A boiler is defined as "a closed vessel in which water or other liquid is heated, steam or vapor is generated, steam is superheated, or any combination thereof, under pressure or vacuum, for use external to itself, by the direct application of energy from the combustion of fuels, from electricity or nuclear energy."
Also included are fired units for heating or vaporizing liquids other than water where these units are separate from processing systems and are complete within themselves. This definition includes water heaters that exceed 200,000 Btu/hr heat input, 200 degrees Fahrenheit at the outlet, or 120 gallons nominal water containing capacity.
Boilers, storage tanks and other pressure equipment are potentially dangerous objects. They contain large amounts of energy while operating. The energy is released instantaneously if they fail and the results are devastating. When water changes from liquid to steam, it expands 1,600 times its original volume. In other words, one cubic foot of water instantly converts to 1,600 cubic feet of steam.
Also included are fired units for heating or vaporizing liquids other than water where these units are separate from processing systems and are complete within themselves. This definition includes water heaters that exceed 200,000 Btu/hr heat input, 200 degrees Fahrenheit at the outlet, or 120 gallons nominal water containing capacity.
Boilers, storage tanks and other pressure equipment are potentially dangerous objects. They contain large amounts of energy while operating. The energy is released instantaneously if they fail and the results are devastating. When water changes from liquid to steam, it expands 1,600 times its original volume. In other words, one cubic foot of water instantly converts to 1,600 cubic feet of steam.
Copyright ©2009 What-is.Net All rights reserved.
Last Updated: Sep 2009
Last Updated: Sep 2009
What is a Boiler?
A small boiler having a volume of 10 cubic feet and operating at a pressure of 100 psi (pounds per square inch) has an explosive equivalent of 2,278 grams of TNT-approximately equal to the anti-tank mine used during Desert Storm.
In order to ensure the continued safety of pressure equipment, it is inspected by qualified commissioned inspectors on a periodic basis. The purpose of the inspection is to make sure accidents do not happen. Since inspections are a snapshot in time and can only tell how safe the vessel is at the time of the inspection, there is an implied duty on the owner/operator of the vessel to keep it in safe and proper working order.
In order to ensure the continued safety of pressure equipment, it is inspected by qualified commissioned inspectors on a periodic basis. The purpose of the inspection is to make sure accidents do not happen. Since inspections are a snapshot in time and can only tell how safe the vessel is at the time of the inspection, there is an implied duty on the owner/operator of the vessel to keep it in safe and proper working order.
