Locomotive boiler

A locomotive boiler has three main components: a double-walled firebox; a horizontal,

cylindrical "boiler barrel" containing a large number of small flue-tubes; and a smokebox
with chimney, for the exhaust gases. The boiler barrel contains larger flue-tubes to carry the
superheater elements, where present. Forced draught is provided in the locomotive boiler by
injecting exhausted steam back into the exhaust via a blast pipe in the smokebox.

Locomotive-type boilers are also used in traction engines, steam rollers, portable engines and
some other steam road vehicles. The inherent strength of the boiler means it is used as the
basis for the vehicle: all the other components, including the wheels, are mounted on brackets
attached to the boiler. It is rare to find superheaters designed into this type of boiler, and they
are generally much smaller (and simpler) than railway locomotive types.

The locomotive-type boiler is also a characteristic of the overtype steam wagon, the steam-
powered fore-runner of the truck. In this case, however, heavy girder frames make up the
load-bearing chassis of the vehicle, and the boiler is attached to this

Working of locomotive boiler

Fuel is place on the grate where it is burned to produce the hot gases. Fire hole is
used to feed the fuel. Hot gases which are produce as a result of fuel burning are
diverted into fire tube with the help of fire brick arch. Steam produce is collected is
the steam drum place at the top of the shell. As shown the wet steam goes through
inlet headers of super heater and after passing through tubes, it returns to the outlet
header of super heater and is taken out for steam engine. For the cleaning and
maintenance of the complete boiler a door is provided at the side of the smoke box.
Chimney is completely eliminated in locomotive boilers because they are always in
motion

Locomotive boiler is the horizontal fire tube boiler in which hot gases
pass through the tubes and water surrounds them. Transferred heat from the
gases to water and then converted into steam. It may also be used as a
stationary boiler. A locomotive boiler is the central part of the engine for any
steam-powered locomotive trainThe locomotive boiler consists of a cylindrical
barrel with a rectangular fire box at one end and a smoke box at the other end.
The fire box is entirely surrounded by water except for the fire hole and the ash
pit which is situated below the fire box which is fitted with dampers at its front
and back ends. Dampers control the flow of air to grate. The generated hot
gases pass from the fire box to the smoke box through a series of fire tubes and
then they are discharged into the atmosphere through the chimney. Fire tubes
are placed inside the barrel. Some of the tubes are of larger diameter and
some of the tubes are of smaller diameter. The superheater tubes are placed
inside the fire tubes of larger diameter. A dome shaped chamber known as
steam dome is fitted on the upper part of the barrel, from where the steam flows
through a steam pipe into the chamber. A regulator is also fitted here to regulate
the flow of steam. Superheated steam chamber is fitted to the right of the
chimney, which collects the superheated steam. Exhaust steam is discharged
through the blast pipe to the chimney from the cylinders.Dimensions and
Specifications of the locomotive boiler made at Chitranjan Works in India are
given below: Barrel Diameter --------------- 2.095m Length of the barrel ----------
5.206m Size of the tubes (superheater) 14cm No. of superheater tubes ----- 38
Size of ordinary tubes ---------- 5.72cm No. of ordinary tubes ----------- 116 Steam
Capacity ------------------- 9000 kg/h Working Pressure ---------------- 14 bar Grate
Area ------------------------- 4.27 m2 Heating Surface ------------------- 271 m2 Efficiency
--------------------------- 70% 26 Nov. 2013 10