Condensate return
© nikkytok, image #144782588, 2017, source: Fotolia.com
Information
Impacts:
Energy
Water
Sector:
Cross-cutting
Investment cost:
High cost
Cost savings:
Annual: £42,250 (€ 46,052.5)
Investment cost:
£350,000 (€ 381,500) for project. The scale of the project is based on site heat demand. Risks are minimal if correctly installed. Maintenance is minimal but regular upon installation
Cost:
High cost
Resource savings: Energy:
Annual: Reduced heat loss and gas consumption. 1408333 kWh. 259767 kg CO2e.
The return of the condensate
Steam condensate is a well-known by-product of many industries. What is less well known is that it can be a powerful source of heat that can be reused.
Using this end-of-pipe steam to improve efficiency makes economic and environmental sense. A plant’s energy load and water consumption can also be cut by insulating pipework and preventing steam and condensate losses.
There are two main types of condensate recovery systems:
- Vented-to-atmosphere: Condensate is recovered in an open tank
- Pressurised: Condensate is sent to a pressurised vessel/directly to the boiler
These two systems have different advantages and disadvantages. Specialist literature and professionals can help you identify which system is best suited to your needs.
- EAUC-Scotland and Resource Efficient Scotland (RES), Energy Efficiency Technologies Catalogue, http://www.sustainabilityexchange.ac.uk/energy_efficiency_technologies_…
- Carbon Trust, Steam and high temperature hot water boilers, https://www.carbontrust.com/media/13332/ctv052_steam_and_high_temperatu…