Seeking advice on steam condensate recovery

Centralized recovery, cascade flash evaporation. Recovery is carried out according to the steam pressure grade; the condensate from higher-pressure (higher temperature) steam is recovered in a closed system, where flash evaporation produces secondary steam of a lower grade, allowing some of the thermal energy to be recovered. The condensate after flash evaporation is incorporated into the lower-grade condensate pipeline network. If there are lower-grade steam/condensate systems, flash evaporation can be performed again. And so on. Ultimately, the lowest-grade condensate can be used for air conditioning cooling, as well as for insulating/heating pipes/equipment. Finally, it can be returned to the thermal power plant or reused. Direct discharge to the drain is feasible, but recycling offers excellent economic benefits. Recycling should be considered. In particular, it should be taken into account that under closed-loop recycling, the quality of the condensate water can be considered as deoxygenated water, and the unit price of deoxygenated water is relatively high; this alone represents a significant economic advantage. The cost efficiency of recycling can be estimated based on the usage levels at various stages of the system; generally, compared to not recycling, the payback period for the investment in recycled equipment/pipes is no more than 1 month.

This post was last edited by xuhm on 2011-2-28 at 14:11. 4) Condensate recovery system at Hangzhou West Lake Valve Factory: The steam-water mixture resulting from heat exchange in steam-using equipment is automatically recovered into the hot water tank without the need for pumps or backpressure, through high-performance “Li’s” brand steam traps； The water from the soft water tank is pumped to the flash evaporation unit located above the hot water tank, where the secondary steam in the high-temperature condensate is removed, thereby reducing the temperature of the condensate. The water with a reduced temperature is, via an automatic monitoring system, pumped directly into the boiler first. If the monitoring indicates that the boiler does not require water, the cooled condensate returns to the soft water tank, helping to maintain balance in the pressure of the flash evaporation unit. Secondary steam is eliminated through heat exchange, while maximizing the utilization of heat as well. Automatic control devices are necessary because the quality and flow rate of condensate water vary significantly among different users, making it difficult to carry out manual adjustments; therefore, automatic control is essential. The closed-loop recycling system is equipped with an automatic control circuit: one that automatically controls the start/stop and flow rate of the recycling pump based on the liquid level in the collection tank ； The other method is to, based on the level of liquid in the boiler’s drum, use a level alarm and solenoid valve to send the recovered hot water to a certain boiler or deaerator. 4.1 Energy-saving examples: At the end of 2009, Shandong Ouhua Home Textiles Dyeing & Printing Co., Ltd. invested 942,241,210 yuan in upgrading its plant’s equipment by implementing high-temperature condensate recovery systems, including the installation of Li’s brand hydrophobic units, the replacement of return water pipes, and the use of automatic monitoring systems for flash evaporation control. It was put into full operation in March 2010; in April alone, 423 tons of high-temperature condensate water at 85°C were recovered and reused. It is estimated that annual energy and water savings will amount to around 2.65 million yuan, with the entire investment being recouped within 6 months. In particular, the environmental pollution caused by leaks and drips has been completely eliminated, and its social benefits are immeasurable. http://www.hzxhfmc.com

Recycling should be considered. The recycling value is considerable. The circulating water is reused in the boiler system.