Condensate pipeline vibration
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This post was last edited by liaifeng on 2018-9-2 at 15:30. After starting operations, the 1.0MPa steam condensate was integrated into the 0.3MPa steam condensate pipeline network, which caused vibrations in the pipes used to transport the condensate via condensate pumps. I would like to know how to address this issue
It may be caused by steam in the condensate water.
If it’s liquid slugging, it must be caused by phase change, which makes it easy to analyze
The pressures of the two condensate pipes are different, as are the temperatures of the condensate. Water flowing from the side with a higher temperature to the side with a lower temperature may vaporize, resulting in gas-liquid vibrations and water hammer.
Gas enters the pipeline; 1.0 of the steam condensate goes into the tank, while the gas at the top is reused. The condensate at the bottom can be pumped and fed into the pipeline network without any problems. If there is vibration at the pump outlet, installing a metal hose there will resolve the issue.
If the amount of steam condensation at 1.0 MPa is high, install a flash tank； If the quantity is small, you can refer to the method in #9
A low-pressure separator can be installed to feed the condensate at 1.0 MPa in order to separate it and reduce its pressure, before combining it with that at 0.3 MPa and sending it away
Why send 0.3 MPa steam outside? We already draw in 0.3 MPa steam from the external supply to use as a heat source for the bottom reboiler, which helps save steam!