Hot condensate is valuable. Recover all uncontaminated condensate. A typical plant can save 20-26% of their steam energy costs.
Install drip legs upstream of all PRV and control valves to prevent valves becoming wire-drawn.
Set up a periodic program to blow down all strainers in the steam system. Strainers are the cheapest insurance against plugged traps.
There are three different types of steam traps: density, thermostatic and thermodynamic. It is critical to understand how they operate and how to apply them to your plant processes.
Insulate the steam system and save what may be incredible energy dollars. Just one foot of 2″ piping will waste up to 190 lbs. of fuel oil! If you don’t believe how important it is see how much fuel you are wasting.
Install a strainer with a blow-down upstream of each steam trap and critical valve. This is the cheapest insurance against plugging or fouling. And, of course, blow them down on a regular basis!
Increase steam efficiency by carefully selecting, sizing and installing the type of steam trap best suited for each application.
Plant personnel should be encouraged by management to report all external steam leaks. Small leaks quickly turn into large ones through wire-drawing and erosion. Just a 1/16″ diameter leak @ 100 psi will waste $1,156.00 annually at a steam cost of $10.00/1,000 lbs.