Steam saturated

Figure 6.25a shows the same grand composite curve with two levels of saturated steam used as a hot utility. The steam system in Fig. 6.25a shows the low-pressure steam being desuperheated by injection of boiler feedwater after pressure reduction to maintain saturated conditions. Figure 6.256 shows again the same grand composite curve but with hot oil used as a hot utility. 

The output from the turbine might be superheated or partially condensed, as is the case in Fig. 6.32. If the exhaust steam is to be used for process heating, ideally it should be close to saturated conditions. If the exhaust steam is significantly superheated, it can be desuperheated by direct injection of boiler feedwater, which vaporizes and cools the steam. However, if saturated steam is fed to a steam main, with significant potential for heat losses from the main, then it is desirable to retain some superheat rather than desuperheat the steam to saturated conditions. If saturated steam is fed to the main, then heat losses will cause excessive condensation in the main, which is not desirable. On the other hand, if the exhaust steam from the turbine is partially condensed, the condensate is separated and the steam used for heating. 

From steam tables, the outlet temperature is 251°C, which is superheated by 67°C. Although steam for process heating is preferred at saturated conditions, it is not desirable in this case to desuperheat by boiler feedwater injection to bring to saturated conditions. If saturated steam is fed to the main, then the heat losses from the main will cause a large amount of condensation in the main, which is undesirable. Hence it is better to feed steam to the main with some superheat to avoid condensation in the main. 

Crimp. The tow is usually relaxed at this point. Relaxation is essential because it gready reduces the tendency for fibrillation and increases the dimensional stabiUty of the fiber. Relaxation also increases fiber elongation and improves dye diffusion rates. This relaxation can be done in-line on Superba equipment or in batches in an autoclave. Generally saturated steam is used because the moisture reduces the process temperatures required. Fiber shrinkage during relaxation ranges from 10 to 40% depending on the temperature used, the polymer composition used for the fiber, and the amount of prior orientation and relaxation. The amount of relaxation is also tailored to the intended apphcation of the fiber product. 

Vacuum Treatment. Milk can be exposed to a vacuum to remove low boiling substances, eg, onions, garlic, and some silage, which may impart off-flavors to the milk, particularly the fat portion. A three-stage vacuum unit, known as a vacreator, produces pressures of 17, 51—68, and 88—95 kPa (127, 381—508, and 660—711 mm Hg). A continuous vacuum unit in the HTST system may consist of one or two chambers and be heated by Hve steam, with an equivalent release of water by evaporation, or flash steam to carry off the volatiles. If Hve steam is used, it must be cuUnary steam which is produced by heating potable water with an indirect heat exchanger. Dry saturated steam is desired for food processing operations. 

Most of the textured apparel and industrial yams are woven or knitted directly into fabric. The carpet BCF yams can be tufted directly off package into loop pile or velvet constmctions. For the textured saxony constmctions, the BCF and the spun staple yams must be ply-twisted and heat-set. The heat-setting temperature for nylon-6 and nylon-6,6 is 180—220°C in hot—dry atmosphere, and 120—140°C in saturated steam. The yams are twist-set in pressurized autoclaves or continuously on the Superba and Suesson machines (121). Before setting the twist, the yam is heated and relaxed for predevelopment of the bulk. 

After the waterwaH tubes deHver the saturated steam back into the top of the boHer dmm, moisture is separated out by a series ofbaffl.es, steam separators, and cormgated screens. The water removed drops down into the hot water contained in the steam dmm. The steam travels out through either a dry pipe, which leads to a superheater header, or a series of superheater tubes that connect directiy into the top of the steam dmm. The superheater tubes wind back into the top of the furnace and/or a hot flue-gas backpass section, next to the economizer, where heat from the combustion gases exiting the furnace superheats the steam traveling through the tubes. 

Va.por Pressure. Vapor pressure is one of the most fundamental properties of steam. Eigure 1 shows the vapor pressure as a function of temperature for temperatures between the melting point of water and the critical point. This line is called the saturation line. Liquid at the saturation line is called saturated Hquid Hquid below the saturation line is called subcooled. Similarly, steam at the saturation line is saturated steam steam at higher temperature is superheated. Properties of the Hquid and vapor converge at the critical point, such that at temperatures above the critical point, there is only one fluid. Along the saturation line, the fraction of the fluid that is vapor is defined by its quaHty, which ranges from 0 to 100% steam. 

Steam (qv) sterilization specifically means sterilization by moist heat. The process cannot be considered adequate without assurance that complete penetration of saturated steam takes place to all parts and surfaces of the load to be sterilized (Fig. 1). Steam sterilization at 100°C and atmospheric pressure is not considered effective. The process is invariably carried out under higher pressure in autoclaves using saturated steam. The temperature can be as low as 115°C, but is usually 121°C or higher. 

Great care is needed in the design of autoclaves and sterilization cycles because of the requirement for the presence of moisture. The autoclave must be loaded to allow complete steam penetration to occur in all parts of the load before timing of the sterilization cycle commences. The time required for complete penetration, the so-called heat-up time, varies with different autoclave constmction and different types of loads and packaging materials. The time may not exceed specific limits in order to guarantee reproducibility and, for porous loads, saturated steam. The volume of each container has a considerable effect on the heatup time whenever fluids are sterilized. Thermocouples led into the chamber through a special connector are often employed to determine heatup times and peak temperatures. The pressure is refleved at the end of each sterilization cycle. Either vented containers must be used or... 

Superheated steam results when steam is heated to a temperature higher than that which would produce saturated steam. The equiUbrium between hquid and vapor is destroyed, and the steam behaves as a gas. It loses its abiUty to condense into moisture when in contact with the cooler surface of the article to be sterilized. This process resembles dry-heat sterilization more than steam sterilization and, under ordinary time—temperature conditions for steam sterilization, does not produce stetihty. 

Indicators can determine if uniform steam penetration has been achieved during a Bowie Dick-type test. Produced in the form of sheets (23 X 30 cm), chemical indicators are capable of uniform color change over their entire surface when exposed to pure saturated steam under test conditions. Nonuniform color development is an indication of failure of the test. U.S. and international stands for the performance and accuracy of chemical indicators have been pubHshed (13,14). 

The connection box cooler receives regenerator flue gas after it has been reduced to essentially atmospheric pressure. This arrangement is not limited to the production of saturated steam. Any number of coils can be installed in the box, and normally both steam-generating and superheater coils are present. The tube temperatures within the box must be maintained above the SO dew point of 150—175°C to prevent sulfuric acid corrosion (63). 

Internal Regenerator Bed Colls. Internal cods generate high overall heat-transfer coefficients [550 W / (m -K)] and typically produce saturated steam up to 4.6 MPa (667 psi). Lower heat fluxes are attained when producing superheated steam. The tube banks are normally arranged horizontally in rows of three or four, but because of their location in a continuously active bubbling or turbulent bed, they offer limited duty flexibdity with no shutdown or start-up potential. 

Although hydration under hydrothermal conditions may be rapid, metastable iatermediate phases tend to form, and final equiUbria may not be reached for months at 100—200°C, or weeks at even higher temperatures. Hence, the temperatures of formation given ia Table 6 iadicate the conditions under saturated steam pressure that may be expected to yield appreciable quantities of the compound, although it may not be the most stable phase at the given temperature. The compounds are Hsted ia order of decreasiag basicity, or lime/siHca ratio. Reaction mixtures having ratios C S = 1 yield xonotHte at 150—400°C. Intermediate phases of C—S—H (I), C—S—H (II), and crystalline tobermorite ate formed ia succession. Tobermorite (1.13 nm) appears to persist indefinitely under hydrothermal conditions at 110—140°C it is a principal part of the biader ia many autoclaved cement—silica and lime—silica products. 

In the batchwise process the temperature can be raised to 80°C to promote levelness providing dyes not sensitive to reductive breakdown are used. In the continuous appHcation method the vat dye is padded onto fabric and dried under conditions that avoid migration, passed through a solution of sodium hydrosulfite and caustic, through a pad mangle, and then steamed in saturated steam for up to 60 s. 

In batch-type fixation, the prints are steamed in a pressurized autoclave with saturated or nearly saturated steam at 14—18 kPa (105—135 mm Hg) and 125—130°C for 45—60 min. In this case, the amount of carrier can be reduced or completely omitted. Generally, a small amount of urea (5 wt % of print paste) is added to the print paste to aid in fixation. 

Printing of wool or silk with acid dyes is of minor importance. For these fibers the print paste is made with dye solvent, humectant (glycerol and urea), a suitable thickener, and dilute organic acid. An oxidising agent is also added. Fixation follows the procedure for polyamide with fully saturated steam. 

Heat-transfer coefficients in steam-tube dryers range from 30 to 85 J/(m s K). Coefficients will increasewith increasing steam temperature because of increased heat transfer by radiation. In units carrying saturated steam at 420 to 450 K, the heat flux UAT will range from 6300 J/(m s) for difficult-to-diy and organic solids and to 1890 to 3790 J/(m s) for finely divided inorganic materials. The effect of steam pressure on heat-transfer rates up to 8.6 X 10 Pa is illustrated in Fig. 12-71. 

Economizers Economizers improve boiler efficiency by extracting heat from the discharged flue gases and transferring it to feedwater, which enters the steam generator at a temperature appreciably lower than the saturation-steam temperature. 

In a turbine that is running, erosion-corrosion is pretty much confined to units that are operating on saturated steam with inadequate boiler-water treatment. This type of erosion takes place behind the nozzle ring and around the diaphragms where they fit in the casing. 

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