The boiler section

The boiler section, where the steam is produced and includes a containing vessel along with heat transfer surfaces. Industrial boilers are generally classified as either fire tube of water tube. This refers to the design of the boiler.

In some boiler water systems, steam may pass through a superheater or even a reheater, raising steam temperature in order to generate more energy. This works as follows:

Heating water at any given pressure will cause the water to boil and steam to be released. A change in pressure results in a change to the boiling point of water.

For example, at atmospheric pressure, water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. At a pressure of 10 Bar, water boils at other temperatures. Steam tables list the boiling point of water at various pressures.

Regardless of the boiling point, when water boils, the water and steam have the same temperature. This is called the saturation temperature.

As long as the water and steam remain in contact, the temperature will remain at the saturation temperature. The boiler is only capable of producing saturated steam.

To raise the temperature of steam and increase energy production, without increasing pressure, steam must be heated out of contact with water. This is done in a superheater.
 

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