Latent Heat Addition
Drum.
The drum itself a large cylindrical vessel that functions as the storage and feeding point for water and the collection point for water and steam mixture. This is the largest and most important pressure part in the boiler and weighs in the range 250 Tons for 600 MW power plant.
Water Walls
Boiling takes place in the ‘Water Walls’ which are water filled tubes that form the walls of the furnace. Water Walls get the water from the ‘downcomers’ which are large pipes connected to the drum. The downcomers and the water wall tubes form the two legs of a water column.
As the water heats up in the furnace a part of the water in the water-wall tubes becomes steam. This water steam mixture has a lower density than the water in the downcomers. This density difference creates a circulation of water from the drum, through the downcomers, water walls and back to the drum. Steam collects at the upper half of the drum. The steam is then sent to the next sections.
The temperature in the drum, downcomers and water wall is at the saturation temperature.