Boiler Efficiency calculations
Efficiency is a very important criterion in Boiler selection and Design. Efficiency figure depends upon the type of boiler as well as on the type of fuel and it’s constituents. For example, efficiency of a Bagasse fired boiler is about 70% where as that of oil fired boilers is about 85 %. Higher moisture content in Bagasse reduces it’s efficiency. So better criterion is efficiency based on LCV or NCV. This is widely used in Europe and efficiency based on HHV or GCV is used in other parts of the world.
There are basically two methods to calculate efficiency of the boilers : Input-Output method and Heat Loss method.