The heart of any boiler is its fuel system. Fuel handling and storage problems can limit the efficiency of the entire boiler.

There are three forms of boiler fuel: liquid, solid, and gas. Methods of handling and storage vary according to the type of fuel used.

GASEOUS FUELS

Clean and relatively moisture-free gaseous fuels present little difficulty in handling. Natural gas is a prime example of clean fuel and is the one most commonly used in boiler systems.

Dirty gas, such as refinery gas, blast furnace gas, carbon monoxide gas, and other waste gases from processes, can cause significant handling problems. Special measures must be taken to prevent escape to the surrounding atmosphere, fire, fuel line deposition, moisture, and incomplete combustion. The severity of the problem depends on the specific contaminants in the gas. Methods of handling are selected according to the nature of the specific gas and local regulations.

Wet scrubbers, electrostatic precipitators, chemical dispersants, and suitable pipe and tank lagging may be used to eliminate problems. Wet scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators remove contaminants mechanically. Chemical dispersants have been used in conjunction with wet scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators to handle troublesome contaminants. Because leakage is one of the major concerns in handling gases, some method of leak detection is essential. The selected method may be as simple as detector-type sprays or as sophisticated as combustible detectors with alarms, which may be connected to automatic fire control systems.