Steam Basics Part 5: Condensate Drop Leg and Pipe Size

Steam Basics Part 5: Condensate Drop Leg and Pipe Size

A few weeks ago we discussed the steam pipe size entering a shell and tube heat exchanger, also called a convertor. This week we turn our attention to the condensate outlet. A customer recently asked, “I was told to pipe a 14-inch condensate drop leg from the bottom of a steam-to-water heat exchanger to the F&T trap inlet. What happens if I ...?”

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Steam Basics Part 4: Vacuum Breakers on Steam-to-Water Heat Exhangers

Steam Basics Part 4:  Vacuum Breakers on Steam-to-Water Heat Exhangers

This week we take a look at the vacuum breaker on a steam-to-water heat exchanger. Steam-to-water heat exchangers, or steam heating coils with on-off or modulating control valves, require a vacuum breaker. This simple and relatively inexpensive device may save ...

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Steam Basics Part 2: Steam Inlet Pipe Size of Steam-to-Water Heat Exchangers

Steam Basics Part 2: Steam Inlet Pipe Size of Steam-to-Water Heat Exchangers

Many institutional and industrial projects use steam to heat the water for hydronic heating, domestic water, or processes. The pipe size prior to the steam control valve is often shown, but the pipe size from the control valve to the steam-to-water heat exchanger or converter is rarely shown. A question we receive often is...

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