PROBLEMS ON BOILER PERFORMANCE

Problem 1. The steam used by the turbine is 5.4 kg/kWh at a pressure of 50 bar and a temperature of 350 0C. The
efficiency of the boiler is 82% with feed water at 150 0C. How many kg of coal having C.V. of 28100 kJ are
required per kWh? If the cost of coal/tonne is Rs. 500, what is the fuel cost/kWh?

Solution:
The efficiency of the boiler is given by

m s (h−hf 1 )
ηboiler =
mf ×C .V .

Now, from superheated steam table the enthalpy of at 45 bar and 3500C is obtained as h = 3068.4 kJ/kg

Enthalpy of feed water = h0 = 1×4.18×(150-0) = 627 kJ/kg

As the efficiency of the boiler is given as 0.82, it can written as

5 . 4 (3068 . 4−627)
0 . 82=
mf ×28100

or,
m f =0 . 572

Therefore, the mass of the coal to be burned per kWh is 0.572 kg.

0 .572
= ×500×100=28 . 6 paise /kWh
The cost fuel (coal) / kWh 1000
Problem 2. A boiler produces 2000kg of dry and saturated steam per hour at 10 bar and feed water is heated by an
economiser to a temperature of 110 0C, 225 kg of coal of a calorific value of 30100 kJ/kg are fired per hour, if 10%
of coal remains unburnt, find the thermal efficiency of the boiler and boiler and grate combined.

Solution:
h=hg (at 10 bar) =2776.2kJ /kg
h f 1 =1×4 . 18×(110−0)=459 . 8 KJ/kg

h−hf 1 =2776 .2−459 . 8=2316 . 4 KJ/kg

90
=225× =202. 5
Mass of coal actually burnt 100 kg
2000
ma = =9 . 87
Mass of steam produced per kg of coal (actually burnt), 202. 5 kg

1
 ma ( h−h f 1 ) 9 . 87(2776 . 2−459 . 8 )
= = =0. 759=75 . 9 %
Thermal efficiency of the boiler C .V . 30100
2000
(2776 . 2−459. 8 )
225
= =0. 684=68 . 4 %
Thermal efficiency of boiler and grate combined 30100
Problem 3. A boiler generates 7.5 kg of steam per kg of coal burnt at a pressure of 11 bar, from feed water burning
tempertaure of 700C. The efficiency of boiler is 75% and factor of evaporation 1.15, specific heat of a steam at
constant pressure is 2.3. Calculate

(i) Degree of superheat and temperature of steam generated.

(ii) Calorific value of coal in kJ/kg.
(iii) Equivalent evaporation in kg of steam per kg of coal.

Solution:
From steam tables,

h f =781. 1 kJ/kg, h fg=1998 . 5 kJ/kg,

0
T s =184.1 C=457 .1 K

F e=
[ { h +h
f fg +C ps ( T sup −T s ) }−h f 1 ]
Now, factor of evaporation, 2257

1. 15=
[ {781 . 1+1998 . 5+2 .3 (T sup−457 .1 ) −1×4 . 18×( 70−0 ) } ]
2257
T sup=504 . 3 K
Degree ofsup erheat ¿ T sup−T s =504 .3−457 . 1=47 .20 C
m a ( h−hf 1 )
Now Boiler Efficiency=
m f ×C .V
7 .5 [ {781 . 1+1998. 5+2 .3 ( 504 . 3−457 .1 ) −1×4 .18×70 } ]
0 .75=
1×C
19466 . 7
∴C= =25955 kJ /kg
0 . 75
Problem 4. The following data refer to a boiler plant consisting of an economiser, a boiler and a superheater:

Mass of the water evaporated per hour =5940 kg

Mass of the coal burnt per hour =675kg
L.C.V. of coal =31600kJ /kg
Pressure of the steam at boiler stop valve =14 bar
0
Temperature of the feed water entering economiser =32 C
0
Temperature of feed water leaving the economiser =115 C

2
Dryness fraction of steam leaving the boiler and entering superheater =0. 96
0
Temperature of steam leaving the superheater =260 C .
Specific heat of a superheated steam =2.3 , determine
(i) Percentages of heat in coal utilized in economiser, boiler and superheater.
(ii) Overall efficiency of boiler plant.

Solution:
=h f 1=1×4 .18 ( T e 2 −T e 1 ) =1×4 .18×( 115−32 )
Heat utilized by 1 kg of feed water in economizer

=346.9kJ /kg
hboiler =( h f +x fg ) −h f 1
Heat utilised in boiler per kg of feed water,
At 14 bar pressure, from steam tables

T s =1950 C , h f =830 kJ /kg , h fg =1957. 7 kJ /kg

∴ Heat utilized in boiler =( 830 .1+0 .96×1957.7 )−346.9=2362.6 kJ /kg
hsup erheater =( 1−x ) h fg +C ps ( T sup −T s )
Heat utilised in superheater by 1 kg of feed water:
=( 1−0.96 )×1957.7 +2.3 ( 260−195 )=227 .8 kJ /kg
5940
= =8 . 8 kg .
Also mass of water evaporated/hour/kg of coal burnt 675
346 . 9
= ×8 . 8×100=65 .7 %
(i) % of heat utilized in economiser 31600

% of heat utilized in superheater =227 . 8×8 .8×100=6. 34 %

Overall efficiency of boiler plant

Total heat absorbed by 1 kg of water

=h f 1 +h boiler +hsup erheater =346 . 9+2362 .6+227. 8=2937 .3 kJ/kg
8 . 8×2937 .3
∴ ηoverall = ¿ 81 .79 %
31600

Problem 5. During the trial of a water tube boiler the following data were obtained:

Steam pressure: p=13bar

0
Degree of superheat =77 C
0
Temp. of feed water =85 C

Water evaporator =3000 kg per hour

Coal fired =410 kg per hour

Ash =40 kg/hr

Percentage combustible in ash =9.6%

3
Moisture in coal =4 .5 %

Calorific value of dry coal =30500 kJ/kg

Determine
(i) The efficiency of the boiler plant including superheater.
(ii) the efficiency of the boiler and furnace combined.

Take specific heat of superheated steam =2.1 kJ/kg-K.

Solution:

At 13 bar,
T s =191. 60 C , hf =814 .7 kJ /kg ,h fg=1970.7 kJ/kg
h=hsup=hf +h fg +C PS ( T SUP−T S ) =814 . 7+1970 . 7+2 .1 ( 77 )=2947 . 1 kJ /kg

Also, h f 1 =1×4 . 18×( 85−0 ) =355 .3 kJ/kg

Total heat supplied to produce 1 kg of steam

=h sup−h f 1=2947 .1−355 .3=2591 .8 kJ/kg
ma ( hsup−h f 1 ) 3000 ( 2947 .1−355 .3 )
= = =65 .1 %
m f ×C . V 391 .55×30500
Efficiency of boiler plant including superheater

4.5
(
[drycoal=410− 410×
100 )
=391 .55 ]

9.6
=40× =3 . 84 kg
Combustible in ash per hour 100
The combustible present in ash is practically carbon and its value may be taken as 33860 kJ/kg.
Heat actually supplied per hour = heat of dry coal − heat of combustible in ash
=391 .55×30500−3 . 84×33860=11812253 kJ.
=3000 ( h sup−h f 1 ) =3000 (2947 . 1−355 . 3 )=777400 kJ
Heat usefully utiized in the boiler per hour
Heat usefully utilised inboiler per hour
=
Efficiency of the boiler and furnace combined Heat actually sup plied perhour
7775400
= =65 . 8 %
11812253