Steam Boilers
Steam boilers produce steam for heating and industrial applications. They may be gas, oil, or electric powered and are constructed from copper, iron, or steel. Steam boilers are used for a wide range of heating purposes.
Steam boilers may be used to produce steam for pharmaceutical manufacturing, microbreweries, and bakeries. For these kinds of applications, the most common type of boiler is an electric boiler made of stainless steel.
Large buildings such as factories and warehouses are heated through the used of steam heating. The boilers used in this type of application are usually powered by natural gas, although oil-fired versions are available particularly for areas where natural gas is less plentiful.
One specialized type of steam boiler is known as a superheated steam boiler. While most boilers only heat water to its boiling point, superheated boilers will boil water and then further heat the steam beyond its boiling point. This allows heat to be extracted from the steam without forming condensation that could potentially damage pipes and metal parts. Superheated steam has its own safety concerns, however, as any leak of superheated steam could cause serious harm to people in the area.