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If you’re not sure what a boiler is, think of it as a large furnace. Inside
it is a box that burns fuel to heat up water to generate steam. Power plants often
generate steam in boilers to power the turbines that create electricity. Cogeneration,
which is found at some schools, is the process of capturing and reusing this steam
after it has been used to produce electricity.
Boilers come in a variety of ages and type (i.e., those that burn coal, oil
and/or natural gas). Sometimes natural gas is the primary fuel source, and sometimes
it is the backup fuel. Another important characteristic of boilers is their
rated heat input capacity. Size is also a factor, as larger boilers have the
potential to create more pollution than smaller ones.
To see how this information pertains to your campus power plant, proceed with
this section of the EVC tour. You’ll also learn more about environmental
laws, regulations and best practices associated with operating boilers in a
power plant.
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