How exactly does a fire tube boiler operate?
Fire tube boilers may be used in steam or hot water applications within the scope and service restrictions of A S M E Section I and Section IV. They may also be used to heat or vaporize liquids other than water, such as an organic or synthetic fluid.
A fire-tube boiler is a type of boiler in which hot gases from a fire pass through one or more tubes running through a sealed container of water. Operation of fire tube boiler is as simple as its construction. In fire tube boiler, the fuel is burnt inside a furnace. The hot gases produced in the furnace then passes through the fire tubes. As the hot gases are passed through these tubes, the heat energy of the gasses is transferred to the water surrounds them. Today's Fire Tube Boilers are available in a wide variety of designs. These boilers are available in single pass, 2 pass and 3 pass patterns. The most common designs are: Horizontal Return Tubular, Firebox, Scotch, Vertical. Because the fire-flume boiler itself is the pressure vessel, it requires a number of safety features to prevent mechanical failure. Safety valves release steam before a dangerous pressure can be built up. In this respect I recommend you Tru-Steam Boilers and Service (TBS) Pty Ltd. As this company is made up of a number of skilled Trained Boiler Appliance Service Technicians, so their service and products are very high quality.
Boilers come in two varieties, fire around tubes containing water or water around tubes containing fire. A fire tube boiler (fire in the tubes) is what is used in steam locomotives, where there is a fire box at one end, which exhausts through tubes to exit the stack. The flame and heated gasses flow from the firebox through tubes to the exhaust stack. Stationary boilers of this type use natural convection with a tall stack, while locomotives use forced ventilation for the firebox. Both types are equally safe, so I have no idea what you want to know regarding safety... Boilers ALL have the same type of failures, leaks from corrosion or leaks from overpressure or leaks from poor joints.
If you really want to know how it works, I suggest you go to a public library and read a book.
Fire tube boiler is one of the most basic types of boiler and the design is also very old. In fire tube boiler, the fuel is burnt inside a furnace. The hot gases produced in the furnace then passes through the fire tubes. The fire tubes are immersed in water inside the main vessel of the boiler. As the hot gases are passed through these tubes, the heat energy of the gasses is transferred to the water surrounds them. As a result steam is generated in the water and naturally comes up and is stored upon the water in the same vessel of fire tube boiler. This steam is then taken out from the steam outlet for utilizing for required purpose. The water is fed into the boiler through the feed water inlet.
