this post was submitted on 20 May 2025
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hmmm
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For things that are "hmmm".
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It's a boiler with failed refractory. Never seen one fail that bad before. Here's a pic of some being repaired. There is supposed to be 8 to 12 inches of insulation over that.
https://www.rasmech.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Refractory-Repair-576x1024.jpg
The yellow U turn arrow on the right side of this pic is where it's glowing
https://talkintrashwithuhn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/boiler.jpg
So wait. That implies that there are other parts of it that are significantly hotter, probably near the burner.
Is some magical process happening keeping the whole thing from turning into steam and chunks of metal?
The furnace section or combustion chamber it's called. It's usually corrugated steel in these package utility boilers. Almost looks like culvert pipe, just not spiral.
There's a refractory throat to shape the flame at the burner end too.
Water boiling into steam takes the heat away. It's flooded full of water on the other side, like a pot on a stove.