What is Boiler Mounting?
Boiler mountings are safety devices that are mounted on a boiler to ensure its safe and proper operation. These mountings are designed to protect the boiler and its users from potential hazards that may arise during the boiler’s operation. Some examples of boiler mountings include:
- Safety valves: release pressure when the pressure inside the boiler exceeds a certain limit.
- Water level indicators: indicate the water level inside the boiler and prevent the boiler from running dry.
- Pressure gauges: measure the pressure inside the boiler and ensure that it remains within safe limits.
- Blowdown valves: release impurities and sludge from the bottom of the boiler.
- Fusible plugs: melt and open to release the pressure if the water level in the boiler drops below a certain level.
These are some of the important boiler mountings, but the specific mountings used will depend on the type of boiler, its size and its application.
What is Boiler Accessories?
Boiler accessories are additional components that are used in conjunction with a boiler to enhance its performance and improve its overall efficiency. Some examples of boiler accessories include:
- Feed pumps: used to pump water into the boiler.
- Economizers: used to recover heat from the flue gases and preheat the incoming feed water.
- Air preheaters: used to preheat the combustion air before it enters the boiler.
- Super heaters: used to increase the temperature of the steam generated by the boiler.
- Deaerators: used to remove dissolved gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, from the feed water.
- Condensate return systems: used to collect and return condensate to the boiler.
- Stack dampers: used to control the draft in the boiler’s chimney.
- Burners: used to provide the heat needed to generate steam.
These are some examples of boiler accessories, but the specific accessories used will depend on the type of boiler, its size, and its application.
The main difference between Boiler Mountings and Boiler Accessories are as follows
- Purpose: Boiler mountings are safety devices that are necessary for the safe operation of a boiler, while boiler accessories are additional equipment that can be added to enhance the performance or efficiency of the boiler.
- Regulations: Boiler mountings are required by law and must be installed on all boilers, while boiler accessories are not always required and are typically added at the discretion of the user.
- Installation: Boiler mountings are installed on the boiler itself and are an integral part of the boiler, while boiler accessories are typically added after the boiler is installed.
- Function: Boiler mountings are used for safety and control, such as pressure relief valves, water level indicators, and safety valves, while boiler accessories are used to improve performance, such as economizers and air preheaters.
- Maintenance: Boiler mountings require regular maintenance and inspection to ensure that they are functioning properly, while boiler accessories may require less frequent maintenance.
- Types: Common boiler mountings include safety valves, pressure gauges, water level indicators, and blowdown valves. Common boiler accessories include economizers, superheaters, and feedwater pumps.
- Cost: Boiler mountings are typically more expensive than boiler accessories, as they are required for safety and must meet certain regulations.
- Impact on boiler operation: Boiler mountings are critical to the safe operation of a boiler and must be in good working order at all times, while boiler accessories may not have as significant an impact on the operation of the boiler.
- Replacements: Boiler mountings need to be replaced if they are not functioning properly, while boiler accessories can be replaced with newer or more efficient models.
- Consulting professional : It is always recommended to consult with a professional when installing or maintaining boiler mountings and accessories to ensure that they are installed and maintained correctly.
