Boiler

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-003515",
  "term": "Boiler",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. A vessel or tank where heat produced from the combustion of fuels such as natural gas, fuel oil, or coal is used to provide either hot water or steam for home heating. Steam is distributed via pipes to steam radiators, and hot water can be distributed via baseboard radiators or radiant floor systems, or can heat air via a coil.\n\n2. A vessel designed to transfer heat produced by combustion or electric resistance to water. Boilers may provide hot water or steam.\n\n3. An enclosed device that uses controlled flame combustion to recover and deliver energy in the form of steam, heated fluid, or heated gases.\n\n4. A device for generating steam for power, processing, or heating purposes; or hot water for heating purposes or hot water supply. Heat from an external combustion source is transmitted to a fluid contained within the tubes found in the boiler shell. This fluid is delivered to an end-use at a desired pressure, temperature, and quality.\n\n5. Any enclosed combustion device that extracts useful energy in the form of steam. [40 CFR 60.611 (CFR 2013)] [40 CFR 60.611a (CFR 2024)] [40 CFR 60.561 (CFR 2013)]\n\n6. A vessel or tank where heat produced from the combustion of fuels such as natural gas, fuel oil, or coal is used to generate hot water or steam for applications ranging from building space heating to electric power production or industrial process heat.\n\n7. An enclosed device using controlled flame combustion in which water is heated to recover thermal energy in the form of steam and/or hot water. Controlled flame combustion refers to a steady-state, or near steady-state, process wherein fuel and/or oxidizer feed rates are controlled. A device combusting solid waste, as defined in § 241.3 of this chapter, is not a boiler unless the device is exempt from the definition of a solid waste incineration unit as provided in section 129(g)(1) of the Clean Air Act. Waste heat boilers, process heaters, and autoclaves are excluded from the definition of Boiler. [40 CFR 63.11237 (CFR 2013)] Enclosed device using controlled flame combustion and having the following characteristics: (1)(i) The unit must have physical provisions for recovering and exporting thermal energy in the form of steam, heated fluids, or heated gases; and (ii) The unit’s combustion chamber and primary energy recovery sections(s) must be of integral design. To be of integral design, the combustion chamber and the primary energy recovery section(s) (such as waterwalls and superheaters) must be physically formed into one manufactured or assembled unit. A unit in which the combustion chamber and the primary energy recovery section(s) are joined only and the primary energy recovery section.\n\n8. An enclosed device using controlled flame combustion and having the following characteristics:(1)(i) The unit must have physical provisions for recovering and exporting thermal energy in the form of steam, heated fluids, or heated gases; and(ii) The unit's combustion chamber and primary energy recovery sections(s) must be of integral design. To be of integral design, the combustion chamber and the primary energy recovery section(s) (such as waterwalls and superheaters) must be physically formed into one manufactured or assembled unit. A unit in which the combustion chamber and the primary energy recovery section(s) are joined only by ducts or connections carrying flue gas is not integrally designed; however, secondary energy recovery equipment (such as economizers or air preheaters) need not be physically formed into the same unit as the combustion chamber and the primary energy recovery section. The following units are not precluded from being boilers solely because they are not of integral design: process heaters (units that transfer energy directly to a process stream), and fluidized bed combustion units; and(iii) While in operation, the unit must maintain a thermal energy recovery efficiency of at least 60 percent, calculated in terms of the recovered energy compared with the thermal value of the fuel; and(iv) The unit must export and utilize at least 75 percent of the recovered energy, calculated on an annual basis. In this calculation, no credit shall be given for recovered heat used internally in the same unit. (Examples of internal use are the preheating of fuel or combustion air, and the driving of induced or forced draft fans or feedwater pumps); or(2) The unit is one which the Regional Administrator has determined, on a case-by-case basis, to be a boiler, after considering the standards in § 260.32 of this chapter. [40 CFR 372.3 (CFR 2013)]\n\n9. Enclosed combustion device that extracts useful energy in the form of steam and is not an incinerator. Boiler also means any industrial furnace as defined in 40 CFR 260.10.\n\n10. The unit is one which the Regional Administrator has determined, on a case-by-case basis, to be a boiler, after considering the standards in § 260.32.\n\n11. Any enclosed combustion device that extracts useful energy in the form of steam and is not an incinerator. [40 CFR 60.701 (CFR 2013)][40 CFR 63.1251 (CFR 2013)]\n\n12. Any enclosed combustion device that extracts useful energy in the form of steam and is not an incinerator or a process heater.\n\n13. Solid fuel burning appliance used primarily for heating spaces, other than the space where the appliance is located, by the distribution through pipes of a gas or fluid heated in the appliance. The appliance must be tested and listed as a boiler under accepted American or Canadian safety testing codes. A manufacturer may request an exemption in writing from the Administrator by stating why the testing and listing requirement is not practicable and by demonstrating that his appliance is otherwise a boiler.\n\n14. Any enclosed combustion device that extracts useful energy in the form of steam and is not an incinerator or a process heater. Boiler also means any industrial furnace as defined in 40 CFR 260.10.\n\n15. Enclosed fossil or other fuel-fired combustion device used to produce heat and to transfer heat to recirculating water, steam, or other medium. [40 CFR 97.2 (CFR 2013)]\n\n16. Enclosed device using controlled flame combustion in which water is heated to recover thermal energy in the form of steam and/or hot water. Controlled flame combustion refers to a steady-state, or near steady-state, process wherein fuel and/or oxidizer feed rates are controlled. A device combusting solid waste, as defined in § 241.3 of this chapter, is not a boiler unless the device is exempt from the definition of a solid waste incineration unit as provided in section 129(g)(1) of the Clean Air Act. Waste heat boilers, process heaters, and autoclaves are excluded from the definition of Boiler.\n\n17. Enclosed fossil- or other-fuel-fired combustion device used to produce heat and to transfer heat to recirculating water, steam, or other medium. [40 CFR 96.102 (CFR 2018)][40 CFR 96.202 (CFR 2018)][40 CFR 96.2 (CFR 2018)]\n\n18. Any enclosed combustion device that extracts useful energy in the form of steam. A boiler is not considered a thermal oxidizer.\n\n19. An enclosed device using controlled flame combustion and having the following characteristics: (i) The unit must have physical provisions for recovering and exporting thermal energy in the form of steam, heated fluids, or heated gases; and (ii) The unit's combustion chamber and primary energy recovery sections(s) must be of integral design. To be of integral design, the combustion chamber and the primary energy recovery section(s) (such as waterwalls and superheaters) must be physically formed into one manufactured or assembled unit. A unit in which the combustion chamber and the primary energy recovery section(s) are joined only by ducts or connections carrying flue gas is not integrally designed; however, secondary energy recovery equipment (such as economizers or air preheaters) need not be physically formed into the same unit as the combustion chamber and the primary energy recovery section. The following units are not precluded from being boilers solely because they are not of integral design: process heaters (units that transfer energy directly to a process stream), and fluidized bed combustion units; and (iii) While in operation, the unit must maintain a thermal energy recovery efficiency of at least 60 percent, calculated in terms of the recovered energy compared with the thermal value of the fuel; and (iv) The unit must export and utilize at least 75 percent of the recovered energy, calculated on an annual basis. In this calculation, no credit shall be given for recovered heat used internally in the same unit. (Examples of internal use are the preheating of fuel or combustion air, and the driving of induced or forced draft fans or feedwater pumps); or the unit is one which the Regional Administrator has determined, on a case-by-case basis, to be a boiler, after considering the standards in § 260.32 of this chapter.",
  "subject": "Chemicals, toxics and pesticides",
  "references": [
    "Top Green Home Terms",
    "Terms of Environment",
    "RCRA Orientation Manual 2008 Glossary",
    "DOE Energy Information Administration Glossary",
    "40 CFR 60.661 (CFR 2013)",
    "DOE Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Glossary of Energy-Related Terms",
    "Definition truncated. For full definition, see 40 CFR 260.10 (CFR 2020)",
    "40 CFR 260.10 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 63.101 (CFR 2024)",
    "40 CFR 63.1579 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 63.981 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 60.531 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 65.2 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 97.402 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 63.11237 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 96.302 (CFR 2018)",
    "40 CFR 63.441 (CFR 2018)",
    "40 CFR § 372.3"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/boiler/"
}