Steam condensate return piping - cannot continuously slope down
Steam condensate return piping - cannot continuously slope down
(OP)
We are installing a 125 psig steam main through the basement of a building. The amount of ceiling space is quite limited and the run through the building is several hundred feet, so we'll have to trap at every steam main low point where it rises up before sloping to the next low point. My question though is about the corresponding condensate return line that will serve the traps on the steam line. It's typically suggested to slope a condensate line back to the flash tank (and, in our case, we have a 15 psig system we intend to serve with recovery steam), but there isn't ceiling space to continuously slope the condensate return the whole way back to the flash tank. So long as the steam line is under pressure, there will be motive force to push condensate/flash steam through the condensate line back to the flash tank without relying on gravity, but if there are any low points in the line, I'd worry about water hammer if a burst of 2-phase flow collides with condensate pooled at a low point. Is there good guidance somewhere in how to pipe a condensate return line when you can't continuously slope it down the whole way? Thanks.





RE: Steam condensate return piping - cannot continuously slope down
RE: Steam condensate return piping - cannot continuously slope down
I like Goerge's idea, can you make that work?
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube
RE: Steam condensate return piping - cannot continuously slope down
RE: Steam condensate return piping - cannot continuously slope down
I don't think heat tracing is going to work, because you have to keep pipe temperature to saturation temperature. This is impractical.
Do you have a space available for straight condensate line without any slope? If you have, then screw the idea of sloping it.
Just select bigger size condensate pipe and try to support it more often then required. This will reduce pipe deflection and will keep condensate flowing.
You may have your steam traps installed below condesate return line and have "a lift" from steam trap to condesate line. So your line from steam trap to condesate line will be always flooded with condesate.
What size steam and condesate lines are we talking about?
Thanks,
Curtis
RE: Steam condensate return piping - cannot continuously slope down
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RE: Steam condensate return piping - cannot continuously slope down