STEAM SYSTEMS
Hospitals turning to latest steam trap technology
The healthcare sector is increasingly struggling to address serious maintenance concerns within its estate. Backlog maintenance is one of the most pressing issues facing the NHS and other care providers, and for many sites the bill for it runs into the millions of pounds. Here, Sam Mawby, Technical director at Thermal Energy International, discusses the role that steam systems play, and what new technologies are available to help hospitals minimise backlog maintenance.
Backlog maintenance, also known as deferred maintenance, is the overdue essential work required to bring a building or asset up to standard. It includes everything from updates to the building fabric, to the condition of the equipment used within it. This means the list is long, varied, and costly. Heating and hot water systems are some of the largest maintenance drains on a hospital. Within these systems, everything from the pipework and heat exchangers to the heat sources – be it boilers, combined heat and power (CHP) equipment, or heat pumps, need to be regularly assessed, repaired, or replaced. This involves a sizeable investment from the hospital both in terms of time and money, so it is understandable that maintenance managers in the sector are struggling to beat the backlog. Nonetheless, facilities need to prioritise maintaining these systems, as they are integral to the running of a hospital. A fit-for-purpose heating and hot water system supports applications such as heating, and domestic hot water (DWH) for washing, cooking, sterilisation, and hygienic laundry processes. In the case of operating theatres, downtime in heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) and water systems can affect critical care, and even lead to increased waiting times. Simply put, without it a hospital cannot function – putting patients and staff at risk.
Full steam ahead
Steam is one of the most effective ways of transporting large quantities of heat energy around a site, but maintenance can prove particularly time and budget- consuming for sites that use steam. As a result, some hospitals are considering decommissioning their steam systems as a way of reducing backlog maintenance. For many sites, and especially bigger hospitals with a large footprint or whose facilities are spread over several floors, this isn’t the answer.
Steam has several advantages over other technologies, such as Medium
64 Health Estate Journal February 2019 164.3 Max = 98.2 Max = 164.3
150.0 140.0 130.0 120.0 110.0 100.0 90.0 80.0 70.0 60.0 50.0
38.3 ˚C
A GEM trap, with flow going from right to left. It has no moving parts to fail, and when correctly calibrated will continuously discharge condensate as it is formed without passing live steam – as shown by the downstream temperature being below 100˚C.
Temperature Hot Water (MTHW). For example, it contains more energy per kilogram than MTHW, and does not require a pump and large infrastructure to carry it around site. As such, steam often remains the best option for hospitals needing to provide hot water, space heating, and sterilisation services.
Mind the knowledge gap A steam system requires specific and specialist maintenance. The aggressive nature of steam puts pipework under pressure, which means that recognising
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As part of an annual steam system survey, facilities management companies or steam system specialists take a holistic view of the process
and avoiding steam leaks can ensure that a system operates efficiently, safely, and with optimal fuel usage. In turn, a poorly maintained system can be subject to water hammer, which is not only inefficient, but also dangerous. Until recently, every hospital would have a plantroom manager or plant engineer to oversee the maintenance of a steam system – and for some sites this is still the case. This person, or internal team, would be well aware of the heating system’s maintenance requirements, including monitoring for steam leaks and cleaning out dirt pockets once they have captured scale and debris from within the system. More frequently, the duty of maintaining heating, ventilation, and air- conditioning (HVAC) systems has been encompassed by the Energy, Estates, or Facilities manager – many of whom oversee several sites in an area. This role continues to evolve, and in addition an ever-increasing level of reporting means that much of this specialist in-house steam knowledge is being lost, all while maintenance continues to mount.
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