Return to Economizer Information Home Page A boiler economizer is more important today than ever before.
Boiler economizers have evolved to serve different purposes over the years. In the 19th & early 20th century boiler economizers were created as a sacrificial component to the boiler. Dissolved gases, solids, and other impurities in raw feed water ensured a short and unproductive life to early boilers. Sacrificial economizers bore the brunt of this damage, leaving the expensive, critical boiler tubes unharmed. These economizers were designed to be inexpensive and easy to replace.
World events in the early 1970's changed the outlook of energy consumption and conservation. Oil embargos and a raising environmental awareness would radically change inefficient energy policies. Boiler economizers recover wasted energy from the flue gas and transfers it to the boiler feedwater. Advances in boiler feed water treatment combined with progress in economizer design, materials, and manufacturing would lead to a new generation of economizers designed for long, productive lives. Boiler economizers can increase typical boiler efficiencies from 3% to 10% depending on specific boiler characteristics. The fuel saving due to the increase to the boiler efficiency provides an attractive payback.
Today boiler economizers are called to serve a new challenge, the reduction of boiler emissions. The United States has announced a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These reductions will affect every commercial and industrial boiler in the United States The addition of a boiler economizer has a direct effect on boiler emissions. The less fuel that needs to be inputted to the boiler to maintain the same steam output, the less emissions that boiler will release to the environment. Emission reduction is achieved, energy is conserved, and a cost reduction is realized.
In closing, a few key points to remember are:
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