2026, Vol. 13, No. 3. - go to content...

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DOI: 10.15862/02ECOR326 (https://doi.org/10.15862/02ECOR326)

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Fadeev V.V., Pinaev V.E., Arias Ordones W.R. Comparative environmental and toxicological assessment of hot-water and steam boilers fueled by natural gas based on operational data. Russian journal of resources, conservation and recycling. 2026; 13(3). Available at: https://resources.today/PDF/02ECOR326.pdf (in Russian). DOI: 10.15862/02ECOR326

Comparative environmental and toxicological assessment of hot-water and steam boilers fueled by natural gas based on operational data

Fadeev Vladislav Viktorovich
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Moscow, Russia
Institute of Environmental Engineering
E-mail: fadeev.vladislav@bk.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2439-8127

Pinaev Vladimir Evgenievich
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Moscow, Russia
Institute of Environmental Engineering
E-mail: pinaev-ve@rudn.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8943-5462

Arias Ordones Winston Rodolfo
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Moscow, Russia
Institute of Environmental Engineering
E-mail: rodolfoariaso@outlook.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3672-7469

Abstract. This publication presents the results of a comparative analysis of the impact of hot water and steam boilers operating on natural gas on environmental quality and public health. The rationale for this study stems from the presence of a large fleet of obsolete boiler equipment in the Russian Federation, necessitating a rationale for selecting environmentally preferential heat generation technologies. The authors characterized the pathogenic effects of key pollutants (nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, benzo(a)pyrene, and suspended particles). By processing the operating parameters of 215 hot water and 147 steam units, specific emission rates were calculated per unit of fuel burned and heat generated, hourly emission flows were determined, greenhouse gas volumes were determined, and economic damages (in the form of a fee for negative impacts) were calculated. Empirical studies have confirmed that the total specific pollutant emissions from a steam boiler exceed those from a hot water boiler by 1,92 times, while the calculated economic damage is 5,91 times higher, even with identical climatic parameters in the regions where the boilers are deployed. Benzo(a)pyrene plays a dominant role in this discrepancy, with its emissions from a steam boiler exceeding those from a hot water boiler by an order of magnitude. This study concludes that steam boilers pose a significantly greater environmental threat, even when using gaseous fuel. The results obtained can serve as a basis for argumentation when selecting equipment for the reconstruction and modernization of heating systems.

Keywords: hot water boiler; steam boiler; pollutant emissions; benz(a)pyrene; economic damage; atmospheric air; natural gas

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