A **boiler** is a device designed to generate steam or hot water by heating water. It is typically used for a variety of purposes, including heating buildings, producing power in thermal power plants, or providing steam for industrial processes. The heat can be supplied by burning fuels like coal, oil, gas, or using electricity.
Boilers can generally be classified into two main types based on the heat transfer process:
1. **Fire-tube boilers**: Hot gases from combustion pass through tubes surrounded by water. The water is heated and converted into steam.
2. **Water-tube boilers**: Water circulates through tubes and is heated by surrounding hot gases. This type is common in larger, high-pressure applications, such as power generation.
### Key Components of a Boiler:
- **Burner**: Initiates combustion.
- **Heat exchanger**: Transfers heat from the combustion gases to the water.
- **Boiler drum** (in water-tube boilers): Holds water and steam.
- **Controls and safety devices**: Monitor temperature, pressure, and water level to ensure safe operation.
Would you like to know more about how a specific type of boiler works, such as in power plants or residential heating?