Steam systems efficiency, maintenance

Good Maintenance Practices Good operating or maintenance practices that improve overall efficiency. Insidation on liquefaction compressors Steam system maintenance Compressor maintenance... 

Inclusion of thermography into a predictive maintenance program will enable you to monitor the thermal efficiency of critical process systems that rely on heat transfer or retention electrical equipment and other parameters that will improve both the reliability and efficiency of plant systems. Infrared techniques can be used to detect problems in a variety of plant systems and equipment, including electrical switchgear, gearboxes, electrical substations, transmissions, circuit breaker panels, motors, building envelopes, bearings, steam lines, and process systems that rely on heat retention or transfer. 

The efficiency of power generation is significantly reduced by any deposits formed on the turbine blades by BW carryover and severe turbine damage may also result. Tiirbine efficiency also is reduced by demands for output that exceed the rated maximum and by extended operation beyond the maintenance period or design life. Additionally, errors in steam flow meters, thermometers, and pressure gauges, and so forth cause the control system to regulate the generation of electricity at some further reduced level. 

Steam traps are automatic mechanisms that remove low heat-content air and condensate from the steam delivery system. The lack of steam traps or use of traps that fail to function properly leads to a gradual decline in heat-transfer efficiency, waterlogged heat exchangers, and water hammer (which may in turn result in ruptured pipes). When adequate maintenance of steam traps is neglected, this ultimately leads to a serious overall loss of operating efficiency. There are various types of steam traps, each designed for a specific function. Some common variations are discussed in the following sections. 

To maximize turbine efficiency (by minimizing turbine back-pressure). This is achieved by condensing steam and creating an adequate vacuum. The level of vacuum created by the reduction in steam-to-water volume is typically on the order of 26 to 29 inches of mercury and is in large part a function of the cooling water inlet temperature. A contribution to the maintenance of the vacuum is obtained through the mechanical pumps and air ejectors, which form part of the condenser system. 

Traditionally, customers employ water treatment service companies simply as external contractors to assist in the maintenance of clean and efficient waterside surfaces in their various heating, steam generating, cooling, and certain industrial process systems. The customers benefit from genuine improvements in operating efficiency, reductions in maintenance time, and replacement component costs. In addition, where industrial processes are involved they often profit from an added-value, due to an improved product quality or reduction in manufacturing cost. 

Validation of performance on installation, planned maintenance, and frequent checks on performance are essential for critical items of equipment such as sterilizers, air filtration systems and stills. For example, checks on steam and hot air sterilizers should include heat distribution arid heat penetration studies, and on air supply systems and tests of filter efficiency. Details of maintenance operations and performance checks should be recorded. 

A modem steam generator, individually, and the installation, as a whole, are provided with control and automation systems and with proper shielding. These support systems are designed to insure reliable and safe performance, efficient use of fuel and of electric energy, the maintenance of... 

Another type of system used in manufacturing is based on carbon adsorption. The exhaust stream passes through a carbon bed and the VOCs are adsorbed by the carbon particles. This is one of the most cost-effective systems, but it only works well with very low concentrations of VOCs in the stream, and the efficiency tends to decline with use. As the carbon bed becomes filled with solvent(s), it may also experience bed plugging, which decreases removal efficiency and can present a fire hazard. In addition, back pressure can cause problems with the airflow system in the tape casting drying chamber. The carbon bed must be periodically reactivated either by firing or by steam stripping, both of which can be costly maintenance operations. 

Energy conversion efficiency 12%. A thermoelectric (TE) energy conversion system was adopted because of reliability, absence of maintenance and simple operation these are definitive advantages over steam turbine generators in spite of the inferior energy eonversion efficiency, which is not rated as very important for a small power reactor such as the RAPID. 

Excessive corrosion of the condensate system can lead not only to costly equipment failure and increased maintenance costs, but can also cause deposition of metal oxide corrosion products on boiler heat transfer surfaces if the condensate is recovered as feedwater. Metal oxide deposition on boiler heat transfer surfaces will result in lower fuel to steam efficiency and higher fuel costs. The deposition may also lead to tube failure due to long-term overheating. 

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