Classification of

Boilers

1
1. According to the Contents in the Tubes
According to the contents in the tubes, the boilers can be classified as fire tube boiler
and water tube boiler.
(i) Fire Tube Boiler:
• In fire tube boiler the fire or hot gas are inside the tubes and water surrounds these
fire tubes.
• The heat from the hot gases is conducted through the walls of the tube to the water.
• Examples: simple vertical boiler, Cochran boiler, Lancashire boiler, Cornish boiler,
Locomotive boiler, etc.
(ii). Water Tube Boiler:
• In water tube boilers, the water is present inside the tubes and the fire or hot gases
surrounds these water tubes.
• Examples: La-Mont boiler, Benson boiler, Stirling boiler, Babcock and Wilcox boiler,
Yarrow boiler and Loffler boiler.
Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 2
Water tube Boiler Vs Fire Tube Boiler

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 Fire Tube Vs Water Tube Boilers
S.No Particulars Fire tube Boilers Water Tube Boilers
1. Position of water and Hot gases inside the tubes Water inside the tubes and
Hot gases and water outside the tubes hot gases outside the tubes
2. Mode of firing Generally internally fired Externally fired
3. Operating Pressure Limited to 16 bar Can work up to 100 bar or
more
4. Rate of steam Lower Higher
production
5. Suitability Not suitable for large power Suitable for large power
plants plants
6. Risk on busting Lesser risk High risk
7. Construction difficult Simple
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 Fire Tube Vs Water Tube Boilers
S.No Particulars Fire tube Boilers Water Tube Boilers
8. Floor area It occupies more floor area for It occupies less floor area
the same capacity for the same capacity
9. Transportation difficult Simple
11. Treatment of water Not so necessary More necessary
12. Accessibility of Not so easily accessible for Various parts are more
various parts cleaning, repair and accessible
inspection
13. Requirement of skill Require less skill for efficient Require more skill and
and economic working careful attention
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2. According to the Number of Tubes
According to the no. of tubes, the boilers are classified as single tube boiler and
multi-tubular boilers.

(i). Single Tube Boilers: The boilers which contain one fire tube or water tube are
called as single tube boiler.
The examples of single tube boilers are Cornish boiler and simple vertical boiler.

Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 6

• (ii). Multi-tubular Boiler: The boilers
which has two or more water tube or fire
tubes are called multi tubular boilers.
• Lancashire boiler, Locomotive boiler,
Cochran boiler, Babcock and Wilcox boilers
are multitubular boilers.

Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 7

3. According to the Position of the Furnace
According to the position of the furnace, the steam boilers are classified as
internally fired boilers and externally fired boilers.

(i). Internally Fired Boilers: The boilers in which the furnace is located inside
the boiler shell are called internally fired boilers.
•Among all the fire tube boilers, most of the boilers are internally fired boilers.

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(ii). Externally Fired Boilers: In externally fired boilers, the furnace is located
outside the boiler shell. In this the furnace is arranged underneath in brick work
setting.
• Water tube boilers are always externally fired boilers.

Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 9

4. According to the Axis of the
Shell
According to the axis of the
shell, the boilers are classified
as vertical boilers and horizontal
boilers.

(i). Vertical Boilers: the in

which the axis of the shell is
vertical are called vertical
boilers.
•Examples of vertical boilers
are: simple vertical boiler,
Cochran boiler, etc.,

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(ii). Horizontal Boilers: when the axis of the shell in a boiler is found horizontal
than it is called as horizontal boiler.
Lancashire boiler, Babcock and Wilcox boiler and locomotive boilers are examples
of horizontal boilers.

Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 11

5. According to the Methods of Circulation of Water and Steam
According to the method of circulation of water and steam, the steam boilers
are divided into natural circulation boilers and forced circulation boilers.

(i). Natural Circulation Boilers: In natural circulation boilers, the circulation of

water takes place naturally by the convection currents that set ups during the
heating of water.
•In most of the boilers there is a natural circulation of water such as Lancashire
boiler, Cochran boiler etc.

(ii). Forced Circulation Boilers: In this type of steam boilers, the water
circulation takes place with the help of a centrifugal pump driven by some
external power. Here the circulation is forced by some external agency.
•Forced circulation is used in high pressure boilers such as
La-Mont boiler, Loeffer boiler, Benson boiler etc.

Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 12

6. According to the use
According to the use, the boilers are classified as stationary boilers and mobile
boilers

(i). Stationary Boilers: These are the boilers which are stationary and cannot
be moved from one place to another. Once they are installed, cannot be
transported to other destination.
•These boilers are used in power plants and in industrial process works.

(ii). Mobile Boilers: these are the steam boilers which can be moved from one
place to another.
•Locomotive and marine boilers are mobile boilers.

Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 13

Selection of a Boiler
• The working pressure and• The probable load factor
quality of steam required (wet /• Fuel and water available
dry / superheated) • Operating and maintenance
• Steam generation rate cost
• Floor area available
• Accessibility for repair and
inspection
• Comparative initial cost
• Installation facilities

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Essentials of Good Steam Boiler
1. The boiler should produce steam in required quantity and quality.
2. Steam Production rate should be as per requirement
3. It should be reliable
4. It should occupy minimum space
5. It should be light in weight
6. It should be capable of quick starting
7. Easy access to repair and inspection
8. Boiler components should be transportable without difficulty.

Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 15

Essentials of Good Steam Boiler
9. The installation of boiler should be simple
10. The tubes of the boiler should not accumulate soot or water
deposits
11. The tubes should be sufficiently strong against wear and corrosion.
12. Water circuit should be of minimum fluid velocity (for low frictional
losses).

Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 16

Fire Tube Boilers
• 1. Simple vertical Boiler
• 2. Cochran Boiler
• 3. Lancashire Boiler
• 4. Locomotive Boiler
• 5. Scotch Boiler

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Simple Vertical Boiler Cochran Boiler

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Lancashire Boiler

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Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMAymzTl2gQ
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Locomotive Boiler

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Locomotive Boiler
• Steam capacity – 9000 kg/hr
• Operating pressure – 14 bar (max.)
• Efficiency – 70 %
• Dia. of the barrel – 2.1 m
• Length of the barrel – 5.2 m
• No. of ordinary tubes - 116
• No of super heater tubes – 38
• Heating Surface – 271m²
• Coal burnt/hr – 1600 kg
Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 22
Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 23
• Merits:
• High steam capacity
• Low cost of construction
• Portable
• Low installation cost
• Compact
• Demerits
• Chances of corrosion & scale formation
• It is difficult to clean some parts
• Cannot carry high overloads
• Limitation for pressure and capacity
Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 24
Scotch Boiler

• Marine applications
• Steam capacity – 10000 kg /hr
• Operating pressure – 17 bar
• Compact in size
• Occupies small floor area
• Cylindrical shell consists of 1 to 4 cylindrical steel furnaces

Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 25

Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 26
Water Tube Boilers
• Used for high steam demand and pressure requirements
• Capacity range of 4,500 – 170,000 kg/hour
• Combustion efficiency enhanced by induced draught provisions
• Lower tolerance for water quality and needs water treatment plant

Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 27

Water Tube Boilers

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Water Tube Boiler
• 1. Babcock and Wilcox water tube Boiler
• 2. Striling Boiler

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Babcock and Wilcox Water Tube Boiler

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Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPllyDCYBKI
Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 31
Stirling Boiler

Dr. P. Padmanathan, VIT 32