The steaming rate (the rate at which an industrial steam boiler [industrial steam generator] produces steam and normally expressed in lbs/hr or kg/hr) is frequently misunderstood. This can lead to the purchase of the wrong size boiler. Therefore, it is essential that you know these steaming rate definitions and the steaming rate be qualified when selecting a size for your steam generation system.
The three common steaming rate terms are:
- From and at 212°F Steaming Rate
- Gross Steaming Rate
- Net Steaming Rate
Steaming Rate Definitions
From and at 212°F is the most frequently used steaming rate term in brochures and product specifications. It is also known as the “equivalent rate” and refers to the definition of Boiler Horsepower (BHP) which states that one BHP is 34.5 lbs/hr at 0 psig and 212°F. It is a general term and should not be used to size a boiler for a specific application.
Gross steaming rate is the rate at which an industrial steam boiler (industrial steam generator) produces steam at the outlet flange. This is based on application-specific feedwater conditions at the inlet flange and application-specific steam conditions.
Typically, the gross steaming rate differs from the “from and at 212°F” steaming rate because both the feedwater inlet and the steam conditions are different than 212°F and 0 psig.
For example, a typical application may have feedwater at 190°F and produce saturated steam at 100 psig (338°F). Since the inlet temperature is less than 212°F and the outlet temperature is greater than 212°F, the amount of heat needed to produce a pound of steam is greater than the amount needed to produce a pound of steam with inlet and outlet temperatures of 212°F. Therefore, the gross steaming rate is frequently less than the “from and at 212°F”. It may, however, actually be greater, if the feedwater receiver is a pressurized deaerator that heats the feedwater to a temperature above 212°F, for instance, 230°F.
Net steaming rate is the steaming rate at which a boiler produces steam to your plant or process. This makes it the most important steaming rate to consider. Net steaming rate differs from gross steaming rate in that it takes into account the amount of steam needed to heat the feedwater in the feedwater receiver (deaerator or hotwell). Specifically, the net steaming rate equals the gross steaming rate minus the steaming rate to the feedwater receiver. Except for some very unusual applications, the net steaming rate is less than the gross or “from and at 212°F” steaming rate.
Consider, for example, a 100 BHP boiler operating with 100% make-up water at 60°F and producing steam at 125 psig. In this case, the “from and at 212°F” steaming rate is 3,450 lbs/hr, but the net steaming rate is only 2874 lbs/hr—17% less than the “from and at 212°F” steaming rate.
The effect of feedwater heating is pertinent in all applications and should always be considered. Another factor that has an effect and can be significant in some applications is the amount of “blowdown” that is required in order for the boiler to operate effectively. In this case, “blowdown” refers to the amount of water that must be removed from the boiler system on a regular basis in order to control the level of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in the boiler. Water that is removed to control TDS has been heated and the amount of energy needed to heat this water reduces the amount of energy that is available to produce steam. (See Boiler Blowdown Considerations.)
In summary, users should certainly qualify steaming rates when using them to define the size of a boiler. Boiler horsepower is a specific term and no further information is necessary to select the size of a boiler. However, if a steaming rate is used to specify boiler size then the steaming rate must be qualified—”from and at 212°F”; gross or net; pounds or kilograms per hour.
Clayton Commercial Steam Generators are available in many sizes and as portable steam boilers. Many are available as medium pressure steam boilers and high pressure steam boilers for sale. They come with several benefits above traditional water tube and fire tube boilers. For more information about steaming rate definitions and industrial steam boilers for sale, contact your local Clayton representative.
