Barometric condensers problem

Barometric condenser systems can be a major source of contamination in plant effluents and can cause a particularly difficult problem by producing a high-volume, dilute waste stream [8]. Water reduction can be achieved by replacing barometric condensers with surface condensers. Vacuum pumps can replace steam jet eductors. Reboilers can be used instead of live steam reactor and floor washwater, surface runoff, scrubber effluents, and vacuum seal water can be reused. 

Two problems arose with the use of the barometric condenser. First, if the condenser operated at subatmospheric pressure, how can the water be drained out of the condenser That is easy. Set the condenser on a hill 34 ft high. Then drain the water down, through a barometric leg, to a seal pot. The pressure which a column of water 34 ft high exerts is equal to one atmosphere, or one bar. Hence the term, barometric leg. ... 

There is another problem with the barometric condenser that did not become apparent at first. When the British Navy decided to convert from sail to steam, this problem was immediately obvious. While steam can be generated from seawater, it is far better to use freshwater, especially if one wishes to generate high-temperature, high-pressure steam. And as freshwater supplies are limited at sea, it would be great if the condensed steam could be recycled to the boilers. But the cooling-water supply to the barometric condensers was naturally seawater which mixed with the steam condensate. 

FOLLOW-UP PROBLEM 5.8 An en5)ty 149-mL flask weighs 68.322 g before a sample of volatile liquid is added. The flask is then placed in a hot (95.0°C) water bath the barometric pressure is 740. torr. The liquid vaporizes and the gas fiUs the flask. After cooling, flask and condensed liquid together weigh 68.697 g. What is the molar mass of the liquid ... 

Condensate backup is also caused by a large number of problems associated with the barometric drain line, and especially with the seal drum, shown in Fig. 23.2 ... 

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