Steam Pipe Velocity
Steam Pipe Velocity
(OP)
There is a central plant which supplies me with Saturated Steam @ 125 psig. I would like to add another building at
one end of the loop. Is there a recommend maximum velocity for steam so I can size my lines properly
Thanks in Advance
one end of the loop. Is there a recommend maximum velocity for steam so I can size my lines properly
Thanks in Advance





RE: Steam Pipe Velocity
Aim for something like a 10 PSI drop maximum on long runs.
RE: Steam Pipe Velocity
And don't forget about expansion as I have seen some people do in the past!
RE: Steam Pipe Velocity
Even if one provides pressure reducing stations, it is not better to drop pressure below 10psi (a good point TBP referred).
Regards,
Repetition is the foundation of technology
RE: Steam Pipe Velocity
Given that most people in the chain err on the side of caution - building heat loss, actual heat emitters, the convertor station, etc - by the time the steam supply is sized to meet this, you get a grossly oversized installation in which control valves hunt themselves to death, steam meters usually run far below the bottom of their accurate range, and the whole steam installation costs FAR more than it should have.
I've lost track of how many building steam supplies I've seen that have a 6" supply line that we dropped to 2" inside the building, and then to 1-1/2" for the meter.
RE: Steam Pipe Velocity
Saturated Steam 0-25 psig 4,000 to 6,000 fpm
Above 25 psig 6,000 to 10,000 fpm
Superheated Steam 200 psig and up 7,000 to 20,000 fpm