Condensate storage tank material suggestions
Condensate storage tank material suggestions
(OP)
Looking for condensate storage tank material suggestions. (carbon steel, lined carbon steel, duplex stainless, fiberglass, etc.) We are looking to purchase (2) several thousand gallon tanks to act as storage/surge tanks for condensate coming back from many buildings connected to our steam distribution system.
We currently have (2) storage tanks from the early 50's that have served us well, that were originally used as lime softening water tanks, I am not sure when they were switched over. These current tanks are fabricated out of carbon steel.
I would be very hesitant to use 304 or 316 SS due to the possibility of SCC, even though our chloride levels are normally low (6.4), there is a possiblilty they could spike if we had problems with water heaters in buildings on our steam distribution system if the water heaters had tube failures and sent raw water into our condensate return stream. A duplex stainless steel could be a possibility.
Below are our condensate conditions:
Chlorides: 6.4 mg/L
Conductivity: 2.8 uS (can be up to 70 temporarily if we have a large water heater failure on steam distribution system)
pH: 7.5-8.5
Temperature: 150-180 degF
hardness: 3-4
Thank you, -Tim
We currently have (2) storage tanks from the early 50's that have served us well, that were originally used as lime softening water tanks, I am not sure when they were switched over. These current tanks are fabricated out of carbon steel.
I would be very hesitant to use 304 or 316 SS due to the possibility of SCC, even though our chloride levels are normally low (6.4), there is a possiblilty they could spike if we had problems with water heaters in buildings on our steam distribution system if the water heaters had tube failures and sent raw water into our condensate return stream. A duplex stainless steel could be a possibility.
Below are our condensate conditions:
Chlorides: 6.4 mg/L
Conductivity: 2.8 uS (can be up to 70 temporarily if we have a large water heater failure on steam distribution system)
pH: 7.5-8.5
Temperature: 150-180 degF
hardness: 3-4
Thank you, -Tim





RE: Condensate storage tank material suggestions
Let me preface this with the statement "I am no expert on this but"
I would make the tanks out of the same material as the rest of the steam system, probably carbon steel. However my first thought was that you have a huge storage volume. Maybe you have a very large system but just based on a few things I have seen I would guess that you need to talk to a steam expert and reduce your condensate drums down to 500 to 1000 gallons total or less. Maybe there is a rule of thumb for condensate holdup vs #/hr of steam generated but I don't know it.
Let's see what others have to say.
Regards
StoneCold
RE: Condensate storage tank material suggestions
RE: Condensate storage tank material suggestions
If you evaporate 30,000 lbs per hour, then you need a tank that will hold 20,000 lb when full to overflow.
RE: Condensate storage tank material suggestions
RE: Condensate storage tank material suggestions
They are all steel construction, lined internally with an epoxy coating. Carboline has several good products.
Your condensate looks pretty innocuous. Stainless is overkill, and fantastically expensive to boot.
Fibreglass might get pricey once you get into larger sizes.
RE: Condensate storage tank material suggestions
RE: Condensate storage tank material suggestions
RE: Condensate storage tank material suggestions