What is an advantage of low-pressure watertube boilers?

Low-pressure watertube boilers present a significant advantage in that they are inherently safer due to the low potential energy of the water contained within them. This characteristic comes from the design of watertube boilers, where water flows through tubes and is heated by external combustion gases. Since these boilers operate at lower pressures compared to their high-pressure counterparts, the risk of catastrophic failure—such as an explosion—drastically decreases. This enhanced safety feature is particularly valuable in applications where worker safety and equipment longevity are paramount.

In contrast, while faster warm-up times might be a benefit for some boiler types, low-pressure watertube boilers may not always guarantee this advantage. The option regarding operating at higher pressure levels is incorrect because low-pressure watertube boilers, by definition, operate at lower pressures, which does not align with typical high-pressure operations. Frequent maintenance is typically not a defining advantage but rather a general consideration for all boiler types, making that option less relevant in highlighting the key benefits of low-pressure watertube boilers.