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Boiler efficiency without Capex

Steam users - cut your fuel bills without Capex

Any organisation operating steam boiler plant will be only too painfully aware of the rise in fuel prices, both natural gas and light fuel oil. Indicators are that these prices will not come down in the foreseeable future, and most plant engineers will already have been set the task of reducing fuel usage by their directors.

“..boilers over 15 years old should be replaced”

A spokesman for Future Energy Solutions has advised that boilers over 15 years old should be replaced with new, as efficiency drops over the life span of even a well maintained boiler. Also, new manufacturing techniques and insulation materials ensure that today’s boilers are more efficient than those available 15-20 years ago. Combine a new boiler with the latest burner and control technology, and the chances are that you will see a marked reduction in fuel bills. To find out how much fuel you could save, the Carbon Trust will carry out a free energy survey, see www.thecarbontrust.co.uk for details.

Costs less than you think

Many companies are not in the position to commit to capital expenditure for plant with a 20 year life span, so replacing the old boilers is out of the question. Or is it? HP finance is often considered the only alternative, but in fact monthly operating lease payments will be much less. These leases are in reality long term rental, as ownership of the plant remains with the lease company. Unlike HP, though, the payments are 100% tax deductible and the boiler will come with full service back up. Weigh the fuel savings against the monthly payments, and you will find that new boiler plant costs less than you think.

A perfect match

Are the boilers that you are running the ideal size for your requirements? Chances are that the older the boilers are, the less they match the steam requirements of your process. Oversized boilers are obviously inefficient, and undersized boilers will cause costly operational problems. Although the life span of boiler plant may be 20 years, the number of years that it is totally suitable for your demand is probably around 5. A rental agreement of 3 to 5 years gives you the opportunity to change to a more suitable specification at the end of the term. This way your boiler plant will be a more perfect match to your demand.

Relocation, relocation, relocation

Depending on site logistics, the boiler plant can be supplied in a number of ways. If access permits the boiler can be installed in the traditional way in the existing boiler house. However more and more engineers are opting for the packaged boiler house. The boiler and all ancillary equipment are fully installed, at the manufacturers, in a purpose built portable boiler house. Once positioned on site, the connection is quick and simple with minimum disruption. If the possibility of relocation of your production processes is not out of the question then this is a most flexible option.

Trial period
Emergency mobile hire boilers, after their inception by Byworth Boilers in the early 1980’s, have proved invaluable for getting out of situations where boilers have broken down or been condemned by the insurance inspector. They are also ideal for short or prolonged periods of extra demand. You can often get a very good deal on a long term hire period too. To ensure optimum efficiency and suitability the best advice would be to have the plant manufactured to your particular specification. However if the decision makers still need convincing, why not arrange to hire a boiler unit, perhaps with a dual fuel burner to monitor running costs on oil or gas? Do ensure that the boiler is relatively new, with modern control equipment otherwise efficiency will be compromised.

Conclusion
A lease boiler may help reduce fuel bills without capital expenditure. Get expert advice before making any decisions and investigate all financial options. Most importantly, remember that running costs for boiler plant far outweigh the initial purchase price, so always take the running costs of you old plant into consideration.

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Boiler efficiency without Capex