Steam & Condensate Introduction
Water is heated to its boiling point, producing steam
What is Steam? Steam is simply the gas that is formed when water is heated to its boiling temperature at a given pressure. A tea kettle is the most common example of producing steam by heating water to its boiling temperature (212˚F). In this case, the steam does not develop any pressure and is released into the atmosphere. A boiler will generate steam under pressure by heating a large quantity of water in a contained system. This pressurized steam will travel throughout the pipes in the system to where it is needed. In addition to being created from water, which is readily available and relatively inexpensive, steam has many other advantages that make it easy and efficient to work with.
WATER
STEAM
Steam condenses and turns back to water
What makes steam desirable to use for heating? Another benefit of using steam is that steam temperature is directly related to the pressure of the system. Therefore, by increasing or reducing pressure, it is easy to increase or reduce the temperature.
The Steam & Condensate Loop
Steam transfers its heat into the room, and then it condenses back into water and collects at the bottom of the radiator. This water is referred to as condensate. The condensate must be continually removed or the radiator will fill up with water. This is the purpose of a steam trap.
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The radiators are therefore heated by the steam and give off heat into the room
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Condensate drains from the radiator
Steam travels up the pipe and fills the radiators with steam
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Steam Trap
Steam
Boiler
A Steam Trap allows condensate to be discharged from the radiator and returned back to the boiler. It will not allow steam to pass. The steam trap closes when steam is present (trapping the steam) and opens when condensate is present (discharging the condensate).
Pump
Water
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Steam Trap
Water is heated under pressure inside of the boiler and turned into steam
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A pump may be used to return condensate to the boiler
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