A boiler is a mechanical device that uses the thermal energy of fuel or other energy sources to heat water into hot water or steam. The original meaning of the pot refers to the water container heated on the fire, and the furnace refers to the place where the fuel is burned. The boiler includes two parts: the pot and the furnace. The hot water or steam generated in the boiler can directly provide the thermal energy required for industrial production and people's life, and can also be converted into mechanical energy through a steam power device, or into electrical energy through a generator. Boilers that provide hot water are called hot water boilers, which are mainly used in life and also have a small number of applications in industrial production. Boilers that generate steam are called steam boilers often referred to as boilers, and are mostly used in thermal power plants, ships, locomotives, and industrial and mining enterprises. The "pot" in the boiler refers to the part of the boiler equipment that contains water and gas and is under pressure. Its function is to absorb the heat released by the "furnace" and heat the water to a certain temperature and pressure (hot water boiler) or evaporate into steam ( steamer).
"Furnace" refers to the part of the boiler equipment where the chemical reaction between fuel and air produces high-temperature flame and flue gas. Its function is to maximize the release of the heat energy of the fuel for the "pot" to absorb.
Industrial kilns and industrial furnaces are collectively referred to as industrial kilns. Industrial kilns mainly refer to devices that use combustion reactions to heat materials. The "kiln" is mostly used in silicate industrial systems, such as furnaces for the production of ceramics, glass, cement, and other products. "Furnace" is mostly used in metallurgy and mechanical systems mainly used to smelt and prepare steel and various non-ferrous metal materials. According to the purpose, it can be divided into the roasting furnace, blast furnace, cupola, converter, open-hearth, soaking furnace, and crucible furnace. The biggest difference between boilers and industrial kilns is that boilers have "pots" and "furnace", while industrial kilns only have "furnace"
