Babcock and Wilcox boiler: Everything you need to Know

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This is Abhishek welcoming you to Engineers Rail- The number-one portal for all your engineering queries.

This article will elaborate on Babcock and Wilcox boiler with its definition, parts, working, advantages, disadvantages, and much more down the road.

Let me tell you, This article can be downloaded as a pdf & PPT at the end of the article.

So, without wasting much time, let’s head into the mainstream…

What is Babcock and Wilcox boiler?

Babcock Wilcox boiler is a horizontal, high-pressure, natural circulation solid fuel-fired stationary water tube boiler.

Babcock and Wilcox boiler was invented in 1967 by Herman Babcock and Stephen Wilcox. As you can see, This boiler’s name is taken from the inventor’s name.

Parts of Babcock and Wilcox boiler-

There are several parts or Boiler’s Mounting and Accessories with their working which consist in this boiler and they are-

  1. Fire Door
  2. Ash Pit
  3. Baffle plates
  4. Antipriming pipe
  5. Man Hole
  6. Uptake Header
  7. Down take Header
  8. Chimney
  9. Water level indicator
  10. Blow Off Valve
  11. Feed check Valve
  12. SuperHeater
  13. Pressure Guage

1. Fire Door-

It is a gate to put solid fuel in the boiler furnace and make other changes in the furnace.

2. Ash Pit-

An ash pit is a place in the boiler where all ash is collected by the burning of solid fuel and further taken out when required.

3. Baffle Plates-

Baffle plates are mint to rotate or send hot flue gases up and down to fully heat the water tubes and further these plates also support the water tube placement.

4. Anti-priming Pipe-

This is a special pipe that abstracts dry steam when needed.

5. Man Hole-

Man Hole is used to fix boiler inner parts if got damaged and further this manhole is also used to clean the boiler.

6. Uptake Header-

It is situated at the upper end of the water tubes and connected to the steam drum. This header transfers the generated steam from the water tubes into the steam drum.

7. Downtake Header-

This header is situated at the down-end of the water tube and receives water from the drum to push into the water tubes to further make steam by heating the water.

8. Chimney-

As you know, a chimney is part of the b&w boiler which releases fully used hot flue gases into the atmosphere.

Babcock and Wilcox Boiler Mounting and Accessories–

9. Water level Indicator-

As the name says, It indicates the level of the water in the boiler. To maintain the proper functioning of the boiler the required level of water is needed.

10. Blow Off Valve-

It is a way used to remove the impurities of water collected in the mud box of the boiler.

11. Feed Check Valve-

The feed check valve is used to fill the water into the boiler’s drum to further run the boiler.

12. SuperHeater-

Superheaters are used to superheat the saturated steam generated from the boiler.

13. Pressure Guage-

As the name suggests, This pressure gauge is used to measure the steam pressure inside the boiler.

Working of Babcock and Wilcox Boiler-

First of all, Water is filled into the boiler drum and further came to the water tubes via down take header.

Now, solid fuel (Coal) is burnt via the fire door into the combustion chamber, this process initiates hot flue gases which further travel into the water tube area.

As baffle plates move those hot gases into the zig-zag motion and thus heat the water tubes.

This heating of tubes further heats the water flowing inside the water tubes as per heat transfer law. Here, let me tell you that the working principle of Babcock and Wilcox boiler is Heat Transfer.

Now, Due to the heating of water, water gets converted into steam and further steam moves towards the uptake header due to density differences.

The Uptake header further deposits the steam into the steam drum and this steam further goes to the superheater to superheat the steam.

And finally, Totally used hot flue gases are released into the atmosphere via chimney.

So, This was the Babcock and Wilcox boiler construction and working. Now, Let’s move forward…

Advantages of Babcock and Wilcox Boiler-

  1. Need little space to install
  2. The tubes of this boiler can be changed easily
  3. Maintenance and cleanings are so easy
  4. This boiler can be used as a mobile boiler
  5. High-efficiency boiler

Disadvantages of Babcock and Wilcox Boiler-

  1. This boiler is a little bit expensive
  2. Impure water supply into the boiler can damage the working and efficiency of this boiler
  3. A regular supply of feed water is needed to work properly

Application of Babcock and Wilcox Boiler-

  1. To generate steam
  2. In electricity generation

Wrapping Up-

This is all I have for Babcock and Wilcox Boiler. I hope I included all the aspects of this boiler in this post, If left anything, mention in the comment section below.

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