The science behind modern steam engineering introduced over 16 topics. These form a solid foundation for understanding the principles and practices relating to steam.
Engineering Units
A detailed look at the globally-agreed units used in steam system engineering. Many you will be familiar with, thanks to their widespread use, whilst we also examine those with specific relevance to steam.
What is Steam?
Here we delve into the physics that lies behind steam. Understand the triple point, saturated steam tables, steam dryness, and what is flash steam.
Superheated Steam
Explore why superheated steam is used, the two theories used to measure its efficiency, the superheated steam table, and its pros and cons.
Steam Quality
Learn about the properties that ensure steam works effectively, why noncondensable gasses matter, and what is a water hammer (and why they should be avoided).
Heat Transfer
A detailed look at how heat is transferred, the thermal conductivity of different materials, barriers to heat transfer, and the various equations needed to measure the efficiency of heat transfer.
Methods of Estimating Steam Consumption
Crucial to an efficient system, we look at the options for estimating your steam needs, both in flow and non-flow applications.
Measurement of Steam Consumption
The three main ways of calculating your steam consumption are considered; a flowmeter, condensate pump, and condensate collection.
Thermal Rating
Why your equipment's thermal rating cannot necessarily be taken as read, and the factors you will need to consider when interpreting it.
Energy Consumption of Tanks and Vats
Widely used to contain liquids, tanks and vats are either open or closed. Here we look at how you can calculate the amount of energy needed for various situations.
Heating with Coils and Jackets
A comprehensive look at submerged steam coils and steam jackets, the two most common ways of indirectly heating liquids in a vessel. The calculations needed, design, and controls are all covered.
Heating Vats and Tanks by Steam Injections
The most common method of heating boiler feed tanks, heat is transferred by direct contact between steam and the liquid. The amount of steam needed, and the factors that might affect the heat transfer rate are dealt with here.
Steam Consumption of Pipes and Air Heaters
Here we investigate how the pipes that carry steam affect the system's efficiency. The difference between warm-up and running loads are considered, and the calculations needed to measure heat loss. We also look at air heating equipment and how to assess these too.
Steam Consumption of Heat Exchangers
This section focuses on shell and tube heat exchangers and plate heat exchangers. How they are used, their design and steam consumption calculations for them are all discussed. Finally, we look at other shell and tube steam heaters.
Steam Consumption of Plant Items
Steam has many other uses. In this module we look at heater batteries, heating calorifiers, hot water storage calorifiers, drying cylinders, presses, and tracer lines. For each, we look at how steam consumption may be estimated.
Entropy - a basic understanding
A practical approach to understanding what entropy is, how it can be measured, and why entropy is so important to steam engineering.
Entropy - its practical use
Find out how Temperature-Entropy and Enthalpy-Entropy charts can help you, how kinetic energy works in steam, and why understanding control valves is so important.