Boiler Blog | Nationwide Boiler Inc.

At Nationwide Boiler, we are known for our relationship with B&W as a partner and stocking distributor. The FM-120-124 B&W D-Type Package Watertube Boiler, also known as our “World Boiler”, is always in stock and has been sold to six of the seven continents in the world. In recent years, we have ramped up our stock boiler program to also include new Superior firetube boilers in a variety of configurations.

To start off, we added two specialized, factory integrated packages. These 47.5 hp and 119 hp skid-mounted package boilers are pre-piped and wired and include a duplex feedwater system and blowdown separator with after-cooler. The 47.5 hp boilers are pre-certified for use in the most stringent California air districts, while the 119 hp packages are PEER compatible for both the SCAQMD and SJVAPCD jurisdictions. Our 475 hp, 150 psi design Superior skid-mounted firetube boiler, equipped with a Webster 7ppm NOx burner, is also ideal for customers in the most stringent areas of California. All three of these systems are currently available from our shop in Fremont, CA. 

To round out our stock inventory of pacakge firetube boilers, we now have the following brand new Superior boilers available for quick ship and immediate needs: 

• 200 hp, 200 psig Skid-Mounted Firetube Boiler
• 300 hp, 250 psig Skid-Mounted Firetube Boiler
• 350 hp, 250 psig Skid-Mounted Firetube Boiler
• 700 hp, 250 psig Skid-Mounted Firetube Boiler
• 800 hp, 250 psig Skid-Mounted Firetube Boiler

These stock boilers are pre-built with the burner left purposely un-mounted to allow for greater flexibility in matching the unique fuel, emissions, and combustion needs of each customer. The burner can be quickly mounted prior to delivery or installed at the site, based on customer preference. The boilers are designed for indoor and outdoor applications, with most currently being stored at the manufacturing facility in Hutchison, KS. All units are now available for immediate shipment upon customer request.

We also have our very first, zero emissions electric boiler now available for rent or for sale. This boiler, built to provide 50 hp steam at a design pressure of 150 psig, is another one of our factory integrated units, with feedwater system and blowdown separator pre-piped and wired as a skid-package.

In addition to the new boilers that we purchase specifically for our stocking program, our fleet of rental boilers and auxiliary equipment range in size and in age. We are always open to providing a solution from our rental fleet as well, if the opportunity arises. Be sure to check out or complete inventory of boilers available for sale to find a unit that fits your unique needs. 

Please give us a call at 800-227-1966 if you have an immediate boiler need that can be fulfilled from our stock of brand new boilers, reconditioned boilers, or equipment from our rental fleet.

And check out our latest Steamlines newsletter, to find this article as well as other recent project highlights, equipment spotlights, and company updates.

To kick-off our ‘Boiler Basics 101’ series, we are starting at the very beginning. The extremely useful resource, produced by the commercial and industrial boilers that we rent, sell, service and maintain… that resource is steam.

Our business, and the boiler industry as a whole, revolves around steam. We provide boilers and related equipment for both temporary and permanent applications; equipment that works together to produce the valuable resource of steam, utilized in an abundance of processes across many different industries. So, what exactly is steam and what is it used for?

Let’s start with the chemical composition of steam. Water can exist in three physical states; solid, liquid, and vapor. These physical states, in more common terms, are referred to as ice, water, and steam. When water is heated at atmospheric pressure, its temperature rises until it reaches the highest temperature at which water can exist at this pressure. This temperature, 212F or 100C, is the saturation temperature, or boiling point. As water boils and temperature continues to increase, water particles begin to form small bubbles that rise to the surface and vaporize. This is how steam is formed.

Traditionally, steam was associated with locomotives and the Industrial Revolution. However, now steam is an integral part of modern-day technology. Not only is it an excellent source of energy and heat, but it is also sterile, which makes it ideal for use in the food, pharmaceutical, and health industries. Many other industries also utilize steam for processing, petroleum refining, utility and power, and manufacturing.

Steam has become an invaluable part of our world.  Without it, many of the advances and technologies in today’s time would not be as effective or efficient as they are now.

Stay tuned for the next article in our Boiler Basics 101 series to learn about the basic anatomy of a boiler system.

Boilers are designed to produce steam to accomplish a multitude of tasks; from powering a plant to sterilizing hospital equipment. In simple terms, a boiler is a closed container in which water is heated to its boiling point to produce usable steam. In order to produce steam, there are two key items that must be involved: water and heat.

A boiler is comprised of two seperate systems: the steam-water system (waterside), and the fuel-air-flue system (fireside). As you might have guessed, water is first introduced into the waterside of the boiler. Alternatively, the fireside of the boiler provides heat, produced through the combustion of fuel (commonly natural gas or fuel oil, but can be another source) and air, which is controlled by the burner.  The heat that is created within the fireside is transferred to the waterside to produce steam.

To complete a boiler system, additional elements are required. This typically includes the following major components:

•  Burner: a mechanical device that supplies the required fuel and air for proper combustion.
•  Controls: the BMS (burner management system) protects the equipment and personnel from safety issues.
      The CCS (combustion control system) controls the air and fuel for proper combustion.
•  Fan: supplies air for the combustion to take place.
•  Water Softener: pre-treats the boiler feedwater for removal of hardness, which would otherwise cause detrimental scale
   inside the boiler system.
•  Deaerator / Feedwater System: removes oxygen and gases from boiler feedwater supply (which will also damage boiler
  internals), and feeds it to the boiler system via high pressure feedwater pumps.

All of these elements come together to create a robust steam supply system that is utilized in an abundance of processes throughout many different industries. Boilers truly are a work of art, with many pieces working as one system to make something extremely powerful and impactful, which is why we at Nationwide Boiler are so passionate about what we do.

Stay tuned for the next article in ur Boiler Basics 101 series to learn more about common types of boiler systems.  

When we think about boilers, there are a two types that typically come to mind; firetube, or scotch marine, and watertube boilers. These types of boilers can be classified as hot water, steam, high pressure, and low pressure. In today’s blog post we will be answering the question: what are the basic differences between the different types of boilers?

Although their final function is the same, the main difference between a firetube and watertube boiler is the construction and design of each system. In a firetube boiler, water inside a vessel is surrounded by tubes that contain combustion gases. In other words, the ‘fire’ is inside the tubes, making it a ‘firetube’. Watertube boilers are essentially the opposite in design. Combustion gases surround a series of tubes that contain water, coining the name, watertube.

By definition, high pressure boilers are built to a maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) above 15 psig, while low pressure boilers are designed for operation at 15 psig or below. Low pressure boilers are most commonly utilized in heating applications and require less maintenance than that of a high pressure unit. Furthermore, firetube boilers can be built for both low and high pressure applications, while watertube boilers are typically built for high pressure needs.

Some may think that firetube and watertube boilers are in the same category as hot water and steam boilers. However, steam and hot water boilers are actually a classification, and can be considered a subcategory to firetube & watertube boilers.

Hot water and steam boilers operate in a very similar manner, but hot water boilers don’t actually produce steam. In reality, a hot water boiler is just a fuel fired hot water heater, in which heat is added to increase the temperature to a level below the boiling point. Hot water boilers are not as powerful as steam boilers, which is why they are more commonly used in heating applications providing hot water at 120 – 220F.

Steam boilers heat water to levels that are above boiling point, in order to produce steam. They are much more powerful and are utilized in more industrial and heavy-commercial applications. Steam boilers can be designed to produce either saturated or superheated steam, which we will discuss further on in a future post.  

Be it a firetube, watertube, hot water, or steam boiler, they are all effective and efficient in their own unique ways. To learn in more detail about the differences between boiler types, visit the section on our website, “What Boiler Is Best For You”.