A boiler feedwater pump is used to replenish water lost during normal operation in a closed water heating vessel known as a boiler. The pump is typically driven by an electric or steam engine and preheats water before pumping it into the boiler. The system is controlled by sensors in the boiler and includes manual override features.
A boiler feedwater pump functions as a mechanical device used to pump water from a holding tank into a boiler. The water supplied by the feedwater pump is required to replenish the boiler water lost during normal operation. Used on most systems, boiler feedwater pumps use a boiler to supply hot water for heating or steam to drive machinery. Typically, these water supply systems operate automatically by using sensors in the boiler to turn on the pump when the water level reaches a predetermined low point. The pumps used on the plants are generally of the centrifugal type driven by electric or steam engines.
Hot water and steam generating systems rely on a closed water heating vessel known as a boiler for their operation. These boilers usually have burners that heat the water in a series of tubes enclosed in a closed casing. This provides a continuous supply of hot water or steam to the rest of the system. Unfortunately, this type of system generally experiences a fair amount of water loss in a relatively short period of time as part of the heating and energy consumption process. To ensure continuous operation and to prevent overheating and damage to the boiler, the water level in a boiler must be monitored constantly and topped up when the level drops.
This function is achieved with a boiler feedwater pump, which is a separate device used to move water from a holding tank to the boiler when the water level drops. Typically single or multi-stage centrifugal devices, the boiler feedwater pump is driven by an electric or steam engine. The water taken from the tank is also usually preheated by a water heater before being pumped into the boiler. This prevents a sudden influx of cold water from damaging the boiler and increases the overall efficiency of the system. These heaters are usually located between the boiler feedwater pump and the boiler.
Most boiler feedwater pump systems are controlled via a series of level sensors in the boiler. When the water level in the boiler drops below a minimum preset value, the pump starts automatically and pumps the water directly into the boiler until the level reaches the maximum set value, at which point the pump switches off . This enables safe and unattended operation of the boiler. Most systems, however, include manual override features that allow operators to top up the boiler independently of the automatic level sensing equipment.
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