Condensate Return System
Condensate Return System
(OP)
I have designed a fuel oil heating system using 15 bar superheated (190°C) with coils inside two 4000 m³ tanks. My questios is how i can design my condensate return system. May I direct the condensate right through the deaerator or I have to include some collection/pumping system??
Thanks
Thanks





RE: Condensate Return System
Remember to size your return header for two phase flow if your steam trap on the heating coils will remove the condensate at saturated conditions since it will flash in the header. Armstrong and Spirac Sarco have some good booklets on steam trapping you might want to look at on their websites. Armstrong and Spirac both recommend sizing the return header based solely on the flash steam (since it's the major component on a volumetric basis) and gives you some velocity guidelines, I believe around a maximum of 7000 feet/min.
Coils inside tanks are typically sloped so that the condensate runs to the low outlet point. From there, you will have a steam trap that will discharge the condensate as it's formed to your return header and then back to your deareastor.
RE: Condensate Return System
Impossible to find more information in such small message...
Thanks a lot.
RE: Condensate Return System
RE: Condensate Return System
Dave
RE: Condensate Return System
Your comments regarding temperature control and condensate pump are well intended. Many times this issue is not known.I think may depend on the operational temperature of the fuel oil. If the fuel oil is kept below 100 deg you may experience problems.It also depend on the return line characteristics.
Hogweed,
there are some new trap designs that can even overcome the problem mentioned by steam4 due to the fact that they include a integrated pump (Spiraxsarco et al).
kind regards
RE: Condensate Return System
In my opinion, the above comments are accurate and helpful...
I agree with TBP, the use of superheated steam in, what seems to me to be a saturated steam application, should be discussed.
I believe that control of tank heating will be a problem, and at 190C you may risk the "char" the fuel oil ( Is it #6 fuel oil ?) on the heating coils.
Have you considered the use of a "desuperheater" in your system ? Saturated steam is more "potent" and a lot easier to control. You will need a source of water at ~ 16 bar to make a desuperheater work.
For more desuperheater info, try
www.dezurik.com/MNSD_desuperheaters.htm
www.komax.com/Default.htm
This system sounds a lot like the emergency fuel source in a power plant application, is it ?
My opinion only.....
MJC