S32 -- Boilers (I-P)
Excluding special and unusual fluids, materials, and methods, a boiler is a cast-iron, carbon or stainless steel, aluminum, or copper pressure vessel heat exchanger designed to (1) burn fossil fuels (or use electric current) and (2) transfer the released heat to water (in water boilers) or to water and steam (in steam boilers). Boiler heating surface is the area of fluid-backed surface exposed to the products of combustion, or the fire-side surface. Various manufacturers define allowable heat transfer rates in terms of heating surface based on their specific boiler design and material limitations. Boiler designs provide for connections to a piping system, which delivers heated fluid to the point of use and returns the cooled fluid to the boiler. Chapter Table of ContentsClassifications