONDARY TREATMENT - Treatment of boiler feed water or internal treatment of boiler-
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water after primary treatment.

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  Secondary treatment - Treatment of boiler feedwater or internal treatment of boiler water after

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primary treatment.
 SEDIMENT - (1) Matter in water which can be removed from suspension by gravity or mechanical

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means. (2) A non-combustible solid matter which settles out at bottom of a liquid; a small
percentage is present in residual fuel oils. SEGREGATION - The tendency of refuse of varying
compositions to deposit selectively in difference parts of the unit.
 SELF-SUPPORTING STEEL STACK - A steel stack of sufficient strength to require no lateral

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support.
 Separator - A tank-type pressure vessel installed in a steam pipe to collect condensate to be trapped
off and thus providing comparatively dry steam to connect machinery.
 SERVICE WATER - General purpose water which may or may not have been treated for a special
purpose.

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 Shell - The cylindrical portion of a pressure vessel.
 SHELL - The cylindrical portion of a pressure vessel.
 Shell -refers to the main sheets of metal from which the boiler is constructed. Typically rolled steel
which is either overlapped and rivetted at the join or in more modern units seam welded to make a
cylinder.

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 Silica - A scale-forming element found in some boiler feedwaters.
 Sinous header - A header of a sectional header-type boiler in which the sides are curved back and
forth to suit the stagger of the boiler tubes connected to the header faces.
 Siphon - A pigtail-shaped pipe or a drop leg in the pipe leading to a steam pressure gauge, serving to
trap water in the gauge and prevent overheating from direct contact with steam.
 SLUDGE - A soft water-formed sedimentary deposit which normally can be removed by blowing
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down.
 SLUG - A large "dose" of chemical treatment applied internally to a steam boiler intermittently.
Also used sometimes instead of "priming" to denote a discharge of water out through a boiler steam
outlet in relatively large intermittent amounts.
 Slug - A solid body of boiler water passed into the steam flow by priming or picked up from a
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pocket of condensate in the steam line.

 SMAW -Shielded Metal Arc Welding.
 SMOKE - Small gas borne particles of carbon or soot, less than 1 micron in size, resulting from
incomplete combustion of carbonaceous materials and of sufficient number to be observable.
 SMOKE — visible gaseous product of incomplete combustion. Smoke varies with its source, but it
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usually comprises hot gas and suspended particles of carbon and tarry substances, or soot. Proper
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firing techniques and equipment can eliminate or greatly reduce the smoke produced by any fuel.
Wood gives little smoke if burned when dry and if the fire is given a good supply of air.
 Smoke Box - The smoke box is at the cooler end of the fire/flue tubes away from the fire. The
smoke accumulates here before being vented out the stack in the convential boiler or passing through
a return flue to the stack in a return flue boiler. The space is provided to both keep the non fire end
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of the boiler warm and to collect cinders and sparks before they vent out through the stack.
 Smokebox-an enclosed space at the extremity of a fire-tube boiler, where the exhaust gases from the
tubes are combined together and pass to the flue or chimney.
 SOFT WATER - Water which contains little or no calcium or magnesium salts, or water from
which scale forming impurities have been removed or reduced.
 Softening - The act of reducing scale-forming calcium and magnesium impurities from water.
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 SOLUTION - A liquid, such as boiler water, containing dissolved substances.

 Sonic flow - When the flow velocity is equal to the speed of sound. The point at which the flow
turns sonic is called critical pressure. This transition occurs at about 12.2 psig for natural gas at 60o
F.
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 SOOT - Unburned particles of carbon derived from hydrocarbons.

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  SOOT BLOWER - A mechanical device for discharging steam or air to clean heat absorbing

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surfaces.
 Soot blower - A tube from which jets of steam or compressed air are blown for cleaning the fireside

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of tubes or other parts of the boiler.
 SPALLING - The breaking off of the surface of refractory material as a result of internal stresses.
 Spalling - The breaking off of the surface refractory material as a result of internal stresses.
 Specific gravity - The ratio of the weight of a unit volume of a material to the weight of the same

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unit volume of water.
 Specific heat - The quantity of heat, expressed in Btu (joule) required to raise the temperature of 1
lb. (kilogram) of a substance 1oF (oC)
 SPECIFIC HEAT - The quantity of heat, expressed in Btu, required to raise the temperature of 1 lb
of a substance 1°F.

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 SPECIFIC HEAT - The quantity of heat, expressed in Btu, required to raise the temperature of 1 lb
of a substance 1°F.
 SPECIFIC HUMIDITY - The weight of water vapor in a gas water-vapor mixture per unit weight
of dry gas.
 SPECIFIC HUMIDITY - The weight of water vapor in a gas water-vapor mixture per unit weight

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of dry gas.
 Spontaneous combustion - Ignition of combustible material following slow oxidation without the
application of high temperature from an external source.
 SPRAY ANGLE - The angle included between the sides of the cone formed by liquid fuel
discharged from mechanical, rotary atomizers and by some forms of steam or air atomizers.
 SPRAY ANGLE - The angle included between the sides of the cone formed by liquid fuel
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discharged from mechanical, rotary atomizers and by some forms of steam or air atomizers.
 SPRAY NOZZLE - A nozzle from which a liquid fuel is discharged in the form of a spray.
 Spray nozzle - A nozzle from which a liquid fuel is discharged in the form of a spray.
 SPRAY NOZZLE - A nozzle from which a liquid fuel is discharged in the form of a spray.
 SSU - (seconds, Saybolt Universal) units of kinematic viscosity.
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 Stack - A vertical conduit, which due to the difference in density between internal and external
gases creates a draft at its base.
 STACK - A vertical conduit, which due to the difference in density between internal and external
gases, creates a draft at its base.
 Stack Damper - a device installed in the venting system that will automatically close when the
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appliance shuts down.

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 Stack draft - The magnitude of the draft measured at inlet to the stack.
 STACK EFFECT - That portion of a pressure differential resulting from difference in elevation of
the points of measurement.
 Stack effluent - Gas and solid products discharged from the stack.
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 Stack loss - The fraction of total heat which exits with the flue gas through the stack. The quantity is
customarily expressed as a percent of the total heat input. The stack loss is directly proportional to
the stack exit temperature; the higher the temperature, the greater the stack loss.
 Staged air - NOx reduction technique predominantly used for fuel oil firing. The fuel is injected into
a fuel-rich primary zone. This stoichiometry helps to control the fuel Nox mechanism. When firing
gas, staged air produces higher NOx emissions than staged fuel.
 Staged fuel - NOx reduction technique whereby a small portion of the fuel is injected in a lean
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primary combustion zone. The flue products from this region flow to the secondary combustion zone
where the remainder of the fuel is burned out. The lengthening of the flame creates cooler flame
temperatures, thus lowering thermal NOx.
 STAGNATION - The condition of being free from movement or lacking circulation.
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  STANDARD AIR - Dry air weighing 0.075 lb per cu ft at sea level (29.92 in. Barometric Pressure)

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and 70 °F.
 STANDARD FLUE GAS - Gas weighing 0.078 lb per cu ft at sea level (29.92 in. Barometric

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Pressure) and 70 °F.
 STANDBY LOSS — Amount of heat lost per hour (measured in %) while heater is in standby mode
(no water being drawn). Loss can occur through jacket or piping. Average is 2 to 4 percent.
 Stat -Abbreviation for “Thermostat” a device for regulating temperature
 Static pressure - The measure of potential energy of a fluid.

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 Staybolt - A bolt threaded through or welded at each end, into two spaced sheets of a firebox or box
header to support flat surfaces against internal pressure.
 Steam - The vapor phase of water substantially unmixed with other gases.
 STEAM - The vapor phase of water, unmixed with other gases.

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 Steam & water drum: a steam drum that contains a turbulent mixture of steam and water, with a
substantial part of this being water. The terms are used somewhat interchangeably.
 Steam atomizing oil burner - A burner for firing oil which is atomized by steam. It may be of the
inside or outside mixing type.
 Steam binding - A restriction in circulation due to a steam pocket or rapid steam formation.

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 Steam Boiler - a heating unit designed to heat by boiling water, producing steam, and circulating it
to radiators or steam baseboard units throughout the home.
 Steam Dome - Steam Engines need hot dry steam to operate effectively without damage. Taking
steam from near the water picks up very wet steam and may even suck up water which (being
uncompressible) would destroy a steam engine. The Steam Dome is a space as high as possible
above the boiler but directly open to the boiler sometimes with a baffle in place to stop splashing.
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The steam from this area is as dry as it can be without external help - see Super Heater.
 Steam drum-a cylindrical vessel mounted at a high point of a water-tube boiler, where dry steam
may separate above the water level, so that it may be drawn off without risk of priming.
 Steam Gage - A gage for indicating the pressure of steam.
 STEAM GAUGE - A gauge for indicating the pressure of steam.
 Steam generating unit - A unit to which water, fuel, and air are supplied and in which steam is
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generated. It consists of a boiler furnace, and fuel burning equipment, and may include as component
parts water walls, superheater, reheater, economizer, air heater, or any combination thereof.
 Steam Jacket - A Steam Jacket is a space around the engine cylinder which is filled with live steam
to stop the engine cooling when paused and to reduce lost heat. If the engine cools, the steam in it
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condenses which can be disasterous under compression.

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 Steam purity - The degree of contamination. Contamination usually expressed in ppm.

 Steam quality - The percent by weight of a vapor in a steam and water mixture.
 Steam scrubber -A series of screens, wires, or plates through which steam is passed to remove
entrained moisture.
 Steam separator - A device for removing entrained water from steam.
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 Steam Space - The space within the boiler which contains no water and accumulates steam
whenever the boiler is in operation. The size of the steam space has to be well matched for the
engine being powered from the boiler. Not enough and the engine will be starved, too much and the
heat is simply wasted.
 Strainer - A device, such as a filter, to retain solid particles allowing the liquid to pass.
 STRATIFICATION - Non-homogeneity existing transversely in a gas stream.
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 STUD - A projecting pin serving as a support or means of attachment.

 Stud Welding Joining a metal stud to a work piece by welding with a suitable process.
 Suction valve: an automatic non-return valve, which opens when the boiler is at less than
atmospheric pressure. This avoids any risk of vacuum collapse, when a hot boiler is allowed to cool
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down out of service.

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  Sulphate - carbonate ratio - The proportion of sulphates to carbonates, or alkalinity expressed as

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carbonates, in boiler water. The proper maintenance of this ratio has been advocated as a means of
inhibiting caustic embrittlement.

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 Super Heater - Some boilers have a Super Heater fitted. This is a simple device where the live
steam from the boiler is passed through the smoke box to further heat and dry the steam. After the
super heater the steam then passes directly to the engine
 Superheat - To raise the temperature of steam above its saturation temperature. The temperature in

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excess of its saturation temperature.
 SUPERHEATED STEAM - Steam at higher temperature than its saturation temperature.
 SUPERHEATED STEAM - Steam with its temperature raised above that of saturation. The
temperature in excess of its saturation temperature is referred to as superheat.
 Supply Tapping - opening in a boiler by which hot water enters the heating system.

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 Surface blowoff - Removal of water, foam, etc. from the surface at the water level in a boiler. The
equipment for such removal.
 Surge - The sudden displacement or movement of water in a closed vessel or drum.
 SURGE - The sudden displacement or movement of water in a closed vessel or drum.
 Suspended solids - Undissolved solids in boiler water.

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 Swell -The sudden increase in the volume of steam in the water steam mixture below the water level.
 Swinging load - A load that changes at relatively short intervals.
 system.
 Tack Weld A weld made to hold parts of a weldment in proper alignment until final welds are
made.
 Tank -A store for cold water, usually at the highest point (allow expansion of water)
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 Tankless Heater - a copper coil submerged into the heated boiler water used to transfer heat to
domestic water.
 TEMPERATURE RISE — Difference between existing and desired water temperature. Number of
degrees (ºF) water must be raised, whether from inlet or preheated water.
 Tempering air - Air at a lower temperature added to a stream of pre-heated air to modify its
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temperature.
 TERTIARY AIR - Air for combustion supplied to the furnace to supplement the primary and
secondary air.
 Theoretical air - The quantity of air required for perfect combustion.
 Theoretical draft - The draft which would be available at the base of a stack if there were no
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friction or acceleration losses from the stack.

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 THEORETICAL DRAFT - The draft which would be available at the base of a stack if there were
no friction or acceleration losses in the stack.
 Theoretical flame temperature - Same as "adiabatic temperature".
 THEORETICAL FLAME TEMPERATURE - See "Adiabatic Flame Temperature."
 Therm - A unit of heat applied especially to gas. One therm = 100,000 Btu.
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 THERM — measure of heat. One (1) therm equals 100,000 BTUs.

 Thermal conductivity - The ability of a material to conduct heat, expressed as thermal power
conducted per unit temperature and thickness. Metals and other thermal "conductors" have a large
thermal conductivity. Refractories and other thermal "insulators" have a low thermal conductivity.
 THERMAL EFFICIENCY - The efficiency of a boiler, based on the ratio of heat
 THERMAL EFFICIENCY - The efficiency of a boiler, based on the ratio of heat absorbed to total
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heat input. This does not include heat loss from the boiler shell.
 THERMAL EFFICIENCY — the rate at which heat exchange surfaces transfer heat to the transfer
medium (e.g., air to water or water or air). It is typically measured as the ratio of BTU output of hot
water to BTU input of fuel. Types of heat movement that impact thermal efficiency:
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Conductive/Convective heating surfaces – also referred to as secondary or indirect heating surfaces

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 including all surfaces exposed only to hot combustion gases. Radiant heating surfaces – also called

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direct or primary heating surfaces and consist of heat exchanger surfaces directly exposed to radiant
heat from the flame. Radiant heat transfer is tremendously more effective than

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conductive/convective heat transfer and, contrary to commonly accepted belief, is where most of the
heat transfer occurs in a boiler, furnace or forced air system.
 Thermal NOx - NOx formed via the Zeldovich mechanism. The rate-limiting step in this
mechanism is the formation of the O radical. This occurs only at high temperatures (above about
2400o F.). Hence the term thermal NOx, since it is NOX produced in the highest temperature

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regions of the flame.
 THERMAL SHOCK - A cycle of temperature swings that result in failure of metal due to
expansion and contraction.
 Thermo acoustical efficiency - Equal to the sound power level/heat release. A value used to

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characterize the amount of combustion noise emitted from a flame. Defined as the ratio of the
acoustical power emitted from the flame to the total heat release of the flame. Approximately equal
to 1 X 10-6 for premixed and turbulent flames and equal to 1 X 10-9 for diffusion and laminar
flames.
 Thermocouple - A temperature measuring instrument.

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 Thermostat - Device for controlling temperature This is similar to the function of a dome in a fire-
tube boiler.
 Three-drum boiler: A generic term for water-tube boilers of the Yarrow pattern.
 Throat - The neck portion of a passageway.
 Through stay - A brace used in fire-tube boilers between the heads or tube sheets.
 Tie plate - A plate, through which a bolt or tie rod is passed to hold brick in place.

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Tie rod - A tension member between buckstays or tie plates.
 TILE - A preformed refractory, usually applied to shapes other than standard brick.
 Time delay - A deliberate delay of a predetermined time in the action of a safety device or control.
 Top-feed: in locomotive boilers, a feed water check valve placed on the top of the boiler drum. This
encourages rapid mixing of the cold feedwater with the hot steam, reducing the risk of thermal shock
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to the heated parts of the boiler.

 Total air - The total quantity of air supplied to the fuel and products of combustion. Percent total air
is the ratio of total air to theoretical air expressed as per cent.
 Total pressure - The sum of the static and velocity pressures.
 Total solids concentration - The weight of dissolved and suspended impurities in a unit weight of
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boiler water, usually expressed as ppm.

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 Trail for main flame ignition - A timed interval when with the ignition means proved, the main
valve is permitted to remain open. If the main burner is not ignited during this period, the main valve
and ignition means are cut off. A safety switch lockout follows.
 Trail for pilot ignition - A timed interval when the pilot valve is held open and an attempt made to
ignite and prove it. If the presence of the pilot is proved at the termination of the interval, the main
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valve is energized; if not the pilot and ignition are cut off followed by a safety lockout.
 Trail-for-ignition - That period of time during which the programming flame failure controls permit
the burner fuel valves to be open before the flame sensing device is required to detect the flame.
 Tramp air - Any air that enters (infiltrates) the furnace through leaks. This air may be measured by
the O2 analyzer and often contributes to the burning of the fuel.
 Trap - A receptacle for the collection of undesirable material.
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 Treated water - Water which has been chemically treated to make suitable for boiler feed.
 TRIM - Ancillary boiler components, like water level controls, pressure controls, and temperature
controls.
 Try cock - One of three valves mounted on a boiler or water column within the visible range of the
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gauge glass and used to check the water level.

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  Tube - A hollow cylinder for conveying fluids.

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 Tube cleaner - A device for cleaning tubes by brushing, hammering, or by rotating cutters.
 TUBE HOLE - A hole in a drum, heater, or tube sheet to accommodate a tube.

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 Tube plug - A solid plug driven into the end of a tube.
 Tube Sheets - The steel plates at each end of the boiler which hold the fire tubes or flue pipes.
 Turbulent burner - A burner in which fuel and air are mixed and discharged into the furnace in
such a manner as to produce turbulent flow from the burner.

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 Turbulent flow - Characteristically random flow patterns that form eddies from large to small
scales. For internal flows, it occurs at Reynolds numbers greater than 4000. Turbulence is integral to
the mixing process between the fuel and air for combustion.
 TURNDOWN RATIO - Ratio of maximum to minimum fuel or steam input or boiler output.
 UHC - Any unburned hydrocarbon that is emitted in a combustion process. Also termed VOC

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(volatile organic compound).
 UL LISTED - Product certification that indicates the product meets safety standards determined by
Underwriters Laboratories. (ULC and cUL indicate Canadian requirements.)
 ULTIMATE ANALYSIS - See "Analysis Ultimate."
 Unaccounted for loss - That portion of a boiler heat balance, which represents the difference

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between 100 per cent and the sum of the heat absorbed by the unit and all the classified losses
expressed as per cent.
 Unburned combustible - The combustible portion of the fuel, which is not completely oxidized.
 Undercut A groove melted into the base metal adjacent to the toe or root of a weld and left unfilled
by weld metal.
 UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES — UL is an independent, not-for-profit product-safety
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testing and certification organization. UL has tested products for public safety for over a century.
Each year more than 17 billion UL Marks are applied to products worldwide. (NOTE: UL is not
affiliated with Greenwood Technologies.)
 Unfired pressure vessel - A vessel designed to withstand internal pressure, neither subjected to heat
from products of combustion nor an integral part of a fired pressure vessel system.

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Unvented Cylinder Like a standard indirect cylinder but will give true mains mater pressure at all
taps
 Use factor - The ratio of hours in operation to the total hours in that period.
 VA - Volt amperes.
 Valve- manual gas shutoff - A manually operated valve in a gas line for the purpose of completely
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turning on or shutting off the gas supply.

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 Valve- manual reset safety shutoff - A manually opened, electronically latched, electrically operated
safety shut-off valve designed to automatically shut off fuel when de-energized.
 Valve- motor driven reset safety shutoff - An electrically operated safety shut-off valve designed to
automatically shut off fuel flow upon being de-energized. The valve is opened and reset
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automatically by integral motor device only.

 Valve, fuel control - An automatically or manually operated device consisting essentially of a
regulating valve and an operating mechanism. It is used to regulate fuel flow and is usually in
addition to the safety shut-off valve. Such valve may be of the automatic or manually opened type.
 Vane - A fixed or adjustable plate inserted in a gas or air stream used to change the direction of
flow.
 Vane control - A set of movable vanes in the inlet of a fan to provide regulation of airflow.
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 Vane guide - A set of stationary vanes to govern direction, velocity and distribution of air or gas
flow.
 Vapor - The gaseous product of evaporation.
 Vapor generator - A container of liquid, other than water, which is vaporized by the absorption of
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heat.

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  Vaporization - The change from liquid or solid phase to the vapor phase.

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 Velocity pressure - The measure of kinetic energy of a fluid.
 Velocity thermocouple - (suction pyrometer) a device for measuring furnace gas temperature. It is

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comprised of a thermocouple, which has been recessed into an insulating shroud, and a suction
device such as an eductor, which aspirates large volumes of furnace gas through the shroud and past
the thermocouple. The high velocity of a gas ensures good convective heat transfer to the
thermocouple and surrounding furnace. The velocity thermocouple represents the most accurate

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means to measure flue gas temperature. Bare thermocouples are unacceptable for this purpose, being
in error often by more than 100o F due to radiation losses.
 Vent - An opening in a vessel or other enclosed space for the removal of gas or vapor.
 Vent pip- The same as an Expansion pipe
 Ventilation -Air vent, either for cooling or supplying air for combustion

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 Vertical firing - An arrangement of a burner such that air and fuel are discharged into the furnace,
in practically a vertical direction.
 Viscosity - Measure of the internal friction of a fluid or its resistance to flow.
 Volatile matter - Those products given off by a material as gas or vapor, determined by definite
prescribed methods.

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 Volume of air - The number of cubic feet of air per minute expressed at fan outlet conditions.
 Vortex - (1) The swirling motion of a liquid in a vessel at the entrance to a discharge nozzle. (2) The
point in a cyclonic gas path where the two spirals change general direction by 180o.
 Waste fuel - Any by-product fuel that is waste from a manufacturing process.
 WASTE HEAT - Sensible heat in non-combustible gases discharged to the environment.
 WATER - A liquid composed of two parts of hydrogen and sixteen parts oxygen by weight.
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 Water column - A vertical tubular member connected at its top and bottom to the steam and water
space respectively to a boiler, to which the water gage, gage cocks, high and low water alarms and
fuel cutoff may be connected.
 Water gage - The gage glass and its fittings for attachment.
 Water hammer - A sudden increase in pressure of water due to an instantaneous conversion or
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momentum to pressure.
 Water Leg - This is the space to the sides of and sometimes below the firebox containing water.
Typically the sediment and mud gathers within this space. See Mud Ring.
 Water level - The elevation of the surface of the water in a boiler.
 WATER SOFTENER - Removes hardness (CaCO3) from water through an ion exchange of
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sodium with calcium and magnesium.

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 Water tube - A tube in a boiler having the water and steam on the inside and heat applied to the
outside.
 Water vapor - A synonym for steam, usually used to denote steam of absolute low pressure.
 Water-wall: a furnace or other wall within a boiler enclosure that is composed of numerous closely-
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set water-tubes. These tubes may be either bare, or covered by a mineral cement
 WEEP - A term usually applied to a minute leak in a boiler joint which forms droplets (or tears) of
water very slowly.
 Wet back - Baffle provided in a firetube boiler joining the furnace to the second pass to direct the
products of combustion that is completely water-cooled.
 Wet steam - Steam containing moisture.
 WETBACK BOILER - Firetube boiler design wherein the back portion of the boiler has a water
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jacket.
 WET-BULB TEMPERATURE - The lowest temperature which a water wetted body will attain
when exposed to an air current. This is the temperature of adiabatic saturation, and can be used to
measure humidity.
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  WETNESS - A term used to designate the percentage of water in steam. Also used to describe the

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presence of a water film on heating surface interiors.
 Windbox - A chamber below the grate or surrounding a burner, thru which air under pressure is

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supplied for combustion of the fuel.
 Windbox pressure - The static pressure in the windbox of a burner or stoker.
 WOOD BOILER — the term "boiler" typically refers to a device that converts water to steam for
the purpose of heating or power generation. In the home heating industry, the term boiler typically

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refers to a device that produces hot water, not steam. So, a wood-fired boiler is a device that burns
wood to produce hot water for home heating. To eliminate this conflict in terminology, the
Association for Testing and Materials now refers to "wood-fired boilers" as "wood-fired hydronic
furnaces."
 WOOD FURNACE -a device that burns wood to heat air for use in forced-air heating systems.

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 WOOD-FIRED HYDRONIC FURNACE -a device the burns wood to heat water for use in forced
air or hydronic radiant heating systems.
 WPS -Weld Procedure Specification
 WPS Weld Procedure Specification.
 Zero governor - A regulating device that is normally adjusted to deliver gas at atmospheric pressure

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within its flow rating.
 Zone Valve -Device to alter or stop the flow of water (also see Motorised valve) .
 ZONED — Living areas separated into different spaces, with the temperature of each space
controlled independently by a thermostat.
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