Condensate Recovery White Paper
Condensate Recovery White Paper
Condensate Recovery White Paper
com/uk
Condensate Recovery
Save energy and reduce fuel costs
with effective condensate recovery
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S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y
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r e c o v e r y
Contents
1.0
Executive Summary
2.0
3.0
3.1
3.2
3.3
4.0
4.1
4.2
4.2.1 Electrical centrifugal condensate pumps
4.2.2 Mechanical condensate pumps
4.2.3 Automatic pump traps
4.3
4.4
4.4.1 Flash steam vent condenser
4.5
5.0
Please note that all the applications illustrated within this White Paper are diagrammatic representations
and are not detailed enough for safe working practice.
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is essential.
and systems.
c o n d e n s a t e
r e c o v e r y
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high-speed steam.
risk of waterhammer.
Total energy in steam
Total energy in
condensate
Pressure bar g
Figure 1: Graph showing the heat content of steam and condensate at the same pressure reveals that condensate contains
around a quarter of the energy of the steam from which it came.
c o n d e n s a t e
r e c o v e r y
do more.
boiler contamination.
Pan
Space
heating
system
Pan
Process
vessels
Steam
Steam
Condensate
Make-up
water
Vat
Vat
Condensate
Steam
Feedtank
Boiler
Feedpump
Figure 2: Schematic showing the steam and condensate loop with condensate being recovered and returned
to the boiler feedtank.
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from hot water rather than cold water. Every 6oC rise
Energy saving:
for non-compliance.
c o n d e n s a t e
r e c o v e r y
for organisations.
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independently.
c o n d e n s a t e
r e c o v e r y
appropriate time.
Steam main
Steam flow
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flashing condensate.
Level sensor
Centrifugal pump
c o n d e n s a t e
r e c o v e r y
fall. The steam inlet valve then shuts and the vent
valve opens allowing the pump body to refill. Check
Condensate
pumped
to boiler
feedtank
Steam
Steam
Steam
High level
condensate
main
Condensate
receiver
MFP
Pump
Figure 5: A typical arrangement using a mechanical pump and receiver tank to return condensate back to the boiler feedtank.
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Separator
Pressure
reducing
valve
Control
valve
Safety valve
Secondary
flow out
Steam in
High limit cut-out
Condensate
Steam
to pump
Condensate
Automatic pump-trap
Steam
plate heat
exchanger
Secondary
flow in
Figure 6: Automatic pump traps are often used to clear condensate from heat exchangers, even under vacuum.
c o n d e n s a t e
r e c o v e r y
the temperature.
Vent
Flash condensing
deareator head
Cold make-up
Blowdown
heat recovery
Condensate return
Temperature
control system
Steam
Recirculation
system
Feedwater to boiler
Figure 7: A flash condensing deaerator head ensures that returned condensate is fed into the boiler feedtank efficiently
and without operational problems.
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pressure is lowered.
Vent to atmosphere
Process water in
Process water out
Drain
Receiver vent
Figure 8: A heat exchanger fitted to a condensate recovery unit to extract heat from vented flash steam.
c o n d e n s a t e
r e c o v e r y
virtually all the energy from both the condensate and its
be used.
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Make-up tank
Level
controller
Cold water
Condensate
Boiler feedtank
Steam
supply to
injector
Flash vessel
Steam
Blowdown
valve
Float trap
Boiler
Heat
exchanger
Feedpump
Drain
c o n d e n s a t e
r e c o v e r y
Steam traps
Thermostatic steam traps do not discharge until
the condensate temperature has dropped below
Mechanical steam traps discharge condensate at
exchanger applications.
Thermodynamic steam traps are compact, simple,
plant maintenance.
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costs considerably.
Services
interface.
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