home > services > Steam Generator
Steam Generator Steam and Condensate Systems
John Herbert
Director
A Steam Generator heats water under pressure creating steam for
the steam installation, its efficiency is critical for the system
energy use perspective.
Steam and Condensate systems are primarily used in large
scale properties, including district heating systems, hospital,
healthcare, manufacturing, industrial process, bulk catering,
chemical, and industrial sectors, but often the resulting
condensate is dumped into the drain as waste water.
In fact, the condensate produced by steam equipment is a
very valuable commodity, its already chemically treated, high
grade hot water about 75-80 degC, and if returned to the
boiler it can be reused in the steam boiler, significantly
lowering fuel consumption, reducing raw water usage, and
the chemical treatment that the raw water requires.
The condensate is essentially very hot water, so dumping
condensate in to a normal sewer normally requires a
extra step to comply with the local regulations.
Typically, the hot condensate must be cooled and this is
often achieved by mixing condensate and cold water to
lower the water temperature discharged into the sewer.
So the building owners pays once for the cold water to
create steam, pays again for the cold water to cool the
condensate, and pays the relevent sewerage charges for
discharging hot condensate and cooling water.
For example, in New York USA, mixing valves are installed
to cool the hot condensate before discharging into
the sewer to met the code requirement.
Using condensate can lower your energy and operating cost
that improves profitability, lowering water and sewer
charges, therefore lowering your environmental footprint
also.
Steam Boilers
Burning gas, oil, coal or combination of fuels, are
used in boilers to raise steam distributed to the end use.
the energy efficincy of the boiler plant is critical
to ensure the energy in the fuel is used efficiently
to heat the water under pressure, to raise steam. therefore
the boiler efficiency must be periodically checked
to ensure the burners, fuel, excess air combination
create the most efficient use of fuel.
Changing fuels can be advantageous, to lower fuel
and energy costs, some steam generators have dual
fuel burners offering the owner the choice between
burning oil or gas, depending on the lowest fuel
cost.
Steam System Schematic - Click for larger image
Steam Generator - Flash Steam Generator
Another potential source of steam generation is the
condensate, it can be used to generate low pressure steam,
also known as flash steam, by manipulating pressure high
pressure condensate flashes to create low pressure steam.
For further information regarding steam and condesnate systems
call Kelcroft today +(852) 2335 9830!