Pros & Cons of Modular Steam Boilers

Bruce Beavis

All,



Having read Dan's article on modular steam boilers and the challenges associated with piping them correctly, is there any real advantage to this type of setup versus a single biler.



From the economic point of view modular boilers would seem to imply a higher installed cost as well as higher maintenance going forward.  Is there an opportunity to optimize the efficiency curves of multiple boilers as one would do with chillers?

nicholas bonham-carter

tag team boilers

can you post a link to the article?

i can see that several modular boilers might be easier to install than one huge boiler, and with proper valving could be made to adjust to the load [often controlled by pressure]--nbc

gerry gill

There are both pro's and cons

Its harder to install, and more expensive to install and maintain, but in a commercial setting, there is always great peace of mind in knowing that if one boiler goes down that there is still some heat available. Also as NBC says we control ours by pressure which drops boilers off line as the pressure goes up..the remaining boiler(s) operate at their best efficiency point, (high fire)..

The Steam Whisperer (Formerly Boilerpro)

Hi Bruce

I guess you got your audit finally done.  Best wishes!