Glossary of boiler terms

Boilers for generating steam or hot water have been designed in countless shapes, sizes and configurations.

An extensive terminology has evolved to describe their common features.

This glossary provides definitions for these terms.

Terms which relate solely to boilers used for space heating or generating hot water are identified by (HVAC).

Steam locomotive blastpipe
Section through manhole and bridge clamp
Mudhole and bridge clamp on a vertical boiler
Smokebox
Dismantled steam locomotive, showing the smokebox tubeplate
Inside a water drum, showing the tube ends