STEAM TRACINGS
STEAM TRACINGS
(OP)
Hi,
We are using 3/8 copper tubings for steam tracings our phenol and other pipelines at 65 psig pressure with 0 psig back-pressure.
In our steam trap strainers we get a brown fine powder (may be some oxide?) and that causes lots of trouble.
Any ideas what this powder may be and how to get rid of this? Can this cause excessive pressure drop in the tracings?
We are using 3/8 copper tubings for steam tracings our phenol and other pipelines at 65 psig pressure with 0 psig back-pressure.
In our steam trap strainers we get a brown fine powder (may be some oxide?) and that causes lots of trouble.
Any ideas what this powder may be and how to get rid of this? Can this cause excessive pressure drop in the tracings?





RE: STEAM TRACINGS
If you have carbon steel components in the piping so with the copper and hot water you get a galvanic cell and the powder is the corrosion product, we are using carbon steel tubes for steam tracing.
roker
RE: STEAM TRACINGS
AS for pressure the pressure drops, I'd suspect that the heat load from the tracing is condensing steam faster than the supply can deliver it. You could try increasing the steam supply pressure.
RE: STEAM TRACINGS
I do not recommend carbon steel tube as tracing material, because carbon steel tube has thin wall without corrosion allowance. Stainless steel tube should be a better choice to avoid corrosion.
ulpain,
What are the size of pipelines? Carbon steel pipe size 1/2 or 3/4 inch may be an option for tracing.