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Steam Basics: Use Available Data to Lower Steam System Cost
Abstract
Industrial steam users recognize the need to
reduce system cost in order to remain internationally
competitive. Steam systems are a key utility that
influence cost significantly, and represent a high
value opportunity target. However, the quality of
steam is often taken for granted, even overlooked at
times. When the recent global recession challenged
companies to remain profitable as a first priority, the
result was that maintenance budgets were cut and
long term cost reduction initiatives for steam systems
set aside due to more pressing issues.
One of the regrettable results of such actions is
that knowledgeable personnel are re-assigned,
retired, or released when necessary steam system cost
reduction programs are eliminated. When the time
arrives to refocus on long term cost reduction by
improving the steam system, some programs may
have to start from the beginning and a clear path
forward may not be evident. New personnel are
often tasked with steam improvements when the
programs restart, and they may experience difficulty
in determining the true key factors that can help
reduce system cost.
The urgency for lowering long term fuel use and
reducing the cost of producing steam is near for each
plant. Population growth and resultant global demand
are inevitable, so the global economy will expand,
production will increase, more fossil fuel energy will
be needed, and that fuel will become scarce and more
costly. Although fuel prices are low now, energy
costs can be expected to trend significantly upward
as global production and demand increase. Now is
the time for plants to make certain that they can
deliver high quality steam to process equipment at
lowest system cost.
There are three stages to help optimize plant
steam for best performance at a low system cost;
Phase 1: Manage the condensate discharge locations
(where the steam traps & valves are located),
Phase 2: Optimize steam-using equipment, and
Phase 3: Optimize the entire steam system.
This presentation will focus primarily on
management of the condensate discharge locations
(CDLs) and show sites how to use readily available
data to more efficiently achieve goals; but will also
provide insight into how the three stages interact to
reduce system cost and improve process
performance.
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Citation
Risko, J. R. (2011). Steam Basics: Use Available Data to Lower Steam System Cost. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /94787.