When compared to ordinary water tube boilers, La Mont’s original designs demonstrated lighter, safer, and higher rates of heat transfer and evaporation per square foot. Additionally, the circulation of vaporized water was eight to ten times larger at a differential pressure of 2.5 bar.
It took a La Mont Boiler fifteen to twenty minutes to reach an evaporation rate of one hundred thousand pounds per hour. The U.S. Navy primarily depended on Babcock & Wilcox boilers, which were widely utilized at the time, during World War II.
Well, in this reading, I’ll be exploring what Lamont Boiler is, its Application, diagram, parts, advantages and disadvantages & how it’s work.
Let’s Get Started!
What Is Lamont Boiler?
A Lamont boiler is a high-pressure, forced-circulation water tube boiler used for power generation, it is known for its efficiency and compact design. Invented by the American engineer and physicist. Walter Douglas La-Mont in the early 1920s, this boiler design revolutionized the efficiency and safety of steam production.
Its unique characteristics, such as forced circulation and a once-through water-tube design, set it apart from traditional boilers of its time. One kind of forced circulation water-tube boiler used to generate high-pressure steam is the Lamont boiler.
Its distinctive design includes a large water and steam-filled drum as well as a pump that moves water via tubes. This design is appropriate for industrial applications demanding high-pressure and high-temperature steam because it allows for effective heat transmission and quick steam generation.
Lamont boilers are versatile tools suitable for heavy industries, maritime applications, and steam-driven turbines due to their small design and effectiveness.
They are commonly used in power stations, ships, and industrial facilities where high pressure steam is required, including petrochemical and chemical industries.
How Does Lamont Boiler Works?
Through the use of a centrifugal pump, the Lamont boiler runs on the forced circulation of water through the boiler. It operates as a high-pressure boiler, usually operating at pressures more than 170 bar and temperatures as high as 773 K.
The working principle of the Lamont Boiler can be described as follows: Radiant evaporation, steam separation, saturated steam production, feed water supply, superheating, economizer, centrifugal pump circulation, combustion chamber.
Radiant Evaporation: Within the radiant evaporator, a significant portion of the water is converted into steam as it absorbs heat.
Steam Separation: After passing through the economizer, the water enters a steam separator device, where the separation of steam and water takes place.
Saturated Steam Production: The remaining water undergoes further transformation into saturated steam. This saturated steam is directed back to the separator drum to separate steam and water.
Feed water Supply: The process begins with the supply of water from a large water tank to the feed pump.
Superheating: Following the separation process, the steam is sent to the super heater, where it is further heated to achieve higher temperatures. This superheated steam can then be used for various applications, including electricity generation and more.
Economizer: From the feed pump, the water is directed into the economizer. This component increases the boiler’s efficiency by preheating the water if heat is available before it enters the combustion chamber.
Centrifugal Pump Circulation: The separated water is then circulated by a centrifugal pump from the separator drum. A distributor header is in place to control the water level as it enters the boiler.
Combustion Chamber: Upon entering the combustion chamber, the water is surrounded by flue gases, initiating the heating process.
The Lamont Boiler is a system that includes various components such as a blower, feed pump, grate, economizer, circulating pump, distributing header, radiant evaporator, convective evaporator, steam-separating drum, super heater, air preheater, and combustion chamber.
The blower draws in air and directs it to the air preheater. The feed pump supplies feed water and increases its pressure to facilitate entry into the boiler. The grate introduces coal for combustion in the combustion chamber.
The economizer preheats water using residual heat from flue gases generated in the combustion chamber. The circulating pump, operated by a turbine, draws steam from the boiler and water from the steam-separating drum, directing it to the distributing header leading to the radiant evaporator section. The distributing header facilitates the distribution of water or steam within the system.
The radiant evaporator transforms water from liquid to saturated liquid and saturated steam, driven by heat generated from fuel combustion. The convective evaporator completes the saturation of water into saturated steam.
The steam-separating drum separates steam from water, directing it to the super heater. The super heater increases the temperature of the steam by supplying additional heat, making it suitable for driving turbine blades. The air preheater preheats incoming air before delivering it to the combustion chamber.
The Lamont Boiler offers quick start-up, outstanding steam production, and a simple design. Its excellent fuel economy saves energy and requires minimal maintenance, lowering operating expenses.
However, it may not be suitable for low-pressure or small-scale steam generating applications due to its large capacity and high pressure design. The boiler’s intricate design raises production and maintenance costs, and it requires a high water flow rate, which may be difficult to provide in certain situations. Additionally, its limited pressure capabilities render it inappropriate for high-pressure steam applications.
