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What You Need To Know Before You Buy An Industrial Steam Generator

by Pamela Hill

Industrial operations require top-grade equipment to run properly. An industrial steam generator is a key part of some of these operations.

If you're looking to buy an industrial steam generator, here are a few things you should keep in mind. 

How Different Steam Generators Work

Before buying any equipment, you first need to understand how it works. An industrial steam generator uses a heat source to heat water until it becomes steam. The steam is then used to power various operations in an industrial setting, such as powering turbines or steam engines.

The boiler is the most important part of an industrial steam generator, where the water is heated to become steam. Different types of boilers can be used in an industrial steam generator –– mainly fire-tube and water-tube.

Fire-tube steam boilers pass hot gases through tubes filled with water. On the other hand, water-tube steam generators pass water through tubes surrounded by hot gases. Due to this construction complexity and better efficiency, water-tube steam generators tend to be more expensive than fire-tube steam generators.

So which type of boiler is better for an industrial steam generator? That really depends on your specific needs. If you need a steam generator that can be used in a wide range of applications, a fire-tube steam generator might be the better choice. They're typically more versatile and can be used with various fuel sources.

If you need efficiency from a steam generator (like when powering a turbine), then a water-tube steam generator might be the better choice.

Generator Capacity

Another important factor to consider when buying an industrial steam generator is its capacity. You need to think about the steam demand of the specific industrial application that you'll be using it for. This will help determine the boiler size that you need to buy.

For example, if you're looking for an industrial steam generator to power a turbine, you'll need to know the steam demand of the turbine. This information can be found in the turbine's operating manual. Once you have that number, you can work with a steam generator supplier to determine the boiler size that you need.

Remember, it's always better to buy a steam generator with a little more capacity than you need. That way, you won't have to worry about the steam generator being unable to keep up with demand.

In addition, you also need to think about the steam quality that you need. This is important because different industrial applications require steam of different qualities. For example, some applications might require dry and saturated steam, while others can only do with superheated steam. Use this as a guide when shopping for a new industrial steam generator. 

Contact a manufacturer to learn more about steam generators

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