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Abstract

This paper presents a review of the significance of feed water temperature on the health of the steam boiler. Feed water temperature was identified as one of the main parameters that influence the health of the steam boiler due to its strong correlation to performance. This review is influenced by the fact that considerable knowledge abounds in research work about the effect of feed water temperature on the health of steam boilers but they are scattered. In this review an attempt is made to assemble the information in a compact manner to call attention to the importance of feed water temperature in relation to the health of steam boilers to assist in boiler design and maintenance by engineers and technicians. The effect of other factors, examples; quality of feed water on boiler performance have also been captured in this review. From the study, a minimum increase in boiler feed water temperature is recognized as a progression to improve the steam boiler efficiency (a minimum rise in boiler feed water temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius is estimated to improve boiler efficiency by 3 to 4 per cent). By using deaerators whose main purpose is to remove dissolved gases in the feed water and in the process increasing quality of the feed water and its temperature, we succeed in reducing the temperature gradient between the feed water and its tubes resulting in reduction of thermal fatigue and shocks in the alloyed steel walls. This improves the health of the steam boiler.