Thread Content
This post was last edited by yuchenchf on 2017-2-21 at 14:48. For most steam users, the steam demand is often fluctuating; this is especially true in industries that involve batch production, where the fluctuations in steam demand are even greater, and the peak steam demand can exceed the boiler’s maximum continuous evaporation capacity. This situation will result in the following consequence: the steam pressure decreases ； Severe water carryover in steam ； Processing time increased ； Production volume decreases, and product quality declines ； Corrosion of pipes, valves, and equipment worsens, water hammer becomes severe, leading to an increased rate of equipment maintenance and a shortened lifespan ； Increased boiler maintenance requirements and shortened lifespan ； The boiler’s combustion efficiency decreases, fuel costs rise, and pollution emissions increase ； In severe cases, it can cause the boiler to shut down automatically, affecting production. Most companies use multiple boilers connected in parallel or install boilers with higher capacity to meet peak loads, but this not only increases investment and operating costs but also leads to inefficient operation of the boilers. Furthermore, when the boiler is shut down at low load, if the load suddenly increases and ignition cannot be carried out in time, an alarm and interlock mechanism will be triggered, making it difficult and slow to restore steam supply. Over the years, boilers with the same evaporation capacity have become smaller in size and more efficient, which has reduced the thermal capacity of the system. As a result, the operation of steam systems is more vulnerable to peak load shocks; such peaks can severely impact production during system startup or during periods of high demand. At the same time, there are also instances where large boilers are used for tasks that require smaller ones, leading to system operation problems and energy waste. So, how exactly can these problems be solved? The steam heat storage system is the best solution. Its working principle is as follows: when the steam demand is lower than the evaporation capacity of the boiler, the excess steam from the boiler enters the heat storage system, where it heats the softened water until its temperature reaches the saturation temperature at the operating pressure of the boiler. When the steam load exceeds the boiler’s evaporation capacity, resulting in a drop in the steam supply pressure, the saturated water in the heat storage system generates secondary steam to supplement the steam flow and meet the requirements of peak loads. As the load gradually decreases, the excess steam from the boiler is stored back in the heat storage system, and this process repeats itself. Steam thermal storage systems bring numerous benefits to enterprises: reduced total floor area required ； Equipment investment and installation costs are reduced, and operating expenses decrease ； Extended system operational life ； The boiler is protected from severe load fluctuations, resulting in improved efficiency, reduced maintenance costs, and an extended lifespan ； The boiler’s combustion efficiency improves, fuel consumption is reduced, and pollution emissions are decreased ； The steam supply pressure remains stable, and the steam dryness increases ； System corrosion is reduced, and water hammer is mitigated ； Improvement in corporate production efficiency and product quality.