STEAM ADVANTAGES

Steam offers the following advantages:

• Steam flows through the system unaided by external energy sources such as pumps.
• Because of its low density, steam can be used in tall buildings where water systems create excessive pressure.
• Terminal units can be added or removed without making basic changes to the design.
• Steam components can be repaired or replaced by closing the steam supply, without the difficulties associated with draining
and refilling a water system. • Steam is pressure-temperature dependent; therefore, the system temperature can be controlled by varying either steam pressure or temperature.
• Steam can be distributed throughout a heating system with little change in temperature In view of these advantages, steam is applicable to the following facilities:

• Where heat is required for process and comfort heating, such as in industrial plants, hospitals, restaurants, dry-cleaning plants, laundries, and commercial buildings
• Where the heating medium must travel great distances, such as in facilities with scattered building locations, or where the building height would result in excessive pressure in a water system • Where intermittent changes in heat load occur

STEAM FUNDAMENTALS

Steam is the vapor phase of water and is generated by adding more heat than required to maintain its liquid phase at a given pres-

The preparation of this chapter is assigned to TC 6.1, Hydronic and Steam Equipment and Systems. sure, causing the liquid to change to vapor without any further increase in temperature. Table 1 illustrates the pressure-temperature relationship and various other properties of steam.

Temperature is the thermal state of both liquid and vapor at any given pressure. The values shown in Table 1 are for dry saturated steam. The vapor temperature can be raised by adding more heat, resulting in superheated steam, which is used (1) where higher temperatures are required, (2) in large distribution systems to compensate for heat losses and to ensure that steam is delivered at the desired saturated pressure and temperature, and (3) to ensure that the steam is dry and contains no entrained liquid that could damage some turbine-driven equipment.

Enthalpy of the liquid hf (sensible heat) is the amount of heat in Btu required to raise the temperature of a pound of water from 32°F to the boiling point at the pressure indicated.

Enthalpy of evaporation hfg (latent heat of vaporization) is the amount of heat required to change a pound of boiling water at a given pressure to a pound of steam at the same pressure. This same amount of heat is released when the vapor is condensed back to a liquid.

Enthalpy of the steam hg (total heat) is the combined enthalpy of liquid and vapor and represents the total heat above 32°F in the steam.

Specific volume, the reciprocal of density, is the volume of unit mass and indicates the volumetric space that 1 lb of steam or water occupies.

An understanding of the above helps explain some of the following unique properties and advantages of steam:

• Most of the heat content of steam is stored as latent heat, which permits large quantities of heat to be transmitted efficiently with little change in temperature. Because the temperature of saturated steam is pressure-dependent, a negligible temperature reduction occurs from the reduction in pressure caused by pipe friction losses as steam flows through the system. This occurs regardless of the insulation efficiency, as long as the boiler maintains the initial pressure and the steam traps remove the condensate. Conversely, in a hydronic system, inadequate insulation can significantly reduce fluid temperature. • Steam, as all fluids, flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure and is able to move throughout a system without an
external energy source. Heat dissipation causes the vapor to condense, which creates a reduction in pressure caused by the dramatic change in specific volume (1600:1 at atmospheric pressure).
• As steam gives up its latent heat at the terminal equipment, the condensate that forms is initially at the same pressure and temperature as the steam. When this condensate is discharged to a lower