Steam Quality

Steam Quality

Steam Available at the point of use:

• At the correct temperature and pressure.

• Free from air and incondensable gases.

• Clean.

• Dry.
Air & Incondensable Gases

•The presence of air means:

• Temperature cannot be inferred from pressure readings.

• A barrier to heat flow.

Air Venting

Balanced Pressure
Air Vent

Steam Main

Air

Thermodynamic
Steam Trap Set
Cleanliness

• There are a number of sources of dirt in any steam system.

• Carryover of solids from the boiler water due to incorrect

boiler operation.

• Pipe scale.

• Welding slag.

• Badly applied or excess jointing material.

 Pipeline Strainer

Lightweight,
robust body,
lower pipework
loads
Large
screening
area means
High Kv
low
pressure
drop

Optional
blowdown/
drain valve
may be fitted
Correct Steam Quality – Dryness Fraction

•The degree of moisture in steam, is the measure of this is dryness

fraction.

•Reduce energy available from steam

• Barrier to Heat Transfer

Steam
Temperature
Metal Heating
Condensate Film

Water Film
Surface
Air Film

Product

Product
Temperature
Dry Steam - Separators

Flow

Separator
Corrosion Control

Boiler Operation – feed water impurities

• Scale – hard layer backed onto surface – reduce heat

transfer

• Oxygen Attack – dissolved in feed water

• Acid Attack – CO2 = H2CO3 - pH < 8

• Boiler Water Carry Over – Chlorides – Stress Corrosion

Cracking
 Boiler Feed Water Temperature - Oxygen

14
Temp. Solubility

12 [C] [ppm]
5 12.7
10 10 11.3
15 10.1
20 9.1
Solubility [ppm]

8 25 8.3
30 7.5
6 35 7.0
40 6.5
45 6.0
4 50 5.6
60 4.8
2 70 3.9
80 2.9
90 1.6
0 95 0.9
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 100 0.0
Tem perature [C]
The Feed Tank System
Vent

Flash Condensing
Deaerator Head
Level Control
System

Cold Make Up

Blowdown Heat Recovery Condensate

Return

Temperature Recirculation
Control System
System

To Boiler
Corrosion Control

• Condensate Recovery – pure water

• Boiler Water Treatment & Inspection

• Scale control (Phosphates & Lime)

• Ph Control, (Phosphates & Amines)

•Neutralise Carbonic Acid (Filming Amines)

• Oxygen Scavenging – Temp of hot well & chemical dosing

Corrosion Control

• Boiler Water Carry Over –

•Separators

•TDS control

•Level Control – Modulating

• Boiler Bottom Blowdown

• Steam Main – warm up & cool down