Boiler Heat Balance Sheet — What Does It Show? In a standard boiler heat balance sheet for 1 kg of dry fuel, what information is recorded and balanced?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: all of the above

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
A boiler heat balance sheet itemizes how the energy released by fuel combustion is distributed among useful steam generation and various losses. It is a key tool for diagnosing performance and planning improvements such as better insulation, air preheating, or excess-air control.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Basis: 1 kg of dry fuel (unless otherwise stated).
  • Standard enthalpy references for steam, feedwater, dry flue gas, and moisture.
  • Measured flue-gas composition and temperatures to estimate stack loss.


Concept / Approach:
The sheet accounts for total heat released and allocates it to: heat in steam (useful), dry flue-gas loss, moisture in fuel, water formed from hydrogen (latent plus sensible), unburnt losses, radiation and unaccounted losses. Moisture and hydrogen content are explicitly included because they impose a significant latent heat penalty as water is evaporated and superheated in the products.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Compute total heat input from lower heating value (or higher, as specified).Calculate useful output: enthalpy rise of steam above feedwater conditions.Itemize losses: stack (sensible), latent due to moisture in fuel and water from hydrogen, radiation/unaccounted, unburnt.Ensure balance closure: input equals useful output plus losses.


Verification / Alternative check:
Cross-check closure error; a small difference indicates reliable measurements and assumptions.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options (a), (b), and (c) are all true features of a heat balance sheet; therefore 'all of the above' is correct.


Common Pitfalls:
Ignoring hydrogen-to-water conversion, which can cause substantial latent heat loss under high excess air.Confusing basis (dry vs as-fired) and miscounting moisture contributions.


Final Answer:
all of the above

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