4/23/2020 Steam Calculators: Boiler Calculator

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Steam System Modeler Tool (SSMT)

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About Determines the amount of fuel energy required to produce steam with specified properties at a given flow rate using general boiler
operational characteristics.
Preferences

Glossary Deaerator Pressure* 21.7 psig Steam Mass Flow 72.1 klb/hr

Resources Combustion Efficiency* 70.2 % Pressure 957.9 psig Sp. Enthalpy 1,551.8 btu/lbm

Tutorials Temperature 1,078.9 °F Sp. Entropy 1.687 btu/lbm/R

Blowdown Rate* 7.1 %
Properties Calculators:
Phase Gas Energy Flow 111.9 MMBtu/hr
Saturated Properties Steam

Steam Properties Pressure* 957.9 psig

Equipment Calculators:
Temperature * 1078.9 °F
Boiler
Boiler
Steam Mass Flow * 72.1 klb/hr pipe
Heat Loss
pipe
Flash Tank * Required Enter [reset]
pipe
PRV w/ Desuperheating Blowdown Rate 7.1 %
**Example: Super-heated Steam
Header Boiler Energy 97.0 MMBtu/hr
Examples: Mouse Over
Deaerator Combustion Efficiency 70.2 %
Steam Turbine Calculation Details and Assumptions below Fuel Energy 138.1 MMBtu/hr
Steam System Modeler

Blowdown Mass Flow 5.5 klb/hr

Pressure 957.9 psig Sp. Enthalpy 538.3 btu/lbm

Temperature 541.3 °F Sp. Entropy 0.739 btu/lbm/R

Saturated 0.00 Energy Flow 3.0 MMBtu/hr

Feedwater Mass Flow 77.6 klb/hr

Pressure 21.7 psig Sp. Enthalpy 230.4 btu/lbm

Temperature 261.6 °F Sp. Entropy 0.384 btu/lbm/R

Saturated 0.00 Energy Flow 17.9 MMBtu/hr

Calculation Details
Step 1: Determine Properties of Steam Produced
Using the Steam Property Calculator, properties are determined using Steam Pressure and the selected second parameter (Temperature,
Specific Enthalpy, Specific Entropy, or Quality). The Specific Enthalpy is then multiplied by the Mass Flow to get the Energy Flow:

Pressure = 957.9 psig

Temperature = 1,078.9 °F
[Steam Property Calculator] => Specific Enthalpy = 1,551.8 btu/lbm

Steam Energy Flow = Specific Enthalpy * Mass Flow

[ Steam Energy Flow = 111.9 MMBtu/hr = 1,551.8 btu/lbm * 72.1 klb/hr ]

Step 2: Determine Feedwater Properties and Mass Flow

The feedwater flow rate can be calculated from steam mass flow and blowdown rate:

1. Blowdown Mass Flow = Feedwater Mass Flow * Blowdown Rate

2. Steam Mass Flow = Feedwater Mass Flow - Blowdown Mass Flow
3. Steam Mass Flow = Feedwater Mass Flow - Feedwater Mass Flow * Blowdown Rate
4. Feedwater Mass Flow = Steam Mass Flow / [ 1 - Blowdown Rate ]
[ Feedwater Mass Flow = 77.6 klb/hr = 72.1 klb/hr / ( 1 - 0.071 ) ]

Using the Steam Property Calculator, properties are determined using Deaerator Pressure and Quality = 0 (Saturated Liquid). The Specific
Enthalpy is then multiplied by the Mass Flow to get the Energy Flow:

Pressure = 21.7 psig

Quality = 0.00
[Steam Property Calculator] => Specific Enthalpy = 230.4 btu/lbm

Feedwater Energy Flow = Specific Enthalpy * Mass Flow

[ Feedwater Energy Flow = 17.9 MMBtu/hr = 230.4 btu/lbm * 77.6 klb/hr ]

Step 3: Determine Blowdown Properties and Mass Flow

Using the calculated feedwater mass flow and blowdown rate:

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4/23/2020 Steam Calculators: Boiler Calculator
Blowdown Mass Flow = Feedwater Mass Flow * Blowdown Rate
[ Blowdown Mass Flow = 5.5 klb/hr = 77.6 klb/hr * 0.071 ]

Using the Steam Property Calculator, properties are determined using Steam Pressure and Quality = 0 (Saturated Liquid). The Specific
Enthalpy is then multiplied by the Mass Flow to get the Energy Flow:

Pressure = 957.9 psig

Quality = 0.00
[Steam Property Calculator] => Specific Enthalpy = 538.3 btu/lbm

Blowdown Energy Flow = Specific Enthalpy * Mass Flow

[ Blowdown Energy Flow = 3.0 MMBtu/hr = 538.3 btu/lbm * 5.5 klb/hr ]

Step 4: Determine Boiler Energy

Boiler Energy = Steam Energy Flow + Blowdown Energy Flow - Feedwater Energy Flow
[ Boiler Energy (Flow) = 97.0 MMBtu/hr = 111.9 MMBtu/hr + 3.0 MMBtu/hr - 17.9 MMBtu/hr ]

Step 5: Determine Fuel Energy

Fuel Energy = Boiler Energy / Combustion Efficiency

[ Fuel Energy = 138.1 MMBtu/hr = 97.0 MMBtu/hr / 0.702 ]

Assumptions
Deaerator provides feedwater near the boiling temperature for the deaerator's set operating pressure. (Saturated Liquid)
Steam, Boiler, and Blowdown Pressure are the same.
Combustion Efficiency is the % of fuel energy that is directly added to the feedwater and not otherwise lost or used.
Blowdown Rate is the % of incoming feedwater mass flow rate that leaves the boiler as a saturated liquid at boiler pressure.
Does not include any evaluation of any complex boiler configurations or fluctuations in operation.
Energy from motors (pumps, fans, etc.) are not considered.
Boiler and fuel types are not considered.

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