What is the purpose of a feedwater heater in a boiler system?

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Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of a feedwater heater in a boiler system?

A feedwater heater is used to raise the temperature of the water before it enters the boiler. By preheating the feedwater, the boiler has to add less energy to turn that water into steam, which lowers the fuel needed for the same steam output and improves overall plant efficiency. Using heat from extracted steam or hot exhaust, the feedwater heater reduces the enthalpy rise required in the boiler, making the cycle more efficient and can also lessen thermal stress on boiler components. Raising boiler pressure isn’t the purpose of a feedwater heater; that’s controlled by boiler design and systems that manage pressure. Cooling the feedwater would be the opposite of what a heater does. Removing dissolved solids is handled by water treatment or deaeration, not by heating.

A feedwater heater is used to raise the temperature of the water before it enters the boiler. By preheating the feedwater, the boiler has to add less energy to turn that water into steam, which lowers the fuel needed for the same steam output and improves overall plant efficiency. Using heat from extracted steam or hot exhaust, the feedwater heater reduces the enthalpy rise required in the boiler, making the cycle more efficient and can also lessen thermal stress on boiler components.

Raising boiler pressure isn’t the purpose of a feedwater heater; that’s controlled by boiler design and systems that manage pressure. Cooling the feedwater would be the opposite of what a heater does. Removing dissolved solids is handled by water treatment or deaeration, not by heating.

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