The economizer functions primarily as a preheater for which fluid?

The economizer functions primarily as a preheater for which fluid?

• A. Feedwater.
• B. Condensate.
• C. Steam.
• D. Boiler water.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is energy recovery to improve boiler efficiency by preheating incoming water. An economizer sits in the boiler’s flue gas path and uses the hot exhaust to raise the temperature of the water that will enter the boiler, known as feedwater. Heating the feedwater before it goes into the boiler means the boiler has less work to do to bring it up to boiling and produce steam, which saves fuel and reduces losses in the exhaust. While condensate is often returned to the feedwater system, the economizer’s primary function is to preheat the feedwater itself, not the steam, boiler water, or condensate as the main purpose.

The main idea here is energy recovery to improve boiler efficiency by preheating incoming water. An economizer sits in the boiler’s flue gas path and uses the hot exhaust to raise the temperature of the water that will enter the boiler, known as feedwater. Heating the feedwater before it goes into the boiler means the boiler has less work to do to bring it up to boiling and produce steam, which saves fuel and reduces losses in the exhaust. While condensate is often returned to the feedwater system, the economizer’s primary function is to preheat the feedwater itself, not the steam, boiler water, or condensate as the main purpose.