We are trapping kettles and a dishwasher (25 psi steam) and then running our condensate lines to a pump in a utility closet.  We need to run the lines under the slab due to space limitations. 

What material should we use for the condensate return line?  Any tips on the best way to accomplish this?

We are a small hospital and we are thinking about removing all of our steam and replacing it with a hot water system.  Is there a way to determine what the payback for a project like this would be?  We currently have 3 boilers that operate at 120 psig.  We only use the 100 psi steam in a few applications such as sterilization.  Our domestic hot water system and heating system is a low steam pressure. 

Would there be any payback in changing the high pressure systems to low pressure and operating our boilers at 15 psi instead of 100 psi and having a dedicated steam boiler for the sterilizers?

Thank You

Gary Harvath

We have a process heating system and we continue to have steam coil failures. The failures are always located in the bottom header assembly. The units are 40,000 scfm and using 165 psig steam pressure to the steam coils. We have tried several different steam traps, based on information from the steam trap supplier – but continue to have coil failures. We have received quotes on “better materials” from the steam coil supplier, but the improved material selection has not stop the coil failures. What are some of the causes for steam coil failure? How do I calculate the real cost of constant coil replacement?

Many years ago it was “in vogue”  for almost every steam facility to have a steam turbine.  There were many lower pressure steam turbines for pumps, fan drives, etc.  I believe that most were taken out and pressure reducing valves were installed for steam pressure reduction.  Are there any low pressure steam turbines that have a real payback vs. steam pressure reducing stations?  Has the technology improved?  Is there payback for this?

In today’s steam world, steam locking is very seldom detected. Almost always the problem is blamed on a steam trap malfunctioning. Steam locking was originally written about in detail in 1939. Currently, there is very little information available for the steam user regarding this common steam system problem.

What is steam locking?

If a steam trap is installed with a length of horizontal pipe 26 inches or longer from the discharge of the condensate outlet of the process, steam locking will occur. A steam trap in good operational condition will only open to pass any condensate and will close when steam enters the steam trap. A steam trap is a simple device; it senses three things, steam, condensate and non-condensable gas or air. If the steam trap senses steam (vapor) is present, the steam trap will shut off to prevent steam from passing through. After the steam trap has closed to prevent steam loss, the long horizontal pipe (26 inches or longer) will be momentarily full of steam.

Read the Best Practice Sheet – click below

http://www.plantsupport.com/download/PSE_BP_10.pdf