Power plant boiler is the machine that produces steam by applying heat energy to water thus, it is mostly used in the industries that require steam for different operations. Such boilers are available in different sizes as per applications, for example, boilers in power stations and other industrial installations are larger and are connected to the point-of-use (POU) piping. Fuels such as nuclear, petroleum, coal, natural gas, and renewables are used in the boiler for power generation while subcritical, supercritical, and ultra-critical are the major boiler technologies.
Innovative Technologies to Boost Product Demand
Subcritical is estimated to dominate the boiler technology segment over the forecast period (from 2018 to 2025). The subcritical technology segment is expected to account for 74 % of the overall industry share by 2025. This growth can be credited to the reliance on coal for power generation. Moreover, easy availability and low input costs are also expected to drive the segment in the coming years. The supercritical segment is expected to witness a high CAGR during the estimated period. The technology is efficient and quite popular, particularly in China and OECD countries.
China has increased its power generation capacity using supercritical technology. The region has 23 supercritical units that provides around 16-megawatt of power. The ultra-critical technology offers high efficiency of around 50 %, which is the highest among all the boiler technologies. It is utilized in 26 operating units in countries such as Japan, Germany, Denmark, the U.S., and Netherlands. However, the segment may witness a steady growth due to higher production costs of this technology.
According to a report by Grand View Research, Inc., the worldwide power plant boiler market is expected to reach at USD 28.0 billion by 2025. Rising requirement for electricity owing to the rapid industrialization and urbanization, especially in developing countries, can drive the market. In addition, increased government expenditure to establish new power plants and to upgrade the existing ones will also create new growth opportunities for the market.Prominent market players include Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, General Electric (GE), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Siemens AG, and Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC).
Most of these companies focus on R&D to develop innovative products. For instance, In 2017, Bosch industrial introduced the largest boiler of their portfolio at ESH Energy. The new double-flame tube boiler weighs up to 120 tons and has a height of six meters. It offers an output of up to 55000 kg of steam per hour and can be useful for large industrial companies and energy suppliers.