Why are the boiler area and the industrial furnace area separated?
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I see that this area is designated as a boiler area, with another area designated as an industrial furnace area – what is the difference between the two?
A boiler is simply a pot combined with a furnace, and it is a device used to produce steam or water; it’s relatively simple in structure. Industrial furnaces are much broader and larger in scale; they typically include tubular furnaces and other types, which serve as reaction devices. Personally, I think it’s better to have separate groups, as it makes it more convenient for everyone to discuss learning*.
I think power station boilers are the main focus when it comes to boilers; industrial furnaces are not power station boilers. There is so much to cover regarding power station boilers.
Heat treatment furnaces are also known as industrial furnaces; therefore, they are different
Industrial furnaces have a wide range of applications. As mentioned earlier, there are two types of boilers: those that consist of a boiler and a furnace combined. Industrial furnaces refer mainly to the furnace itself; for example, bell-type furnaces, solution treatment furnaces, drying furnaces, etc., all fall under the category of industrial furnaces. There are also applications in the chemical industry. These furnaces can operate without any intermediate medium, such as in vacuum conditions with radiation heating. Boilers, on the other hand, generally first heat an intermediate medium and then use that medium to perform work or facilitate heat exchange. Typically, the medium is water; some thermal oils or air can also be considered part of industrial boilers.
I study thermal energy and have worked with industrial furnaces and boilers. To put it simply: In industrial furnaces, the heat generated by fuel combustion is absorbed by materials such as steel or oil. Boilers, in layman’s terms, consist of a tank (a pressure vessel) and a furnace; the heat produced by the furnace is absorbed by the water inside the tank, which is contained within a closed system. In terms of practical application, industrial furnace processes are more complex, while the thermodynamics involved in boilers are even more complex than those in industrial furnaces； In the case of fluids, just as with applications in combustion theory, the heat transfer mechanisms differ slightly. This post was last edited by novabow on 2008-1-10 at 10:56.]