Tag: boilers

Two Non-Negotiable Steam System Performance Indicators

Posted on by Craig van Wyk

Managing the energy efficiency performance of any system is not possible without measurement. With the plethora of possible performance measures available, and the fact that measurement requires resources, it is important to be selective. A “shotgun” approach to performance indicators with no clear measurement strategy can be expensive to implement and also ineffective in terms Read more about Two Non-Negotiable Steam System Performance Indicators[…]

Considerations when Assessing the Efficiency of Your Boiler Plant

Posted on by Craig van Wyk

Steam systems are often the most expensive energy systems to operate on industrial sites and can also easily be responsible for most of a site’s emissions. Fortunately, there are several well-defined approaches available to significantly improve efficiencies and reduce costs in steam systems. The starting point for such an exercise is to conduct a comprehensive Read more about Considerations when Assessing the Efficiency of Your Boiler Plant[…]

Why Optimising Steam Requires a Systems Approach

Posted on by Craig van Wyk

Steam is a convenient and highly efficient heat transfer medium that can also be used to perform mechanical work or to generate electricity on industrial and commercial sites. The operating costs associated with steam systems vary widely from one site to the next, and even on small sites, I often find that these costs can Read more about Why Optimising Steam Requires a Systems Approach[…]

How Steam Traps Influence Your Energy Costs

Posted on by Craig van Wyk

Steam traps are an essential component of any steam system, but often tend to go neglected in my experience. In most cases this is because the impacts of steam trap malfunctions on system efficiency and performance are poorly understood. Poorly functioning steam traps can lead to significant energy losses and also have a significant impact Read more about How Steam Traps Influence Your Energy Costs[…]

Why Large Steam Users Should Consider Cogeneration

Posted on by Craig van Wyk

Power companies make it their business to generate electricity as cheaply as possible. It is not uncommon to find coal-fired boilers operating at efficiencies in excess of 90% at large power stations and at newer facilities, steam is generated at ever-higher pressures in a bid to maximise turbine efficiency. The scale of power generation plants Read more about Why Large Steam Users Should Consider Cogeneration[…]

The Many Benefits of Condensate Recovery

Posted on by Craig van Wyk

Steam is a useful heat transfer medium due to its ease of transport and the large amount of energy it contains per unit mass, among its other virtues. In transferring heat, saturated steam condenses to form condensate, which is essentially hot distilled water. This condensate is removed downstream of the site of heat transfer using Read more about The Many Benefits of Condensate Recovery[…]

Is Your Boiler’s Efficiency Maximised?

Posted on by Craig van Wyk

Reducing steam system costs and emissions requires a systems view that encompasses generation, distribution, steam usage and condensate recovery. While generation is but one component of the steam system, efficient steam production (within the context of the technology and fuel employed) is a logical first goal when embarking on a steam system optimisation exercise. It Read more about Is Your Boiler’s Efficiency Maximised?[…]