Confessions of a steam guy

Something needs to come out

23 March 2010
We have successfully sized the steam control valve, but during commissioning and testing the warm up times are sluggish. Why?Well is might be a case of needing to get things out, before we can hope to put things in! We know that "new" steam is delivered, as the "existing" steam in the heat transfer area condenses. However, we can not hope to effectively deliver steam energy to the process unless we remove the resulting condensate and any air (and other condensable gases) which might be present.

The ins and outs of steam control valves

23 March 2010
When dry saturated steam comes into contact with a surface at a lower temperature than itself (let’s take the example of a jacketed cooking vessel) it will give up its latent energy and returns to condensate. Upon condensing, the steam’s volume reduces by approximately 1673 times; depending on the steam pressure. This reduction in volume results in a localized pressure reduction. Now imagine that the steam to the jacketed vessel is supplied and controlled by a steam control valve. A pressure difference will now exist across the control valve, and steam will naturally flow from the higher pressure side of the valve (valve inlet) to the lower pressure side (valve outlet and jacketed vessel).

Belly Down and Eccentric

22 February 2010
Meeting a steam plant for the first time is a bit like meeting a person for the first time (stay with me here!). Before can you consciously think, just a quick glance and you have formed an early impression and evaluated that poor person, or…err….steam system. For me it’s like a picture I have in my mind of my Dad in a knee socks and sandals combo. Tell me you wouldn’t send him back into the house. Same thing!

Less can be more

15 February 2010
Are you abusing your steam control valves through the unnecessary practise of OVER SIZING? We have choices here people and the key to success is having the right flow conditions from the start.

Bed time reading

15 February 2010
Back in the day, before the advent of the internet, and we all lived our lives in glorious monochrome, my beloved mentor explained that for the decent steam guys, there was only one book – “The Efficient Use of Steam” by Oliver Lyle, c.1947.