Fire Tube Boilers

The JOHN THOMPSON Package Boiler Business Unit is led by a dedicated team of highly experienced engineers with many years in the steam industry. The unit’s business is based on internationally competitive technology, price and delivery and is dedicated to provide the full spectrum of steam services to their customers in South Africa and many export markets, as outlined in this divisional profile. In addition to their range of trademarked boilers JOHN THOMPSON also buy, remanufacture and sell used boilers to a standard that carries the JOHN THOMPSON guarantee.

Through our technology partners, Power Europe and Wahlco USA, JOHN THOMPSON brings you a World of Firetube boiler designs include coal-fired boilers with chaingrate stokers, wood fired boilers with fixed grates, oil/gas fired boilers, as well as custom-designed waste heat boilers. All Firetube boilers are designed and manufactured to latest European Standard, EN12953 for a design pressure of 1100 kPa (Designs also available up to 2 000 kPa). With the exception of the Redipac range, all boilers are of Three-pass conventional firetube wetback design with spiral tubes in both tube passes. Flanged end-plates in place of flat end-plates are features on selected boilers to eliminate tee-butt weld joints. This will reduce susceptibility to corrosion fatigue and extend boiler life. Latest spiral-tube technology is used throughout the boiler ranges with heat transfer up to 100% greater than normal plain tubes this feature reduces gas outlet temperature to only 15 deg C above steam saturation temperature offering a thermal efficiency of 85% with NCV 26 500 kJ/kg and providing 10 kg steam per kg coal in the case of coal fired boilers. The latest JOHN THOMPSON MICROPAC energy management system to increase efficiency is a feature on coal fired boilers reducing operating and maintenance costs significantly.

The development of firetube shell boilers and associated equipment is carried out within the Technical Department at Bellville. This covers oil, gas, coal and wood-fired boilers and low and high voltage electrode boilers. Technology for the HV type is obtained via an agreement with a specialist manufacturer in the USA.

As a world-class, internationally competitive industrial boiler manufacturer in the export market JOHN THOMPSON is a major player in the globalisation of South African industry. A network of agents and offices throughout South America, the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa and Asia supports this export programme.

JOHN THOMPSON electrode boilers are available from 30 kg/h to 3000 kg/h. Robust design and construction ensures long life and the total package incorporates feed water tank, controls and all necessary valves and fittings. The full range of support services includes turnkey boilerhouse supply, installation and project management, international commissioning and maintenance service and full spares availability.

For improved boilerplant efficiency either through increased steam output or a reduction in fuel usage, JOHN THOMPSON offers customers on-site advice and upgrading programmes. JOHN THOMPSON can install new John Thompson-engineered spiral tubes, new stokers, improved grit arresters, new fans and whatever else is required to improve boiler performance. JOHN THOMPSON boilers are designed to facilitate conversions where the customer wishes to change his boilerplant fuel to oil, gas or a mixture. Engineered solutions are offered and the necessary conversion carried out on site with minimum downtime.