Energy Conservation Opportunity in Boiler Systems

In this study, "energy efficiency" study has been performed for a natural gas fuelled boiler, operating at 42,000 kPa pressure and 713.15 K temperature, with a nominal capacity of 33.33 kg/s steam. Within this frame, temperature, pressure, velocity, and gas analysis measurements have been made, and energy, mass balances, and exergy analysis have been formed. Then, the efficiency of boiler, potential energy saving options and savings quantities, investment costs, and payback period for normal operating conditions have been calculated from the energy and mass balances. Implementation cost is required only for reducing air leakages in the rotary type air heater and surface thermal losses. The investment cost for reducing air leakage in the rotary type air heater to the acceptable limits (10%) is 600,000 USD. Under these circumstances, the payback period of this investment cost is about fifteen months. [DOI: 10.1115/1.3185440]