Vent Height for Steam Release
Vent Height for Steam Release
(OP)
Hello, can you tell me if there is a standard for the height of a vent stack to release steam from a flashing process. This application involves the blowdown from a hot lime softener were lake water is softened with lime at 20 psi and 230F. There will be a blowdown flow of 50-100 gpm from the vessel to an open top tank where a portion of liquid flashes and the condensed water is collected and pumped from the tank. The tank is not large and is at ground level. Thank you in advance for your help.





RE: Vent Height for Steam Release
This is the guidance I have used, and given many times. I could be wrong, but no one has ever cited an over riding standard or practice:
The vent height should be sufficiently high that upon discharge, personnel cannot be exposed to the vent gas/vapor, and that the vented gas can be dispersed safely. This would suggest that the stack should be at least 3 meters (10 feet) above any near working surface, and that at least a screening model should be considered for dispersion. Since it's a steam release, the height and distance should be enough that any steam or entrained condensate will condense and cool before it drifts to any designed work area/level.
Hope that helps.