BSEE


food producing to oil refining, beer making, and drug manufacturing companies, Steam is well known for delivering safe, sustainable and efficient energy.


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With so many variables to consider in the planning, management and upgrade of steam boilers, it’s important for professionals to have a solid grounding in the ‘fundamentals of steam’. In turn, this will help to achieve beer eciency and safety. So here, Chris Coleman, boiler house naonal specialist, provides some of the principles that should empower plant managers to ask the right quesons and to get the right results


Rest assured, it is commonplace for industry understanding of steam systems to be somewhat limited. This is true across the board, whether your role is to simply ensure your plant is operating safely and efficiently, completely overhaul and plan a new steam system or identify, plan and implement steam and thermal energy efficiency improvements. Nevertheless, it is definitely beneficial to develop a basic understanding of the properties of steam before consulting an expert. Meeting specification, deadlines, budget, safety and regulatory requirements, are but a few considerations that can cause the most accomplished of plant managers a headache. Not to mention energy efficiency targets and minimising downtime. Until it becomes a priority, much of the valuable background information you once had becomes a distant memory.


Steam systems at the core


Granted, there is a wealth of information available on steam systems and sometimes it can be a minefield to navigate. Therefore, we have identified the core elements that will give you a basic understanding: the different


team can heat or sterilise almost any industrial process. That’s why it’s often the first choice in so many applications around the world. From


boiler types, how steam is produced into three variants and the condensate loop. Develop your knowledge in these areas and you are already on track to an optimised solution.


So, what’s to know?


In summary, shell boilers are the most common but there are many variations out there. And there are also three types of steam to know about – saturated, superheated and flash steam. As a versatile purveyor of energy, the way in which steam is produced and distributed both have a significant impact on its potential performance and economy for the end user. There are also technical materials worth being familiar with, such as steam tables which help provide more detail around the properties of steam at varying pressures. And, while condensate in itself is a much wider topic to comprehend, make sure you have an understanding of the way it is created and should be recycled. Based on all of this, there are a number of key tests that you should consider carrying out such as feed water treatment, de-aeration and storage.


Justifying an upgrade


Clearly it would not be possible to upgrade a boiler ahead of conducting a full and thorough audit of the existing system. And, as with any piece of equipment in our industry, it will most likely not be a like-for-like for the system that is currently in place. Ask yourself two key questions: Has your facility changed in any way in


BOILERS & HOT WATER


The future of steam starts here: Build your foundations before commissioning new equipment


terms of its requirements? Have there been any technological


developments since the first install? By re-acquainting yourself with the fundamentals of steam, be it through written literature or industry training courses, you can build the requisite knowledge you need to identify areas of improvement so fewer problems or faults need to be dealt with in future.


Downloadable guide


Spirax Sarco has created a downloadable guide to ‘The Fundamentals of Steam’ to make your job easier when it comes to upgrading. Download it in your time of need by the following link, or simply print it out so you have it to hand on site: https://sxscom.uk/ Fundamentals-of-steam


spiraxsarco.com About Spirax Sarco


or engineers around the world, Spirax Sarco is synonymous with excellence in steam system engineering. Spirax Sarco offers an extensive range of products and services, coupled with expertise based on over a century of practical application across a variety of industries. In short, Spirax Sarco creates solutions that are said to set the benchmark for steam-using organisations worldwide, working alongside them to improve productivity, save energy and reduce waste. Its commitment to customers is supported by over 1,200 dedicated engineers and a direct sales force in 55 countries across the globe, through which we serve customers in around 100 countries. The company’s aim is to help its customers build sustainable and profitable businesses, using its industry insight to tailor solutions precisely to their needs.


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There are three types of steam to know about – saturated, superheated and flash steam


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16 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER APRIL 2019


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