Oct . 22, 2025 15:20 Back to list

Types of Coal Fired Steam Boiler | Efficient, Low-Cost

Types Of Coal Fired Steam Boiler

If you work around heat, steam, or process lines, you quickly learn that not all coal units are created equal. In fact, the field splits into three practical families—chain grate, reciprocating grate, and hand-fired—each with its own rhythm, price band, and maintenance personality. Below is what I’ve seen on factory floors and in plant rooms, with a focus on the widely specified coal-fired steam boiler line made in No.2 Suheng North Street, Raoyang County, Hengshui City.

Industry trend snapshot

Three things dominate the conversation now: higher efficiency add-ons (economizers/air preheaters), cleaner stacks (bag filters or ESPs; low-NOx burners), and flexibility—co-firing biomass or handling mixed coal (lignite, bituminous, anthracite, even gangue). Many customers say they want “coal robustness with gas-like control,” which, to be honest, is a tall order—but PLC controls and VFD fans are getting it close.

Core specs (typical)

Parameter	Value (≈, real-world use may vary)
Rated steam capacity	0.5–200 t/h
Working pressure	0.7–2.5 MPa
Steam temperature	Saturated or superheated 170–400°C
Grate types	Chain grate, reciprocating grate, hand-fired
Fuels	Lignite, bituminous, anthracite, gangue
Thermal efficiency	≈82–90% with economizer
Materials	Drum: ASTM A516 Gr.70; Tubes: SA-210/SA-192
Controls	PLC/HMI, VFD fans, O2 trim (optional)

Where each type shines

Types Of Coal Fired Steam Boiler (chain grate): best for steady industrial loads—textile dyeing, food steaming, paper drying. Auto coal feed, decent turndown.
Types Of Coal Fired Steam Boiler (reciprocating grate): handles variable fuels and higher ash; popular in agro-processing and mixed-coal regions.
Types Of Coal Fired Steam Boiler (hand-fired): low CAPEX, small capacities, rural heat or small workshops; more operator skill required.

Typical emissions with right kit: NOx ≈ 150–260 mg/Nm³, dust ≤ 20–30 mg/Nm³ with baghouse, SO2 depends on coal sulfur plus desulfurization. I’ve seen economizers shave 5–8% off coal use—surprisingly consistent across sites.

Process, testing, lifespan

Materials cut and formed, then SAW/GMAW welding with WPQ per ASME IX; NDE (UT/PT/RT) per ASME V; hydrotest at ≈1.5× design pressure (ASME I). Fire test and controls FAT before shipment. Service life? Around 15–25 years with proper water treatment and routine sootblowing.

Customization menu

Chain vs. reciprocating grate, wet or dry ash removal, economizer/air preheater, bag filter or ESP, O2 trim, remote monitoring, start-up oil/gas gun (optional), and fuel prep (stoker size, moisture strategy). Certifications often requested: ASME Section I, CE/PED, ISO 9001, IBR for India.

Vendor comparison (indicative)

Vendor	Capacity	Efficiency	Certs	Lead time	After-sales
HZ (Hengshui)	0.5–200 t/h	≈85–90% with economizer	ASME/ISO/CE (project-based)	≈45–90 days	Regional service + remote
Vendor B (global)	1–150 t/h	≈84–88%	ASME/EN/ISO	≈90–150 days	Global network
Vendor C (local fab)	0.5–20 t/h	≈80–85%	ISO, local codes	≈30–60 days	On-call, limited spares

Field notes, cases, and feedback

Textile mill (Malaysia): 15 t/h chain-grate, baghouse + economizer; coal cut ≈7%, dust
District heating (Eastern Europe): 35 t/h reciprocating grate; stable on mixed coal, NOx ≈ 200 mg/Nm³ with staged air.
Customer notes: “Steam response is predictable,” “ash handling finally… manageable,” and “spares availability matters more than we thought.” I guess that last one is universal.

Bottom line: pick chain grate for steady industrial duty, reciprocating for fuel variability, hand-fired for small budgets. Validate against ASME/EN/IBR as required, and don’t skip water treatment—service life depends on it.