ABSTRACT
This chapter shows the logical steps that should be followed to find basic boiler plant efficiency. It covers the basic steps for plant survey and testing to identify sources of losses in the plant and distribution system. Optimizing boiler efficiency will often offer a good opportunity for improved efficiency and fuel dollar savings. The typical distribution system wastes a great deal of energy, about double a boiler’s losses. Also, making a plot of the fuel delivery rate verses control system position can uncover problems with control system linearity. Three basic instruments can be very valuable in estimating and tracking performance: a totalizing fuel flow meter, an steam or feed water flow meter and a simple timer. A rough estimate of boiler efficiency is often obtained by subtracting stack losses from 100 percent. It must be noted that many other losses are involved in operating boilers and this method of using just one loss for the efficiency determination has limited value.
