THERMAL ENGINEERING-II

UNIT 3
STEAM BOILER
Boiler Draught
Boiler Draught

Mr.Titus.R, Head of the Department,

Department of Mechanical Engineering,
GEMS Polytechnic College, Aurangabad, Bihar. 1
 Draught
Boiler Draught

The difference of pressure for to maintaining the

constant flow of air and discharging the gases through
the chimney to atmosphere is known as draught.
 Draught
• A fuel-heated boiler must provide air to oxidize its fuel. Early
Boiler Draught

boilers provided this stream of air, or draught, through the

natural action of convection in a chimney connected to the
exhaust of the combustion chamber.
• Since the heated flue gas is less dense than the ambient air
surrounding the boiler, the flue gas rises in the chimney, pulling
denser, fresh air into the combustion chamber.
• Most modern boilers depend on mechanical draught rather than
natural draught. This is because natural draught is subject to
outside air conditions and temperature of flue gases leaving the
furnace, as well as the chimney height.
 Draught
• All these factors make proper draught hard to attain and
Boiler Draught

therefore make mechanical draught equipment much more

reliable and economical.
• Types of draught can also be divided into induced draught,
where exhaust gases are pulled out of the boiler; forced
draught, where fresh air is pushed into the boiler; and
balanced draught, where both effects are employed
 Classification of draught
In this the pressure difference is
Boiler Draught

created naturally without using any

positive displacement device.

It is created using some external

assistance causing forced displacement
of gases.
It can be created either by using
mechanical devices or steam.
Artificial draught can be further of
induced, forced or combination of two
types.
 Natural Draught
Natural draught system employs a tall chimney as shown in the figure. The chimney
is a vertical tubular masonry structure or reinforced concrete.
Boiler Draught

It is formed for enclosing a column of flue gases to produce the draught. It removes
the gases high enough to prevent air pollution.
 The draught is produced by this tall chimney due to the temperature difference of hot
gases in the chimney and cold external air outside the chimney.
 Natural Draught
Advantages of Natural Draught:
Boiler Draught

1. It does not require any external power for producing the

draught.
2. The capital investment is less.
3. The maintenance cost is low as there is no mechanical
part.
4. Chimney keeps the flue gases at a high place in the
atmosphere which prevents the contamination of the
atmosphere.
5. It has a long life.
 Natural Draught
Disadvantages of Natural Draught:
Boiler Draught

1. The maximum pressure available for producing natural

draught by the chimney is hardly 10 to 20 mm of water
under the normal atmospheric and flue gas temperatures.
2. The available draught reduces with increases in outside
air temperature and for generating enough draught, the
exhaust gases have to be discharged at relatively high
temperatures resulting in the loss of overall plant
efficiency. Thus maximum utilization of Heat is not
possible.
 Artificial or Mechanical Draught
• It has been seen that the draught produced by the
Boiler Draught

chimney is affected by the atmospheric conditions.

• It has no flexibility, poor efficiency and tall chimney are
required.
• In most of the modern power plants, the draught
applied must be freedom of atmospheric condition, and
It should have more flexibility (control) to bear the
fluctuation loads on the plant.
 Advantages of Artificial or
Mechanical Draught
• It is more economical and its control is easy.
Boiler Draught

• The desired value of draught can be produced by mechanical means which

cannot produced by means of natural draught.
• It increases the rate of combustion by which low-grade fuel can also be used.
• It reduces the smoke level and increases the heat transfer co-efficient no flue
gases side thus increases the thermal efficiency of the boiler.
• In mechanical draught, It saves the energy and the heat of flue gases can be
best utilized by it.
• In this way, it reduces fuel consumption and makes boiler operation cheaper.
• It reduces the height of chimney which now is only controlled by the
requirement of pollution norms.
 Disadvantages of Artificial or
Mechanical Draught
• The initial cost of mechanical draught system is high.
Boiler Draught

• Running cost is also high due to the requirement of

electricity but that is easily compensated by the
savings in fuel consumption.
• Maintenance cost is also at a higher rate.
• Noise level of boiler is also high due to noisy
fan/blower etc.
 Types of Artificial or Mechanical Draught
Boiler Draught

The following are the two types of Artificial or

Mechanical draught:
– Steam jet draught
– Mechanical or fan draught
 Types of Steam Jet Draught
Boiler Draught

The following are the main two types of steam jet

draught:
1.Induced steam jet draught.
2.Forced steam jet draught.
 Types of Mechanical or Fan Draught
Boiler Draught

The following are the three types of mechanical or fan

draught:
• Forced draught.
• Induced draught.

• Balanced draught.
 Forced draught
In a forced draught system, a blower is installed near the
Boiler Draught

base of the boiler.

• This draught system is known as positive draught
system or forced draught system because the pressure of
air throughout the system is above atmospheric
pressure and air is forced to flow through the system.
• The arrangement of the system is shown in figure.
• A stack or chimney is also used in this system as shown
in figure but it is not much significant for producing
draught.
 Forced draught
Boiler Draught
 Forced draught
Boiler Draught
 Induced draught
• In this system, the blower is located near the base of the
Boiler Draught

chimney instead of near the grate.

• The air is sucked in the system by reducing the pressure
through the system below atmosphere.
• The action of the induced draught is similar to the action of
the chimney.
• The draught produced is independent of the temperature of
the hot gases therefore the gases may be discharged as cold
as possible after recovering as much heat as possible in air
pre-heater and economizer.
 Induced draught
Boiler Draught
 Induced draught
Boiler Draught
 Induced draught
• This draught is used generally when economizer and air
Boiler Draught

pre –heater are incorporated in the system.

The fan should be located at such a place that the
temperature of the gas handled by the fan is lowest.
• The chimney is also used in this system and its function is
similar as mentioned in forced draught but total draught
produced in induced draught system is the sum of the
draughts produced by the fan and chimney.
• The arrangement of the system is shown in Figure.
 Balanced draught
• The balanced draught is a combination of forced and
Boiler Draught

induced draught.
• If the forced draught is used alone, then the furnace
cannot be opened either for firing or inspection
because the high pressure air inside the furnace will try
to blow out suddenly and there is every chance of
blowing out the fire completely and furnace stops.
 Balanced draught
• If the induced draught is used alone, then also furnace
Boiler Draught

cannot be opened either for firing or inspection

because the cold air will try to rush into the furnace as
the pressure inside the furnace is below atmospheric
pressure.
• To overcome both the difficulties mentioned above
either using forced draught or induced draught alone, a
balanced draught is always preferred.
 Balanced draught
Boiler Draught
 Balanced draught
Boiler Draught
 Comparison Between Forced Draught and
Induced Draught
Forced Draught Induced Draught
Boiler Draught

 Fan or blower is placed before the grate  Fan or blower is placed after the grate

 The pressure inside the flue gases is slightly  The pressure inside the flue gases is slightly
more than atmospheric pressure less than atmospheric pressure

 Fan requires less power  Fan requires more power

 The flow of the flue gases through the  The flow of the flue gases through the
boiler is more uniform boiler is less uniform

 The danger of fire in case of leakage of flue  No danger of fire in case of leakage of flue
gases. gases.
 THERMAL
ENGINEERING-II
UNIT 3
Boiler Draught

STEAM BOILER

Boiler Draught

Mr.Titus.R,
Head of the Department,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
GEMS Polytechnic College,
08/08/2023 Aurangabad, Bihar. INDUSTRIAL FLUID POWER 27