This article provides all you will need to know about boiler rentals and their importance.
You will learn:
Boiler rental is a service that is offered by boiler manufacturers to assist customers in times of emergency, high usage, or as a cost effective permanent solution. Every type and size of boiler is available for rental from ones on pallets that can be maneuvered by a forklift to room sized full service boilers. Rental providers make the process easy, quick, and effortless by having a rental boiler up and operating in less than 48 hours.
Situations that necessitate the use of a rental boiler vary and include replacing an old boiler, a temporary solution during boiler replacement, or when the demands on a boiler greatly increase. For over half a century, boiler manufacturers have extended their business to assist clients who are in immediate need of a boiler during repairs, emergency breakdowns, or when a client’s business is rapidly expanding. Boiler rental is a convenient and efficient method that offers boiler customers high quality boilers in special and unique situations.
If a company is experiencing boiler failure or their system is operating inefficiently and causing a financial hardship, they begin looking for alternate solutions to resolve their issues. In many cases, customers immediately assume that they need to purchase a new boiler to replace their old one. Although this is a viable solution, rental boilers make it possible to consider all the possibilities while having a highly efficient and effective boiler on hand.
The four factors that necessitate the renting of a boiler are supplemental capacity, emergency situations, planned outages, and budgetary concerns. All boiler manufacturers are aware of the difficulties associated with a boiler when it breaks down and provide plans to meet the immediate needs of their customers. Rental plans go into action when any of the four factors arise.
During certain times of the year or high demand periods, companies may require the use of increased boiler capacity to meet the increased demand. The many types of rental boilers are designed to provide an immediate response to such conditions with high quality durable boilers. In most cases, a rental boiler can be installed in less than 48 hours and be fully operational. In other situations, companies may keep a rental boiler on hand to provide supplemental capacity that is readily available.
The number of emergency situations covers a spectrum of conditions that include natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes, flooding, or equipment failure. In many cases, boiler users are caught in a bind and need guidance in regard to filling the gap left by inoperative equipment. Additionally, every emergency situation is unique to a client who is left without answers. It is these conditions that are ideal for boiler rental.
Regardless of high-quality maintenance and adequate monitoring, every facility is going to experience downtime. It is one of the inevitabilities of operating heavy-duty equipment. As the term emergency implies, no one can predict when things will demand immediate attention or malfunction. In those conditions, boiler rentals provided by certified boiler manufacturers are the solution. Within a short period of time, manufacturers can have a rented boiler in place operating at full power.
Boiler breakdowns or maintenance can lead to significant downtime, affecting production schedules and operational efficiency. Renting an industrial boiler ensures continuity by providing a temporary replacement during repair or maintenance work. This minimizes downtime and ensures that essential processes can continue uninterrupted, preventing potential financial loss and maintaining customer satisfaction.
Renting a boiler can be a cost-effective solution compared to purchasing and maintaining a boiler system outright. When renting, companies avoid upfront capital investments, installation costs, and ongoing maintenance expenses. They can allocate their financial resources more efficiently and use the rental expenses as operational costs, providing greater financial flexibility.
A boiler is a tightly closed piece of equipment that heats water or other liquids to generate steam or vapors, which leave the boiler to provide heat, generate power for machinery, or perform other tasks. There are several different types of boilers depending on their use that vary from residential boilers to industrial boilers that power production and manufacturing operations.
All boilers operate using the same principles regardless of the job they are to perform. Rental industrial boilers are carefully engineered in order to perform efficiently and produce a massive amount of heat for running production processes. Depending on the fuel they use, rental industrial boilers can be environmentally friendly and can be a cost saving method for avoiding the use of electrical energy for production operations.
Although electrical energy is an efficient method for powering homes and home appliances, it becomes exceptionally expensive when powering manufacturing and assembly operations due to the large scale of energy required to operate industrial machinery. Rental boilers provide the necessary efficiency to keep costs down and have fewer handling issues. Technologically advanced rental boilers of the 21st Century are used to generate heat and provide pressurized steam to operate machinery.
The components of boilers are the same regardless of the type of boiler. There are differences in the types of fuel, the liquids used, and the configuration of the boiler. These differences assist in improving the efficiency of a boiler and its type of emissions.
The basic parts of a boiler are its burner, combustion chamber, heat exchanger, and steam and mud drum.
The burner starts the combustion inside the boiler and pushes heat into the boiler. The nozzle on the burner ignites the burner using fuel supplied by the fuel source.
The combustion chamber, made of cast iron, burns the fuel to generate heat that is transferred to the heat exchanger.
The heat exchanger or economizer is the key component of a boiler that transfers the heat from the combustion chamber to a liquid that is contained in pipes that pass through the combustion chamber.
The steam drum is located at the top of the boiler and is half full of water. Tubes from the boiler are connected to the steam drum and allow heated water to enter the drum. Steam is collected in the steam drum and sent out to power turbines and steam operated equipment. They are made of high carbon steel of varying thicknesses depending on the pressure at which the boiler operates.
The mud drum is connected by tubes to the steam drum and is always full of water. It is referred to as the mud drum due to the fact that it collects impurities from the water in the water from the steam drum. The collected sediment is removed by a process referred to as blow down, which removes the sediment from the mud drum.
The type of rental boiler that a customer requires depends on their production requirements and the use of the boiler. The classifications of boilers are based on the amount of pressure they create, their capacity to hold fuel and water, and the type of fuel.
An understanding of the classifications of boilers can assist in making the proper selection of a boiler for a process or operation. Each type of rental boiler has its advantages and drawbacks. The correct selection can ensure that the boiler performs to the requirements of a client and is the most efficient.
The rental agreement for a boiler is in the same form as any other type of equipment agreement. It stipulates the responsibilities of both parties as well as oversight and management of the boiler. Rental boilers can be maintained by onsite professional staff or the rental company. The most important aspect of the process that has to be closely supervised is the type of boiler, which can vary by horsepower, steam pressure, fuel, piping, and construction. Boiler manufacturers that rent boilers have experts and consultants to guide clients through the rental process, and the agreement to ensure the proper boiler is used.
Watertube boilers generate steam or hot water for diverse applications. In contrast to firetube boilers, where hot gases flow through the tubes while surrounded by water, watertube boilers circulate water within the tubes while hot gases pass around them. This innovative design enables enhanced efficiency and accelerated steam generation, particularly in large-scale industrial environments. The operation of watertube boilers involves transferring heat from combustion to the tubes filled with water, subsequently converting it into steam or hot water. These resources are used in processes like power generation and heating systems.
Skid mounted rental boilers are used in locations where space is a concern. The complete system is placed on a skid, which makes skid mounted rental boilers easy to maneuver. They come without an enclosure for easy access. Skid mounted rental boilers have NEMA 4 panels, controls, and wiring but require users to provide feedwater or chemical treatment systems.
Similar to a mobile boiler room, but much more mobile, is a trailer mounted boiler. They are secured to a specially engineered trailer that can be parked and installed anywhere. Trailer mounted boilers deliver reliable, portable steam and hot water quickly to make steam delivery fast and easy. Being mounted on a trailer removes the need for loading and unloading of the boiler to save time and money. With easy access to connection points and a user intuitive control system, a trailer mounted boiler can be up and operating in very little time.
Mobile boiler rooms are a packaged boiler plant that has all of the necessary connections for easy access to the boiler. They can be sized to fit any conditions with horsepower that ranges from 10 HP up to 1000 HP and have a deaerator, blowdown separator, and chemical feed system. Additional features can be added to meet the needs of an application. Mobile boiler rooms meet all ASME specifications and have reduced permit requirements.
Hot oil boilers use synthetic oil based fluids as heat carriers. The oil is heated and cooled like any other heating fluid as it passes through the system. Since water requires a very high operating pressure, it is not always suitable for operating conditions. Hot oil boilers are a good replacement when high temperature process output is required. They operate at up to 650°F (353.3°C) with pressures up to 450 psi. Hot oil boilers can be skid mounted or placed in enclosures.
Electric rental boilers are environmentally friendly emission free boilers that do not require stack gases and combustion air. They are normally used in areas where there are strict regulations in regard to boiler emissions. Electric rental boilers are highly efficient and have a voltage range of 200V up to 600V and horsepower of 26HP up to 400HP. They can be skid mounted for indoor installation or be placed in an enclosure for outdoor use.
The planning for the use of a rental boiler can be somewhat overwhelming, especially if it is the first time. For the success of the installation of a rental boiler, careful planning is necessary, which is assisted by the manufacturer. Sites that have never had a rental boiler may have issues that need to be addressed prior to boiler installation.
The first step in the process is determining the location of the rental boiler. Mobile boilers, such as trailer mounted and mobile boiler rooms, require more space while skid mounted boilers are more compact and easier to install. Boilers have to be installed on level ground that is capable of supporting the weight of the boiler and be within six inches of level.
For safety considerations, fencing should be placed around the boiler with sufficient distance to allow easy access. When installing a rental boiler, the amount of noise produced should be kept to a minimum, when possible, in difference to people in the area. Portable steam silencers are an added feature that can assist in suppressing any noise.
As part of the planning process, connections should be checked and mapped. Each type of rental boiler requires a different set of connections with smaller units having lesser requirements while large units will require stack hats, safety valves, non-return valves, and steam valves. As an extra measure of planning, any accessories should be accounted for and included in the planning.
Once all of the various factors have been installed, tightened, and secured, the boiler should be started and checked for any errors, leaks, or other potential difficulties. This is the final test of the process and guarantees efficient performance. Certified boiler rental companies insist on the completion of this part of the process to avoid errors and to ensure the safety of customers.
Rental boilers are an alternative source of power and heat that help businesses to continue to run when something goes wrong with their boiler, or there is a problem. Boiler manufacturers have a wide range of boilers that fit into any situation or environment. Representatives carefully examine the conditions where a boiler is required and choose the one boiler that can meet the parameters and requirements.
In the over sixty years that Indeck has been in business, the company has delivered rental boilers all over the United States. Known for their fast delivery and exceptional customer service, Indeck has the largest inventory of boilers in the world with ones that can provide periodic capacity increases, coverage for scheduled maintenance, emergency outages, and backup during equipment installation. The company’s list of rental boilers includes superheat and saturated steam models and all-inclusive mobile boiler rooms that function like a complete boiler system.
Power Mechanical has over 100 portable boilers in a variety of capacities, pressures, and configurations. An essential part of their customer service is providing fast, safe connections matched with a wide selection of optional accessories to meet specific situations and needs. Power Mechanical is aware that the need for a rental boiler is normally associated with an unplanned event. The company’s expertise in those conditions gives them an advantage in providing the right service on time with equipment that provides outstanding performance.
Wabash is a highly regarded boiler rental company with a large inventory of temporary boilers immediately available for rental. As a part of their service, Wabash offers personnel and expertise to keep the company’s rental boilers operating. Wabash provides 24 hour service with on duty emergency technicians. A special service that Wabash Power offers is guaranteed delivery of a boiler regardless of its size. The company backs this up with their company owned boiler rail car to prevent delays due to the unavailability of rail cars. The world wide service of Wabash is provided by cargo planes that can deliver any size boiler anywhere in the world.
Nationwide Boiler offers mobile boiler rooms from 47 hp up to 1000 hp and trailer mounted rental boilers from 30,000 to 125,000 lb/hr, and skid mounted boilers up to 200,000 lb/hr. The company offers low and ultra-low NOx boilers and electric boilers for zero emissions. Nationwide boilers fire on natural gas, oil, and hydrogen blended fuels to eliminate emissions produced by fossil fuels. The company’s fleet of mobile boilers offers all types of capacities and emissions output. Nationwide is certain they have the right boiler to fit any and all circumstances.
Smith Hughes is a nationwide supplier of boilers that rents hot water, steam and oil boilers and thermal fluid heaters. The company replaces or repairs existing systems and offers rental packages that perfectly fits the economic requirements of their customers. Rentals by Smith Hughes include mobile boiler rooms, skid mounted boilers, and boiler trailers with 24 hour emergency service for installation and start up services. One of the factors that the company stresses is their ability to compete with any boiler rental company in the rental boiler market due to their availability and exceptional customer service.
The guidelines for boiler rental have been developed by the Rental Boiler Group of the American Boiler Manufacturers Association (ABMA) to offer information to boiler rental customers. Manufacturers who are members of ABMA adhere to the rental boiler guidelines regarding safety, efficiency, and reliability. It is essential that customers carefully examine all aspects of renting, operating, and using rental boilers.
The convenience and availability of rental boilers as well as the exceptional customer service makes renting a boiler a highly attractive and problem solving choice. As with any business decision, there are positive aspects and negative ones that have to be weighed against each other in order to make the proper choice in regard to finances and productivity.
There are numerous reasons to rent a boiler including unplanned stoppage of work and the need to repair the present boiler. In the case of emergency situations, there is a pressing need to find an immediate and viable solution while other circumstances allow time for careful consideration and planning.
The cost of renting a boiler can be substantial and include multiple factors beyond the rental fees. Boiler rental and the rental of auxiliary equipment can range between a few hundred dollars up to thousands of dollars depending on the size of the boiler and conditions regarding installation. Skid mounted rental boilers have an additional cost of loading and unloading of the boiler. The freight delivery cost is the responsibility of the customer and is added as a handling fee.
Additional costs associated with boiler rentals can include connecting the boiler, local ordinance fees, inspection of the boiler, and technicians to operate and start up the boiler. These aspects of the process fluctuate in accordance with the expertise and skill of the customer renting the boiler.
One of the factors to consider when renting a boiler is the age of the equipment and how long it has been in use. During the contract negotiation process, boiler rental companies provide customers with the background of the boiler to be rented. A potential error in the process is to choose to rent a boiler at a lower cost due to it being out of date and technologically behind the times. The key factor here is the reliability of the boiler rental company. An examination of a company’s track record, their type of service, and the equipment they have available can give a clear picture of the equipment they offer.
In the boiler rental market, the vast majority of companies are highly reliable, certified dealers that have the needs of their customers at the heart of their business. They are trained professionals that provide a service and guidance at a critical time. It is essential that customers do a thorough research of the credentials and qualifications of a rental company before proceeding with a rental.
There is a wide selection of boilers that are available for rental each of which can provide the necessary power and heat that is required. When renting a boiler, it is important to realize that every set of conditions is unique. The concept of one size fits all does not apply in boiler rental.
The two basic types of boilers are watertube and firetube. The difference between the two is how the liquid in the boiler is heated. With watertube boilers, liquid is heated in tubes that are surrounded by combustion. Firetube boilers have a set of tubes with each type of tube design having a certain number of passes. The liquid to be heated surrounds the heated tubes.
Each of the factors regarding the types of boilers are clearly laid out by the rental company that surveys and examines the conditions where the boiler will be located in order to choose the right equipment for the job. To avoid problems and errors, it is important to use the expertise of a boiler technician when making the choice of a rental boiler.
Emissions are a problem depending on the part of the country where the rental boiler will be installed, and the type of fuel a boiler uses. Electric boilers do not produce emissions, which makes them a logical choice where air quality is an issue. Boilers that burn some form of fuel can emit pollutants but modern technologically advanced boilers have design elements that control or eliminate emissions. Emissions from a boiler can be a major deterrent when selecting a rental boiler and should be carefully considered.
The operation of a rented industrial boiler is going to produce noise, which is generated by various components of the boiler. The effects of the noise from a rented boiler are relevant depending on the location of the boiler. Manufacturing facilities located close to residential areas can be a concern and create difficulties with a customer’s neighbors. The types of noises produced by a rental boiler include blower noises from vibration of the blower’s fan and pump noise. Each of these factors can be controlled, if necessary. Industrial operations in industrial parks or remote areas may not be concerned about noise.
The essential factor to be considered when making the determination to rent a boiler is the benefits to be garnered. There are naysayers that promote the idea that rental boilers are old junk. This may have been true in the early days of boiler rental but has drastically changed over the last forty years. Certified boiler manufacturers provide high quality boilers for rental as a service and to promote their products. Although there are aspects of the process that need to be carefully considered, modern day, 21st century boiler rentals are a viable and cost effective solution.
A high pressure boiler is a shell and tube heat exchanger that use boiled water to create steam or high pressure hot water. Using water filled tubes in a metal tank or enclosure, they create power by converting water into steam through thermal energy, which is used...
A steam boiler is a steam producing heating system. It creates energy by heating water to get steam. It is a heat exchanger that makes steam for outside usage and has a combustion chamber and water container. The several varieties of steam boilers include...
A conveyor oven is a continuous flow oven; it‘s an oven that is open on opposing sides and has a conveying system running from one end of the oven to the other. Designed like a batch oven, conveyor ovens have the additional benefit of keeping products moving while providing continuous and uniform heat...
A furnace is a direct fired device used to provide heat for industrial processes that require heat in excess of 400° C (752° F). Any industrial application that relies on heat to create a reaction or heat materials for production uses an industrial furnace...
A curing oven is thermal processing equipment used by thermal specialists to improve or enhance the strength and durability of materials. Many factory processes such as baking, drying, heating, cooking, and curing require...
An industrial oven is a device used to create extremely high temperatures to heat treat parts, condition metals, and cure metal coatings. Common functions for industrial ovens include drying, curing, testing, and coating of parts and products...
An infrared oven is an oven that heats objects or cooks food using infrared radiation instead of conventional conduction or convection heating. People can use infrared ovens in commercial kitchens, homes, or...
A normal function of an industrial furnace is to heat treat metals for annealing, tempering, or carburizing and pre-treat materials for forging. Though metal is a common material to be treated using an industrial furnace, other materials are also...
Industrial ovens are thermal processing machines used as heating chambers for drying, curing, and baking of foods, parts, and components. The main industries that use industrial ovens are chemical and food processing and electronics manufacturing...