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A boiler economizer reduces operating costs by recovering waste heat and preheating water, extending the life of the boiler. It’s important to use a suitable product and consider installation costs versus savings.
A boiler economizer is a device designed to increase the operating efficiency of a boiler by reducing its operating costs over the life of the boiler. While the savings on any given day may be relatively small, the impact over time can be significant, especially with a large boiler system, such as the type used to heat large buildings such as office buildings and institutions. Some boilers are designed with built-in economizers, while in other cases an economizer can be retrofitted.
Boilers work by heating water to produce steam and using that steam to generate heat or power. For the most part, a boiler is quite efficient, but there is some heat loss as the by-products of combustion are discharged. The by-products of combustion are still hot, often quite hot, and when they are simply vented off, this represents heat lost to the boiler.
A boiler economizer acts as a waste heat recovery device, ensuring that this heat does not go unused. Instead, the heat is essentially used to preheat the water, so that less heat is needed to get the water hot enough to produce steam. One might think of this device as a feedwater heater; it ensures that the water used to feed the boiler to produce more steam is hot so that the boiler does not have to expend as much energy to heat it.
Using an economizer not only prevents heat loss but can also extend the life of the boiler. Temperature changes caused by using colder feed water can lead to boiler wear and tear over time as the fittings heat up and cool down cyclically. When the feedwater is heated, the temperature differential is less extreme, placing less stress on the boiler and giving it a longer operating life. Since a large boiler system can be expensive to repair or replace, this adds to the overall savings on your heating system.
When someone installs a boiler economiser it is important that they use a product that is suitable for the boiler. Some manufacturers offer economizers for their boilers, while companies that make standalone devices can come and inspect the boiler to determine which product would be a better fit. A heating and cooling specialist can provide additional installation advice, including a breakdown of how much an economizer can save you. There may be instances where it is not fiscally responsible to install this device because the installation costs can outweigh the savings.
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