Working of Locomotive Boiler

Locomotive Boiler:

The locomotive boiler is a steel shell containing water that is converted from steam heat to fire in the firebox to furnish the energy to move the locomotive. It is a horizontally, multi-tubular, internally fired, natural circulation boiler. An artificial stream jet draft is present in this boiler to increase the heat transfer rate, which will be seen in detail in the working part of this article.

These boilers have increased back-ends for the firebox. Also, this boiler has about 116 general fire tubes and 38 super-heated fire tubes. It used solid fuels such as coal for its work. The locomotive boiler is a portable boiler, i.e., it can be easily moved from one place to another.

This locomotive boiler can produce a high steam rate & is commonly used in railway locomotive engines and submarines. The first locomotive engine was built in 1803.

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Working of Locomotive Boiler:

First, solid fuel (coal) is placed above the enclosure through the fire hole and ignited through the fire hole. As the fuel starts burning in the furnace, hot gases are released from the burning fuel, and these hot gases enter the fire tube. Now the gases will flow through flue pipes and heat these flue pipes.

A fire brick arch exists that provides a passage and direction for the flue gases to reach the flue gases and prevents solid fuel particles from entering the fire tubes. These flu pipes are surrounded by water, and this water will start heating up, and these flue gases will come out of the chimney.

In this way, flue gases will continuously heat the pipe & escape from the boiler through the chimney. Due to the heat received from flue gases, the water will start heating up, and gradually it will start converting into steam.

This steam begins to accumulate in the steam dome. Now, this saturated steam produced by hot water can be used directly or superheated by directing it towards the superheater header. Now the regulator controls the saturated steam present in the steam dome and helps the saturated steam enter the main steam pipe.

The steam travels into the main steam pipe and reaches the superheater header. After the superheater, the superheat steam will be distributed to the superheater tubes, and this superheat steam enters the steam pipes of the smokebox. This superhit steam is further used to drive the steam engine and to rotate the wheels of the rail.

Steam emanating from the steam engine. Burned gases and smoke reach the smokebox after passing through the tubes of fire. The exhaust steam coming out of the blast pipe pushes the smoke and burnt gases into the smokebox and drives them through the chimney by removing them from the boiler.

An artificial draft is required for the smoke in the smokebox to come out of the chimney, & this artificial draft is provided by steam emanating from the steam engine. Due to this artificial draft, smoke escapes out of the smokebox, and suction is created to flow hot flue gases.

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Parts of Locomotive Boiler:

#1. Boiler Shell

This is the outermost cover of the boiler. Other parts of the boiler are present inside this shell.

#2. Super Heater

These Superheaters are used to heat the steam to a much higher desired temperature before entering the steam engine.

#3. Fire Tubes

Hot gases will flow inside these fire tubes. These fire taps are surrounded by water and exchange heat from the surrounding waters.

#4. Ashpit or Ashpan

The ash of burnt fuels is collected in this ash. It is also known as ashpan. It is applied under the mesh.

#5. Grate

The fuel is burnt on top of the fuel. The melted iron is made of cast iron. There is a vacancy between the grate so that air can pass through it and fuel can burn easily.

#6. Fire Brick Arch

This brick arch is placed on top of the furnace. The main function of these brick arches is to prevent ash, dust, & burnt fuel particles from entering the fire tubes.

It also serves as a passage for the flue gases before entering the fire tubes.

#7. Deflector

When the fuel is burnt, the deflector is used to deflect the hot gases generated toward the fire tubes.

#8. Fire Hole

Fuel enters the boiler through these fire holes. Solid fuel usually enters the coal through this fire hole and is placed above the furnace. This hole is provided at the rears end of the boilers.

#9. Fire Box

Fuel is lit inside this firebox.

#10. Smoke Box

In smoke, burnt fuel smoke is collected after passing through fire tubes.

#11. Smoke Box Door

The boilers can be cleaned through this smokebox door.

#12. Blast Pipe

This blast pipe is used to make artificial drafts through the chimney to flush out fumes and make suction for hot flue gases. This suction made by the blast pipe also helps the gases to enter the fire tubes.

#13. Chimney

This chimney of locomotive boilers is small in size, and an artificial blower is used to remove gases from the boiler. This chimney is used to remove exhaust, fumes, and gases from the boiler.

#14. Super Heater Header

The superheater header is used to collect the saturated steam, and this steam is incorporated into the superheated steam, and this superheated steam is passed through the superheater tubes inside the fireboat, which is placed inside the fireboat, And it has a lower diameter than a fire tube.

#15. Super Heater Tubes

These superheater tubes are present inside the fire tubes, which are less in diameter than the fire tubes. Superhit steam produced using superheaters passes through this superheater tube.

#16. Steam Pipe

It is a pipe through which steam passes. We have two steam pipes; There is a main steam pipe between the superheater header and the dome. And the other one is the one that connects the superhit exit end to the steam engine.

#17. Regulator

This regulator is used to supply steam when the operator pulls the lever. It controls steam through the main steam pipe for superheating.

#18. Safety Valves

Safety valves are used to blow off excess steam when the pressure in the boiler exceeds the safety level and prevents the boiler from being destroyed.

#19. Blow Off Cock

Blow-off coke is used to remove or discharge soil and sediment. It is also used to shut off boiler water.

#20. Exhaust Steam Pipe

This exhaust steam escapes from the pipe after working with the steam engine.

#21. Water Level Indicator

As the name suggests & it is used to indicates the water level in the boiler.

#22. Pressure Gauge

It is used to indicate the pressure readings inside the boiler.

#23. Man Hole

The manhole is a hole provided in the boiler for people to enter the boiler. Anyone can enter the boiler through this manhole and change its parts if needed or clean the boiler if required.

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Advantages of Locomotive Boiler:

Locomotive boilers have the following advantages:

High steam capacity
Low cost of construction
Portability is easy.
Low installation cost
Compact in design.

Disadvantages of Locomotive Boiler:

Locomotive boilers have the following disadvantages:

Possibility of corrosion and scale formation.
Some parts are difficult to clean.
Bracing is required for larger parts.
It cannot carry much load, which causes overheating and damage.

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Applications of Locomotive Boiler:

Locomotive boilers are used in various places, where they have some applications:

Locomotive boilers are mostly used in railways & marines.
The efficiency of these locomotive boilers is very low.
The locomotive boiler cannot operate in heavy-load conditions because it leads to overheating of the boiler and, ultimately, losses.
These boilers are also used in traction engines, steam rollers, portable engines, and some other steam road vehicles.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Boiler Shell

The exterior of a steam boiler forms a case to contain the water and steam, often inclosing also flues and the furnace; the barrel of a cylindrical, or locomotive, boiler. See also: Shell.

Super Heater

A superheater is a device for converting saturated steam or dripping steam into superheated steam or dry steam. Superheated steam is utilized in steam turbines to generate electricity, steam engines, and strategies such as steam reforming.

Superheater Header

Superheater headers operate in a steamy environment under the pressure of 15.5 MPa at a temperature of 545 ºС. The header is a thick-walled cylinder made of 12Cr1MoV steel with a length of 2314 mm, an outer diameter of 325 mm, and a thickness of 50 mm.

Using a grate, we insert the fuel into the boiler and then provide the fire to ignite the fuel. When fuel starts burning, hot flue gases are produced. And these hot flue gases are passed through the pipe continuously until the surrounding water gets heated.

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