Modern advances in boiler technology are creating a shift from traditional fire tube boilers in favor of modular water tube boilers. Of course, to follow along with the trend, you have to commit to the cost and hassle of replacing your old boilers. If you’re wondering if making the switch to modular water tube boilers is worth it, let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits of these new, modern boilers.
Save on Space
One difference between older, fire tube boilers and modular, water tube boilers that you can see right away if the size of each. Water tube boilers are considerably smaller than fire tube boilers, with a footprint that’s up to 50% smaller in some cases. They also don’t require door-swing or tube-pull space, so those working in the boiler room or steam plant have a lot more room to operate. With the added space inside the boiler room, it’s easier to add an extra boiler or two down the line if steam needs increase without having to build a larger boiler room to fit all of them.Increased Energy Efficiency
One of the biggest advantages of modular boilers is that they start up a lot faster than traditional boilers. For instance, Miura’s boilers can be producing steam from a cold startup in less than five minutes. This makes it possible to turn boilers off when they’re not needed because it’s they can get started in just a few minutes when steam needs rise. With fire tube boilers, it’s common to leave them running idle when they’re not in use, which still uses up costly fuel. With water tube boilers, it’s easier to maximize fuel efficiency. In fact, companies that switch to Miura boilers report saving up to 20 percent on their fuel costs, which can add up to a massive amount of savings over time.Easier Maintenance
It should go without saying that keeping up with routine maintenance is critical for the longevity and overall efficiency of a boiler. However, fire tube boilers can take multiple days to undergo a full inspection, and it’s not always easy to have a boiler down for that long. This isn’t the case with water tube boilers, which can receive routine maintenance in half a day. Plus, since most facilities operate with several of the smaller water tube boilers, they can shut down one boiler for maintenance without losing service from their others, which makes it a lot easier to keep up with routine maintenance.Safer Option
Safety should never be overlooked with boilers, and this is another area where water tube boilers have a significant advantage over fire tube boilers. The risk of a serious failure or explosion is limited in water tube boilers because they use roughly 10% of the water that’s needed in fire tube boilers. Also, any issue with a water tube boiler is usually limited to a particular tube, not the entire boiler. In fact, Miura’s modular boilers have never experienced a serious explosion in the hundreds of thousands of vessels operating worldwide.If you’re on the fence about making the switch to water tube boilers, there should be little doubt that the change is worth it. With improved safety, convenience, and efficiency over fire tube boilers, modular, water tube boilers are superior to fire tube boilers in almost every way. With the money saved on fuel costs, making the switch to water tube boilers will eventually pay for itself. There’s no reason to delay changing to water tube boilers any longer. Contact Us
