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Steam Mains and Drainage
Steam Distribution
Introduction to Steam Distribution Steam Mains and Drainage
Pipes and Pipe Sizing Issues surrounding the structure, layout and The printable version of this page has now
Steam Mains and Drainage operation of a steam distribution system, including been replaced by
condensate drain points and branch lines, the The Steam and Condensate Loop Book
Pipe Expansion and Support avoidance of waterhammer and the use of
Air Venting, Heat Losses and a separators and strainers for steam conditioning. View the complete collection of Steam
Summary of Various Pipe Related Engineering Tutorials
Use the quick links below to take you to the main
Standards
sections of this tutorial:
Related Content
Separators Throughout the length of a hot steam main, an amount of heat will be transferred to the environment, and this will
depend on the parameters identified in Block 2 - 'Steam Engineering and Heat Transfer', and brought together in
A separator will improve and
maintain the quality of steam Equation 2.5.1.
and plant productivity.
Strainers
Strainers will keep steam
clean and increase service Equation 2.5.1
life and plant productivity.
Where:
Thermodynamic Steam
Traps = Heat transferred per unit time (W)
Thermodynamic traps (TDs) k = Thermal conductivity of the material (W/m K or W/m °C)
are perfect for steam mains,
A = Heat transfer area (m²)
due to their inherent
robustness. T = Temperature difference across the material (K or °C)
= Material thickness (m)
Ball Float Steam Traps With steam systems, this loss of energy represents inefficiency, and thus pipes are insulated to limit these losses.
Float traps are the ideal Whatever the quality or thickness of insulation, there will always be a level of heat loss, and this will cause steam
choice for separators, as to condense along the length of the main.
they remove condensate as
soon as it forms. The effect of insulation is discussed in Tutorial 10.5. This Tutorial will concentrate on disposal of the inevitable
condensate, which, unless removed, will accumulate and lead to problems such as corrosion, erosion, and
waterhammer.
In addition, the steam will become wet as it picks up water droplets, which reduces its heat transfer potential. If
water is allowed to accumulate, the overall effective cross sectional area of the pipe is reduced, and steam
velocity can increase above the recommended limits.
Piping layout
It is good engineering practice that, whenever possible, the main should be installed with a fall of not less than
1:100 (1 m fall for every 100 m run), in the direction of the steam flow.This slope will ensure that gravity, as well
as the flow of steam, will assist in moving the condensate towards drain points where the condensate may be
safely and effectively removed (See Figure 10.3.1).
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Feature
The Steam and
Condensate Loop Book
Fig. 10.3.1 Typical steam main installation
Drain points
The drain point must ensure that the condensate can reach the steam trap. Careful consideration must therefore
be given to the design and location of drain points.
A comprehensive best Consideration must also be given to condensate remaining in a steam main at shutdown, when steam flow
practice guide to saving ceases. Gravity will ensure that the water (condensate) will run along sloping pipework and collect at low points
energy and optimising plant in the system. Steam traps should therefore be fitted to these low points.
performance, this book
covers all aspects of steam
and condensate systems. The amount of condensate formed in a large steam main under start-up conditions is sufficient to require the
provision of drain points at intervals of 30 m to 50 m, as well as natural low points such as at the bottom of rising
pipework.
Order your copy today
In normal operation, steam may flow along the main at speeds of up to 145 km/h, dragging condensate along with
it. Figure 10.3.2 shows a 15 mm drain pipe connected directly to the bottom of a main.
Fig. 10.3.2 Trap pocket too small
Although the 15 mm pipe has sufficient capacity, it is unlikely to capture much of the condensate moving along the
main at high speed. This arrangement will be ineffective.
A more reliable solution for the removal of condensate is shown in Figure 10.3.3. The trap line should be at least
25 to 30 mm from the bottom of the pocket for steam mains up to 100 mm, and at least 50 mm for larger mains.
This allows a space below for any dirt and scale to settle.
Fig. 10.3.3 Trap pocket properly sized
The bottom of the pocket may be fitted with a removable flange or blowdown valve for cleaning purposes.
Recommended drain pocket dimensions are shown in Table 10.3.1 and in Figure 10.3.4.
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Table 10.3.1 Recomended drain pocket dimensions
Waterhammer and its effects
Waterhammer is the noise caused by slugs of condensate colliding at high velocity into pipework fittings, plant,
and equipment. This has a number of implications:
Because the condensate velocity is higher than normal, the dissipation of kinetic energy is higher than
would normally be expected.
Water is dense and incompressible, so the 'cushioning' effect experienced when gases encounter
obstructions is absent.
The energy in the water is dissipated against the obstructions in the piping system such as valves and
fittings.
Fig. 10.3.5 Formation of a ‘solid’ slug of water
Indications of waterhammer include a banging noise, and perhaps movement of the pipe.
In severe cases, waterhammer may fracture pipeline equipment with almost explosive effect, with consequent loss
of live steam at the fracture, leading to an extremely hazardous situation.
Good engineering design, installation and maintenance will avoid waterhammer; this is far better practice than
attempting to contain it by choice of materials and pressure ratings of equipment.
Commonly, sources of waterhammer occur at the low points in the pipework (See Figure 10.3.6). Such areas are
due to:
Sagging in the line, perhaps due to failure of supports.
Incorrect use of concentric reducers (see Figure 10.3.7) - Always use eccentric reducers with the flat at
the bottom.
Incorrect strainer installation - They should be fitted with the basket on the side.
Inadequate drainage of steam lines.
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Incorrect operation - Opening valves too quickly at start-up when pipes are cold.
Fig. 10.3.6 Potential sources of waterhammer
Fig. 10.3.7 Eccentric and concentric pipe reducers
To summarise, the possibility of waterhammer is minimised by:
Installing steam lines with a gradual fall in the direction of flow, and with drain points installed at regular
intervals and at low points.
Installing check valves after all steam traps which would otherwise allow condensate to run back into the
steam line or plant during shutdown.
Opening isolation valves slowly to allow any condensate which may be lying in the system to flow gently
through the drain traps, before it is picked up by high velocity steam. This is especially important at
start-up.
Branch lines
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Fig. 10.3.8 Branch line
Branch lines are normally much shorter than steam mains. As a general rule, therefore, provided the branch line
is not more than 10 metres in length, and the pressure in the main is adequate, it is possible to size the pipe on a
velocity of 25 to 40 m/s, and not to worry about the pressure drop.
Table 10.2.4 'Saturated steam pipeline capacities for different velocities' in Tutorial 10.2 will prove useful in this
exercise.
Branch line connections
Branch line connections taken from the top of the main carry the driest steam (Figure 10.3.8). If connections are
taken from the side, or even worse from the bottom (as in Figure 10.3.9 (a)), they can accept the condensate and
debris from the steam main. The result is very wet and dirty steam reaching the equipment, which will affect
performance in both the short and long term.
The valve in Figure 10.3.9 (b) should be positioned as near to the off-take as possible to minimise condensate
lying in the branch line, if the plant is likely to be shutdown for any extended periods.
Fig. 10.3.9 Steam off-take
Drop leg
Low points will also occur in branch lines. The most common is a drop leg close to an isolating valve or a control
valve (Figure 10.3.10). Condensate can accumulate on the upstream side of the closed valve, and then be
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propelled forward with the steam when the valve opens again - consequently a drain point with a steam trap set is
good practice just prior to the strainer and control valve.
Fig. 10.3.10 Diagram of a drop leg supplying a unit heater
Rising ground and drainage
There are many occasions when a steam main must run across rising ground, or applications where the contours
of the site make it impractical to lay the pipe with the 1:100 fall proposed earlier. In these situations, the
condensate must be encouraged to run downhill and against the steam flow. Good practice is to size the pipe on
a low steam velocity of not more than 15 m/s, to run the line at a slope of no less than 1:40, and install the drain
points at not more than 15 metre intervals (see Figure 10.3.11).
The objective is to prevent the condensate film on the bottom of the pipe increasing in thickness to the point
where droplets can be picked up by the steam flow.
Fig. 10.3.11 Reverse gradient on steam main
Steam separators
Modern packaged steam boilers have a large evaporating capacity for their size and have limited capacity to cope
with rapidly changing loads. In addition, as discussed in Block 3 'The Boiler House', other circumstances, such as
...
Incorrect chemical feedwater treatment and/or TDS control.
Transient peak loads in other parts of the plant.
. . . can cause priming and carryover of boiler water into the steam mains.
Separators, as shown by the cut section in Figure 10.3.12, may be installed to remove this water.
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Fig. 10.3.12 Cut section through a separator
As a general rule, providing the velocities in the pipework are within reasonable limits, separators will be line
sized. (Separators are discussed in detail in Tutorial 12.5)
A separator will remove both droplets of water from pipe walls and suspended mist entrained in the steam itself.
The presence and effect of waterhammer can be eradicated by fitting a separator in a steam main, and can often
be less expensive than increasing the pipe size and fabricating drain pockets.
A separator is recommended before control valves and flowmeters. It is also wise to fit a separator where a steam
main enters a building from outside. This will ensure that any condensate produced in the external distribution
system is removed and the building always receives dry steam. This is equally important where steam usage in
the building is monitored and charged for.
Strainers
When new pipework is installed, it is not uncommon for fragments of casting sand, packing, jointing, swarf,
welding rods and even nuts and bolts to be accidentally deposited inside the pipe. In the case of older pipework,
there will be rust, and in hard water districts, a carbonate deposit. Occasionally, pieces will break loose and pass
along the pipework with the steam to rest inside a piece of steam using equipment. This may, for example,
prevent a valve from opening/closing correctly. Steam using equipment may also suffer permanent damage
through wiredrawing - the cutting action of high velocity steam and water passing through a partly open valve.
Once wiredrawing has occurred, the valve will never give a tight shut-off, even if the dirt is removed.
It is therefore wise to fit a line-size strainer in front of every steam trap, flowmeter, reducing valve and regulating
valve. The illustration shown in Figure 10.3.13 shows a cut section through a typical strainer.
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Fig. 10.3.13 Cut section through a Y-type strainer.
Steam flows from the inlet 'A'through the perforated screen ' B'to the outlet '
C'. While steam and water will pass
readily through the screen, dirt cannot. The cap 'D', can be removed, allowing the screen to be withdrawn and
cleaned at regular intervals. A blowdown valve can also be fitted to cap '
D'to facilitate regular cleaning.
Strainers can however, be a source of wet steam as previously mentioned. To avoid this situation, strainers
should always be installed in steam lines with their baskets to the side.
Strainers and screen details are discussed in Tutorial 12.4.
How to drain steam mains
Steam traps are the most effective and efficient method of draining condensate from a steam distribution system.
The steam traps selected must suit the system in terms of:
Pressure rating
Capacity
Suitability
Pressure rating
Pressure rating is easily dealt with; the maximum possible working pressure at the steam trap will either be known
or should be established.
Capacity
Capacity, that is, the quantity of condensate to be discharged, which needs to be divided into two categories;
warm-up load and running load.
Warm-up load - In the first instance, the pipework needs to be brought up to operating temperature. This can be
determined by calculation, knowing the mass and specific heat of the pipework and fittings. Alternatively, Table
10.3.2 may be used.
The table shows the amount of condensate generated when bringing 50 m of steam main up to working
temperature; 50 m being the maximum recommended distance between trapping points.
The values shown are in kilograms. To determine the average condensing rate, the time taken for the
process must be considered. For example, if the warm-up process required 50 kg of steam, and was to
take 20 minutes, then the average condensing rate would be:
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When using these capacities to size a steam trap, it is worth remembering that the initial pressure in the
main will be little more than atmospheric when the warm-up process begins. However, the condensate
loads will still generally be well within the capacity of a DN15 'low capacity' steam trap. Only in rare
applications at very high pressures (above 70 bar g), combined with large pipe sizes, will greater trap
capacity be needed.
Running load - Once the steam main is up to operating temperature, the rate of condensation is mainly a
function of the pipe size and the quality and thickness of the insulation.
Alternatively, for quick approximations of running load, Table 10.3.3 can be used which shows typical amounts of
steam condensed each hour per 50 m of insulated steam main at various pressures. For accurate means of
calculating running losses from steam mains, refer to Tutorial 2.12 'Steam consumption of pipes and air heaters'.
Table 10.3.2 Amount of steam condensed to warm-up 50 m of schedule 40 pipe (kg)
Note: Figures are based on an ambient temperature of 20°C, and an insulation efficiency of 80%
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Table 10.3.3 Condensing rate of steam in 50 m of schedule 40 pipe - at working temperature (kg/h)
Note: Figures are based on an ambient temperature of 20°C, and an insulation efficiency of 80%
Suitability
A mains drain trap should consider the following constraints:
Discharge temperature - The steam trap should discharge at, or very close to saturation temperature,
unless cooling legs are used between the drain point and the trap. This means that the choice is a
mechanical type trap (such as a float, inverted bucket type, or thermodynamic traps).
Frost damage - Where the steam main is located outside a building and there is a possibility of sub-zero
ambient temperature, the thermodynamic steam trap is ideal, as it is not damaged by frost. Even if the
installation causes water to be left in the trap at shutdown and freezing occurs, the thermodynamic trap
may be thawed out without suffering damage when brought back into use.
Waterhammer - In the past, on poorly laid out installations where waterhammer was a common
occurrence, float traps were not always ideal due to their susceptibility to float damage. Contemporary
design and manufacturing techniques now produce extremely robust units for mains drainage purposes.
Float traps are certainly the first choice for proprietary separators as high capacities are readily achieved,
and they are able to respond quickly to rapid load increases.
Steam traps used to drain condensate from steam mains, are shown in Figure 10.3.14. The thermostatic trap is
included because it is ideal where there is no choice but to discharge condensate into a flooded return pipe.
The subject of steam trapping is dealt with in detail in the Block 11, 'Steam Trapping'.
Fig. 10.3.14 Steam traps suitable for steam mains drainage
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Steam leaks
Steam leaking from pipework is often ignored. Leaks can be costly in both the economic and environmental sense
and therefore need prompt attention to ensure the steam system is working at its optimum efficiency with a
minimum impact on the environment.
Figure 10.3.15 illustrates the steam loss for various sizes of hole at various pressures. This loss can be readily
translated into a fuel saving based on the annual hours of operation.
Fig. 10.3.15 Steam leakage rate through holes
Summary
Proper pipe alignment and drainage means observing a few simple rules:
Steam lines should be arranged to fall in the direction of flow, at not less than 100 mm per 10 metres of
pipe (1:100). Steam lines rising in the direction of flow should slope at not less than 250 mm per 10
metres of pipe (1:40).
Steam lines should be drained at regular intervals of 30-50 m and at any low points in the system.
lWhere drainage has to be provided in straight lengths of pipe, then a large bore pocket should be used to
collect condensate.
If strainers are to be fitted, then they should be fitted on their sides.
Branch connections should always be taken from the top of the main from where the driest steam is taken.
Separators should be considered before any piece of steam using equipment ensuring that dry steam is
used.
Traps selected should be robust enough to avoid waterhammer damage and frost damage.
W hat do I do now?
The printable version of this page has now been replaced by The Steam and Condensate Loop Book
View the complete collection of Steam Engineering Tutorials
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