Optimization of steam boiler design

Abstract As energy and equipment costs increase, optimal production of steam becomes economically more important in the industry. In this investigation, a linear programming model has been developed to optimize the performance of a steam boiler by minimizing its total life-cycle costs. For different types of fuel, costs of fuel, investment, and production of steam, the model predicts the optimal size of the entire steam boiler and its parts. Investigations show that this approach may maximally yield savings of up to 30 per cent.