What is the primary function of a water tube boiler?

The primary function of a water tube boiler is to pass products of combustion around tubes that contain boiler water. This design allows for high efficiency and rapid steam generation. In a water tube boiler, water circulates within the tubes, and as the hot gases from combustion pass over these tubes, heat is transferred to the water, converting it into steam.

This method of design is particularly advantageous because it allows the boiler to operate at higher pressures and temperatures compared to fire tube boilers, which contain water within the boiler shell itself. The use of tubes to carry water also minimizes the risk of overheating and damage to the boiler since the water in the tubes can absorb much of the heat generated, providing effective temperature control. This makes water tube boilers suitable for applications requiring high steam output and efficiency for power generation or industrial processes.

While containing steam under pressure, storing hot water, and providing heat are functions associated with boilers in general, they do not specifically describe the operational mechanism or primary function of a water tube boiler.