The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Overview

Boilers use the chemical energy in fuel to raise the energy content of water so that it can be used for heating or to drive turbines or other rotating equipment. There are many different types and sizes of boilers commercially available that burn a wide variety of fuels. The selection of a boiler is dependent on the characteristics of the available fuel, the specified heating output, the location where it will be installed, the required emissions controls and many other factors.

In this course, the student will review Section 2, "Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Boilers" in the document "Guide to Low-Emission Boiler and Combustion Equipment Selection" published by the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Office of Industrial Technologies. This section of the referenced publication provides an overview of the different types of industrial boilers commercially available including the types of fuels, fuel delivery systems and burners employed. Boiler emission rates mandated by the EPA are also briefly covered. This course is relevant to engineers who design steam systems, as well as any engineer interested in learning more about the types of boilers available and their applications. No prerequisite course is required to take this introductory course on boilers. However, the student may wish to familiarize himself with steam systems in general by taking PDHengineer.com's course titled Steam System Basics.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of ten questions at the end of this course to obtain PDH credits.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

  · Types of boilers commercially available and their relative merits
  · Different fuels fired in each type of boiler.
  · Types and relative merits of different fuel feed systems
  · Types of low-emission burners
  · Quantities of atmospheric emissions for different fuel types, as well as regulatory requirements

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.

Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).