What is the designated area of a boiler where moisture separation occurs?

The steam space of a boiler is the designated area where moisture separation occurs. This space is located above the water level in the boiler, allowing steam to rise while any remaining moisture in the steam condenses and falls back into the water drum. The purpose of this separation is critical in ensuring that only dry steam is delivered to the system, which is essential for efficient operation and to prevent damage to downstream equipment.

In boilers, it's important to maintain dry steam to avoid carryover, which refers to the unintentional transport of water droplets along with the steam. This can lead to operational inefficiencies and damage to turbines, heat exchangers, and other equipment that utilizes steam. Therefore, the steam space plays a vital role in ensuring the quality of the steam produced.

The other areas mentioned, like the combustion gas pass, fire tube, and boiler shell, serve different functions. The combustion gas pass is where the products of combustion flow, the fire tube refers to a type of boiler design where hot gases pass through tubes surrounded by water, and the boiler shell is the outer structure that contains the water and steam. While they all contribute to the operation of the boiler, they do not serve the specific purpose of moisture separation.