ABSTRACT
The starting point for finding efficiency begins with accurate knowledge of the amount of energy “input” into the process. Two things must be known, how much fuel is being fired and how many Btu’s are in each pound of fuel. Boiler efficiency is the percentage of the fuel’s higher heating value which is converted to steam. This is sometimes called the Fuel-To-Steam Efficiency. Steam is very useful because it automatically flows to the point of use and does not need to be pumped. It moves through the piping system to a point of lower pressure where steam is condensing into water as it gives up its latent heat. Water heated under constant pressure will rise in temperature until a certain temperature is reached when it begins to evaporate into steam or boil. The temperature at which water boils is known as saturation temperature and depends on the pressure under which the water is heated.
