Water-tube boiler facts for kids
A water-tube boiler is a special type of machine that heats water to create steam. In these boilers, water flows inside many tubes. A fire burns outside these tubes, heating them up. This heat turns the water inside the tubes into steam. The fire is made by burning fuel, like coal or natural gas, in a special area called a furnace. This steam can then be used to power engines, generate electricity, or heat buildings.
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How Water-Tube Boilers Work
Water-tube boilers are designed to be very efficient. Because the water is inside tubes and the fire is outside, the heat transfers quickly. This design allows them to produce steam very fast and at high pressures. This is different from other boilers where the fire might be inside tubes surrounded by water.
Different Types of Water-Tube Boilers
Engineers have created many different designs for water-tube boilers over the years. Each design has its own special features. Some are better for certain uses than others. Here are a few examples of these designs:
- Babcock and Wilcox boiler
- A/D/M/O-type boiler
- Flex-tube boiler
- Forced-circulation boiler
- Low water content boiler
- Stirling boiler
- Thornycroft boiler
- White-Forster boiler
- Yarrow boiler
Where Water-Tube Boilers Are Used
Water-tube boilers are very useful and are found in many places. They are known for being able to produce a lot of steam quickly and safely.
- Marine: They are often used on large ships and boats. They provide the power to move these vessels across the water.
- Railway: In the past, many steam locomotives (trains) used water-tube boilers. They helped power these mighty machines.
- Stationary: Many power plants on land use water-tube boilers. They create the steam needed to spin turbines and generate electricity for homes and cities. They are also used in factories for various industrial processes.
Images for kids
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Brotan boiler
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Babcock & Wilcox boiler
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End-view of a Yarrow boiler
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End-view of a Thornycroft boiler
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See also
In Spanish: Caldera de tubos de agua para niños
