To calculate the heating surface area of a fire-tube boiler, you typically need additional information beyond just the capacity, operating pressure, and fuel. The heating surface area is influenced by factors such as the design of the boiler, the number and size of the tubes, and the heat transfer characteristics of the specific boiler configuration. However, I can provide you with a general guideline to estimate the heating surface area based on the boiler capacity.
The heating surface area of a fire-tube boiler is commonly expressed in terms of square feet or square meters. A rough approximation is to use a ratio of 5 square feet of heating surface area per boiler horsepower (1 boiler horsepower = 34.5 pounds of steam per hour). This ratio is a rule of thumb and can vary depending on the specific design and type of fire-tube boiler.
To calculate the estimated heating surface area, you can follow these steps:
Determine the boiler capacity: Convert the capacity to boiler horsepower (BHP) if it's not already provided. If the capacity is given in terms of pounds of steam per hour, divide it by 34.5 to get the equivalent boiler horsepower.
Multiply the boiler capacity in BHP by the ratio of 5 square feet per BHP. This will give you an estimate of the heating surface area in square feet.
If you prefer to use square meters, you can convert the square feet value to square meters by multiplying by the conversion factor (1 square meter = 10.764 square feet).
It's important to note that this method provides a rough estimate and may not be accurate for all types of fire-tube boilers. For more precise calculations, it is recommended to consult the boiler manufacturer's specifications or consult an engineering professional experienced in boiler design.