Fire tube boiler constructions and operational principle

Starter
1 Discuss the questions.
1. What criteria define the efficiency of a boiler?
2. What is better: less reliable boiler with cheaper spare parts of more reliable boiler with
more expensive maintenance? Justify your opinion.

Vocabulary
2 Label the pictures.

______ Shell ____ Fire grate _____ Flange

__________________ _________________ _____________________

Firebox Manhole Safety valve

Shell
Firebox
Flange
Manhole
Fire grate
Superheater
Safety valve

___ Superheater
___________________________________________

3 Match the words with the definitions.

1 A valve that opens automatically to relieve excessive pressure. A Manhole
2 A small covered opening in a paved area allowing access B Superheater
3 The exterior of a steam boiler, forming a case to contain the C Flange
water and steam, often inclosing also flues and the furnace
4 A protruding rim, edge, rib, or collar, as on a wheel or a pipe D Fire grate
shaft, used to strengthen an object, hold it in place, or attach it
to another object
5 A device used to convert saturated steam or wet steam into E Firebox
superheated steam or dry steam
6 A grate used to hold the fuel in domestic fireplaces and in many F Safety valve
forms of heaters and furnaces
71. The chamber of a steam engine or boiler in which the fuel G Shell
is burnt.

1 F 2 A 3 G 4 C 5 B 6 D 7 E

4 Fill in with the words from 2.

1. The pressure is not high enough for ______________________ to work.
2. Various alloys are used in production of boiler ________________________
3. These high pressure pipes are ___________________ to ensure leak-proof connection.
4. ________________________ is used not only in marine boilers but in domestic fireplaces as
well.
5. Be careful! You’ve almost stepped into a manhole!
6. If there’s a need in saturated steam, __________________ is used to produce it.
7. Fire grate is a part of _____________________.
1. The pressure is not high enough for safety valve to work.
2. Various alloys are used in the production of boiler shells.
3. These high-pressure pipes are flanged to ensure a leak-proof connection.
4. Fire grate is used not only in marine boilers but in domestic fireplaces as well.
5. Be careful! You’ve almost stepped into a manhole!
6. If there’s a need for saturated steam, superheater is used to produce it.
7. Fire grate is a part of firebox.

Reading

5 Complete the definition.

Fire tube boiler consists of________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

6 Read the text and complete the table

Fire tube boiler is a type of boiler in which hot flue gas passing through tubes surrounded with
water. The heat of the gasses is transmitted through the walls of the tubes by thermal conduction,
the water is heated and, eventually, the steam is generated.
Constructions Of Fire Tube Boiler
Fire tube boiler consists of a vertical, cylindrical shell, fitted with a firebox in the bottom, water
space in the middle portion and steam space in the upper portion.
The fire grate is positioned at the bottom of the firebox and coal is fired at the firebox. The ash
pit is located at the bottom of the grate to collect the ash of the coal that has been burned, and is
regularly removed.
One or more cross tubes are either flanged or riveted to the water area in the firebox to increase
the heating surface area in order to enhance the flow of water.
At the top of the firebox, a short chimney is attached to discharge the waste flue exhaust gases at
a higher height. Manhole and hand holes are provided for cleaning the inside of the boiler shell
and the cross tubes.
The boiler is also equipped with a pressure gauge, a water level indicator, a safety valve, a steam
stop valve and a manhole to provide safety and ease of operation.

Operations Of Fire Tube Boiler

The fuel burns in a firebox on the grate. The hot gas of burnt fuel is allowed to pass around the
cross tubes.
The water surrounding the cylindrical firebox also receives heat through convection and
radiation. That’s how steam is produced. The circulation of water in the boiler depends on the
difference in water density caused by the difference in water temperature.

7 Group the statements

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Fire Tube Boiler
Advantages Disadvantages

1. It refers to smaller vessels.

2. No fresh water is necessary.
3. The variance of the load is not possible
4. For this boiler, no need of feed water treatment.
5. The efficiency of this boiler is up to 75%.
6. It occupies most of the floor space
7. No require too much experts for operation of this boiler
8. The handling of variations in load is not easy.
9. The construction of this boiler is simple and the price of maintenance is lower.
10. The working pressure of this boiler is not more than 20 bar.

8 Complete the sentences

1. Water treatment ______________________________________________________________
2. Fire tube boiler doesn’t_________________________________________________________
3. A fire tube boiler is equipped with the following valves:_______________________________
4. A firebox is__________________________________________________________________
5. Steam is produced_____________________________________________________________
6. A superheater is located________________________________________________________
7. Exhaust gases are released ______________________________________________________
8. Cross tubes are used to_________________________________________________________

9 Answer the questions

1. What type of heat transmission is used in a fire tube boiler?
2. What are the main parts of a fire tube boiler?
3. How is the circulation of water created inside the boiler?
4. How is a fire tube boiler cleaned?
5. Where is a steam dome located in a fire tube boiler?

Speaking

10 Make up a poster to help your fellow cadet getting ready for the interview with the training
officer in a crewing company. A poster must include brief description of fire tube boiler
construction and explanation of working principle.