Reducing your Carbon Footprint with Electric Boilers
Working toward a more sustainable environment is a key focus for most companies today. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions and minimizing fossil fuel usage are essential steps in lessening your carbon footprint.
Electric boilers are 100% local emission-free, making them ideal for facilities looking to achieve decarbonization goals. They are compact, quiet, and deliver nearly 100% efficiency at all operating points.
Advantages of Electric Boilers
Electric boilers offer many advantages, including:
- No flue gas venting requirements
- No on-site fuel storage
- Limited piping
- Low emissions
- Economical installation
- Quiet operation
- Minimal maintenance
Although electric boilers may use electricity generated from fossil fuel-fired plants, a significant portion can come from carbon-free sources such as wind, solar, nuclear, or waste heat generation. This flexibility helps facilities further reduce their environmental impact.
Once powered, electric boilers operate at nearly 100% efficiency, converting electrical energy directly into steam or hot water with minimal loss.
Types of Electric Boilers
Commercial and industrial electric boilers come in two main types:
- Immersion Element (Resistance Type)
- Electrode Type
These systems range from 10 kW to over 100 MW, with immersion models typically covering smaller ranges (10–3,400 kW) and electrode boilers suited for larger applications (1–100+ MW).
Key technical conversions:
- 1 kW = 3,412 Btu/hr
- 1 boiler horsepower = 33,472 Btu/hr = 34.5 lb steam/hr
Electric boilers can be configured for low or high-pressure steam or hot water applications. Most manufacturers ship complete, skid-mounted packages with integrated controls, insulation, and casing for quick installation.
Emissions-Free Solutions from Cleaver-Brooks
As a premier manufacturer, Cleaver-Brooks offers a full line of electric boiler systems designed for performance and sustainability.
B.J. Muirhead Co. is the authorized Cleaver-Brooks representative across New York and parts of Pennsylvania—providing sales, installation, and service support for all electric boiler models.
Cleaver-Brooks Immersion Steam & Hot Water Boilers
Model CR Electric Boiler
Ideal for smaller steam and hot water applications. The cylindrical pressure vessel can be oriented vertically or horizontally and is built to ASME Code Section IV (low pressure) or Section I (high pressure).
Features include:
- Manual Reset High-Pressure Cutoff
- Low Water Cutoff and Pump Control
- Blowdown Valves and Safety Valves
- On/off or Modulating Load Control
- Pre-wired Control Panel
Available Models:
Model WB: 12–3,360 kW, up to 11.5 MMBtu/hr, 160–250 psig, up to 600V
Model CR: 12–563 kW, up to 1,969 lb/hr steam, 15–250 psig, up to 600V
Model S: 12–2,250 kW, up to 7,875 lb/hr, 15–250 psig, up to 600V
Model HSB: 1,560–3,375 kW, up to 11,813 lb/hr, 15–250 psig, up to 600V
Electrode Type
Electrode boilers use water as the resistance medium for generating steam. Water is forced through nozzles toward high-voltage electrodes, producing rapid and efficient steam generation.
Features include:
- Integrated pump and automatic control sleeve for load response
- Insulated pressure vessel with removable metal casing
- Conductivity controls and sample cooler assembly
- Solid-state modulating pressure control
- Fast response to load changes
Specifications:
- Design pressures: 100–450 psig
- Input range: 1–102 MW
- Steam output: up to 340,000 lb/hr
- Voltage: 4.16–25 kV
Choosing the Right Boiler for Your Facility
Whether you’re an engineer, contractor, or facility manager, selecting the right electric boiler depends on your capacity needs, steam or hot water requirements, and energy goals.
B.J. Muirhead Co. can evaluate your boiler room to determine if your facility is a good candidate for emissions-free electric boilers that align with your decarbonization strategy.