A method for improving the efficiency of a fired heater without an air preheat system is described. The method involves the use of an additional outboard convection section which is separate from the regular convection section of the fired heater. The outboard convection section uses the boiler feed water or an alternate cold sink to reduce the temperature of the flue gas, thereby improving the efficiency.

A steam turbine power plant utilizing high temperature high efficiency industrial heat pumps (IHP) to preheat boiler feedwater is disclosed. The typical extraction steam feedwater preheater is replaced by a plurality of series connected heat pumps that produce boiler feedwater by preheating pressurized condensate from a feedwater pump attached to a condensate receiver. A stack economizer extracts waste heat from boiler flue gas to provide a closed loop of hot source water to the heat pumps. The Heat Rate of the power plant will be reduced by approximately 7%. By using leaving condenser water as source water for the lower temperature stage heat pumps, some of the liberated high temperature source water can be diverted to a new boiler combustion air preheater. The combination of feedwater preheating heat pumps plus a boiler combustion air preheater will reduce the Heat Rate of the power plant by approximately 12%.

A steam turbine power plant utilizing high temperature high efficiency industrial heat pumps (IHP) to preheat boiler feedwater is disclosed. The typical extraction steam feedwater preheater is replaced by a plurality of series connected heat pumps that produce boiler feedwater by preheating pressurized condensate from a feedwater pump attached to a condensate receiver. A stack economizer extracts waste heat from boiler flue gas to provide a closed loop of hot source water to the heat pumps. The Heat Rate of the power plant will be reduced by approximately 7%. By using leaving condenser water as source water for the lower temperature stage heat pumps, some of the liberated high temperature source water can be diverted to a new boiler combustion air preheater. The combination of feedwater preheating heat pumps plus a boiler combustion air preheater will reduce the Heat Rate of the power plant by approximately 12%.

A steam turbine power plant utilizing high temperature high efficiency industrial heat pumps (IHP) to preheat boiler feedwater is disclosed. The typical extraction steam feedwater preheater is replaced by a plurality of series connected heat pumps that produce boiler feedwater by preheating pressurized condensate from a feedwater pump attached to a condensate receiver. A stack economizer extracts waste heat from boiler flue gas to provide a closed loop of hot source water to the heat pumps. The Heat Rate of the power plant will be reduced by approximately 7%. By using leaving condenser water as source water for the lower temperature stage heat pumps, some of the liberated high temperature source water can be diverted to a new boiler combustion air preheater. The combination of feedwater preheating heat pumps plus a boiler combustion air preheater will reduce the Heat Rate of the power plant by approximately 12%.

A high temperature fluid generator is configured to heat a fluid (e.g. water; thermal oil or the like) to a high temperature (e.g. greater than 250 degrees Fahrenheit or 120 degrees Celsius) using a fuel-burning furnace. The generator generally comprises a furnace module, wherein fuel is burned, and a convection module where the combustion gases are put in contact with a series of fluid-bearing convection tubes. The furnace module comprises a series of fluidly interconnected headers, some of which are also fluidly connected to the convection tubes in the convection modules. The various headers contribute to the overall structure of the generator. The convection tubes are arranged into at least two bundles which are movably mounted in the convection module of the generator such to be movable in and out of the convection module for inspection, cleaning, maintenance and/or repair.

A high temperature fluid generator is configured to heat a fluid (e.g. water; thermal oil or the like) to a high temperature (e.g. greater than 250 degrees Fahrenheit or 120 degrees Celsius) using a fuel-burning furnace. The generator generally comprises a furnace module, wherein fuel is burned, and a convection module where the combustion gases are put in contact with a series of fluid-bearing convection tubes. The furnace module comprises a series of fluidly interconnected headers, some of which are also fluidly connected to the convection tubes in the convection modules. The various headers contribute to the overall structure of the generator. The convection tubes are arranged into at least two bundles which are movably mounted in the convection module of the generator such to be movable in and out of the convection module for inspection, cleaning, maintenance and/or repair.

A boiler system and methods for heating a fluid are disclosed, in particular for heating water for producing steam. The boiler comprises an economizer module integrated on the top of a furnace, and is in communication with the furnace to receive heat and/or hot combustion gases therefrom. The economizer comprises tubes receiving the fluid, such as feedwater, to be pre-heated and providing it to the furnace comprising a combustion chamber producing heat and hot combustion gases. The fluid is pre-heated by circulating first through the pre-heating tube assembly of the economizer module before entering the furnace module where the fluid is further heated by the combustion chamber. Since the economizer is located on the furnace module, the boiler does not have a large footprint compared to a regular boiler system without an economizer. Due to the total integration of the economizer with the furnace, the boiler system has improved energy efficiency.

A high temperature fluid generator is configured to heat a fluid (e.g. water; thermal oil or the like) to a high temperature (e.g. greater than 250 degrees Fahrenheit or 120 degrees Celsius) using a fuel-burning furnace. The generator generally comprises a furnace module, wherein fuel is burned, and a convection module where the combustion gases are put in contact with a el series of fluid-bearing convection tubes. The furnace module comprises a series of fluidly interconnected headers, some of which are en.) also fluidly connected to the convection tubes in the convection modules. The various headers contribute to the overall structure of the generator. The convection tubes are arranged into at least two bundles which are movably mounted in the convection module of the generator such to be movable in and out of the convection module for inspection, cleaning, maintenance and/or repair.

A high temperature fluid generator is configured to heat a fluid (e.g. water; thermal oil or the like) to a high temperature (e.g. greater than 250 degrees Fahrenheit or 120 degrees Celsius) using a fuel-burning furnace. The generator generally comprises a furnace module, wherein fuel is burned, and a convection module where the combustion gases are put in contact with a el series of fluid-bearing convection tubes. The furnace module comprises a series of fluidly interconnected headers, some of which are en.) also fluidly connected to the convection tubes in the convection modules. The various headers contribute to the overall structure of the generator. The convection tubes are arranged into at least two bundles which are movably mounted in the convection module of the generator such to be movable in and out of the convection module for inspection, cleaning, maintenance and/or repair.