Steam-generator 2tonne_hour

Fire tube steam boilers vs Aggreko coil steam boilers

Making an informed decision on steam

When selecting a steam boiler, understanding the different types of boilers is critical in terms of system performance, size and logistical requirements. Below highlights key aspects of both technologies.

Space and weight

Fire tube boiler: Typically, heavy and requires a lot of ancillary equipment.

Aggreko steam boiler: Compact and includes integrated components such as the boiler, blowdown, water softener, and chemical treatment systems, all housed in a 10ft or 20ft high cube container. This containerised steam boiler house has a condensed footprint, ideal for projects where space is at a premium. It is lightweight, simplifying logistics and transport, with no crane required for lifting.

Steam quality

Fire tube boiler: during sudden steam demand, moisture residue from the water surface can increase, potentially compromising steam quality.

Aggreko steam boiler: delivers very high steam quality, with 99.5% dry saturated steam, ensuring better performance and efficiency. This also minimises the amount of water and impurities entering the steam line, resulting in higher energy content.

Startup time

Fire tube boiler: requires approximately 60 minutes to start up due to the large mass of water and steel.

Aggreko steam boiler: achieves startup within three minutes from cold, significantly reducing downtime. Our boiler also has the ability to run without manual intervention for startup under most circumstances.

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Burner operation

Fire tube boiler: When no steam is demanded, the burner continually switches on and off, wasting energy and increasing maintenance needs. It also requires manual intervention to startup.                        Aggreko steam boiler: Can stand down when no steam is demanded and restart automatically without manual intervention, improving energy efficiency and reducing maintenance. The dual fuel burner, capable of operating on gas, diesel, or HVO, helps minimise the carbon footprint. Our boilers can achieve 20 – 25 % savings on fuel in start/stop applications.

Running costs

Fire tube boiler: Inefficiencies can lead to higher running costs.

Aggreko steam boiler: High efficiency minimises running costs. High combustion efficiency ensures maximal conversion of fuel into useful heat, while the high boiler house efficiency maximises the useful energy from fuel.

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Flexibility

Aggreko steam boiler: capable of operating on standard water (hardness below 20˚D), making it suitable for diverse applications. 

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