Condensate Management


When you're working with heat transfer in a steam system, it's inevitable that you end up with a by-product we in the steam business refer to as condensate. Accumulation of this by-product is unavoidable, forming as a result of radiation and heat transfer. Once the steam has given up its valuable latent heat, condensate must be removed immediately. Management of condensate accumulation and distribution is an important element in an efficient steam system.


Heat Content
Condensate takes up space that steam cannot penetrate, under normal conditions. Steam contains more than 5 times the heat of condensate at atmospheric pressure, though this ratio falls as pressure increases.

 

Heat Transfer
Due to condensate's lack of latent heat, areas of a heat exchanger filled with condensate transfer much less heat than those areas filled with steam.

 

 

Condensate Accumulation
Heat is continuously flowing from the steam to the water, causing more steam to become condensate.