How does condensate return back to the boiler?
When steam transfers its heat in a manufacturing process, heat exchanger, or heating coil, it reverts to a liquid phase called condensate. An attractive method of improving your power plant’s energy efficiency is to increase the condensate return to the boiler.
What is one of the effects of steam and condensate losses in the boiler system?
Steam and condensate leakage. Steam and condensate leak has a negative effect on the steam system and plant operation. Steam leakage has a loss of both sensible and latent energy and leakage erodes or wire draws. So, a small leak today will increase in size tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after.
Why is condensing the steam from the turbine and returning it to the boiler so important?
Condensate contains not only water, but also boiler treatment chemicals and the energy transferred during combustion. Condensate, therefore, needs to be returned to the boiler to: Improve energy efficiency. Reduce chemical cost.
What is a steam condensate line?
In the drain line, the condensate and any incondensable gases must flow from the drain outlet of the plant to the steam trap. In a properly sized drain line, the plant being drained and the body of the steam trap are virtually at the same pressure and, because of this, condensate does not flash in this line.
How is condensate return calculated?
One simple way would be if you had both a makeup and a feedwater meter. The difference of the two numbers divided by the feedwater multiplied by 100% would be the percent condensate return (of feedwater).
What is return water in a boiler?
The return water in condensing boiler systems needs to be far cooler than the dew point for flue gases to condensate. When condensation occurs, latent energy is transferred to the hot water, essentially creating a warming loop. If temperatures are too high, condensation will not occur.
What is the advantage of heating water using the injection of steam?
It provides accurate temperature control. Because steam is injected directly into the water, direct steam injection systems can be up to 28% more energy efficient than indirect systems. With direct steam injection, all of the Btu’s in the steam are used to heat the water.
How do you calculate condensation rate?
Multiply the air conditioner’s flow rate, measured in gallons per minute, by the air’s specific humidity, measured in pounds of water per pound of dry air. If 12 gallons flow through the unit per minute, and the air has a specific humidity of 0.0065 pounds of water per pound of dry air: 12 x 0.0065 = 0.078.
Can you use stainless steel pipe for steam?
Stainless isn’t usually used for steam transport due to expense. Low pressure low temperature steam can be handled by 300 series alloys. Heat transfer is poor, so 3xx is not suitable for boiler applications. Superheated steam requires high performance alloys that can function in a1300+C flue gas environment.
How do you size a steam condensate pipe?
Two principal factors determine pipe sizing in a steam system: 1. The initial pressure at the boiler and the allowable pressure drop of the total system. The total pressure drop in the system should not exceed 20% of the total maximum pressure at the boiler. This includes all drops — line loss, elbows, valves, etc.
How do you calculate condensation in steam?
This is determined by dividing the total heat removed by the system by the latent heat contained in the steam. The calculation is 30,000 / 794, which is 37.8 lb/hr of liquid condensate.
What do condensate return lines carry back to boiler room?
Condensate return lines receive conden- sate from many trap discharge lines and carry the condensate back to the boiler room. NOTE: The velocity ranges shown in Steam Pipe Capacity Tables 45-1 through 46-4 can be used as a general guide in sizing steam piping.
Where was the lowest level of condensate return pipes?
When the building was disconnected from the original steam piping loop and a new steam boiler installed, the lowest level of condensate return pipes was located such that steam condensate in this home would not return by gravity to the steam boiler.
What happens if you have a condensation leak in a steam boiler?
Disturbing the condensate return pipe was likely to result in a sudden and much larger leak that could leak badly, resulting in basement water problems and increased steam boiler water consumption. Watch out: a leak in the condensate piping of a steam heating system can lead to very expensive damage including:
What is a condensate pump in a steam heating system?
Steam heating system condensate pumps & piping: this article describes and illustrates steam condensate return piping, condensate return pumps and steam condensate return reservoirs. We also discuss leaks in steam condensate piping lines and chemical treatment of steam condensate.
Condensate return lines receive conden- sate from many trap discharge lines and carry the condensate back to the boiler room. NOTE: The velocity ranges shown in Steam Pipe Capacity Tables 45-1 through 46-4 can be used as a general guide in sizing steam piping.
Is there a leak in the return line of a steam boiler?
Our photograph at left shows a leaky steam condensate return line close to the steam boiler. This steam condensate line leak has been dripping for more than a decade.
When the building was disconnected from the original steam piping loop and a new steam boiler installed, the lowest level of condensate return pipes was located such that steam condensate in this home would not return by gravity to the steam boiler.
Steam heating system condensate pumps & piping: this article describes and illustrates steam condensate return piping, condensate return pumps and steam condensate return reservoirs. We also discuss leaks in steam condensate piping lines and chemical treatment of steam condensate.
