Steam Generators 101: Common FAQs
Throughout history, businesses have used all kinds of pieces of equipment to help supply them with the power they need and keep their equipment functional. A steam generator is perhaps one of the most traditional ways business owners have tried to achieve the idea of creating an efficiently operated facility where energy is concerned. If you are part of an industrial business or just a curious person, steam generators could pique your curiosity. Take a look at some of the things you may want to know about steam generators, how they function, and how they are valuable in industrial applications.
What exactly does a steam generator do?
A steam generator is a piece of highly valuable equipment that houses a substantial amount of water and turns it into steam, and then the steam feeds into a turbine that generates electrical power. The steam that is created is condensed so the power and pressure are greater than usual, which makes it highly efficient to generate power with just the steam. Binary geothermal generators follow a similar process using heat, but they are not as capable of producing high levels of electricity. Therefore, a steam generator is much more common and has been the traditional type of generator for a long time.
What type of facilities rely on a steam generator?
A lot of the large-scale industrial operations rely on steam generators because they offer so much value and function in these types of settings. For example, an industrial facility may have a steam generator in use because it is capable of feeding steam to power certain equipment and capable of converting steam into electrical energy to power other types of equipment. Even though the steam generator is quite the investment in any business, it is an investment that makes the facility much more efficient, so money is saved on operating costs down the line.
Are a steam generator and a boiler the same thing?
In some ways, the steam generator and the boiler system are a lot alike because of the way they function and the components involved in that process. Some would even call a steam generator a type of boiler system, and it really is a lot like a low-water-level boiler system. However, the overall purpose of the steam generator is to create power. On the contrary, a boiler system is primarily used for steam generation, hot water generation, and heating.