Steam is used for many things in piping design. In the oil and gas industry, steam is used to heat production tanks, keep flow lines from freezing and to increase oil production in formations that are very viscious. In other industries, it can be used to sterilize & clean equipment, sterilize equipment, and in reboilers which maintain tight tolerances on their temperatures. Because of this, it is important to ensure that the line has been sized properly to reduce pressure drop and to also ensure that right steam quality, pressure and temperature is being delivered where it is supposed to. Sizing a line too small will cause the water vapor and liquid to travel too fast which will reduce overall pressure in the line. If the line is too large, the fluid and vapor will travel slower and heat loss will occur. Equally important to sizing a line, sizing a valve for use in steam service.
Here are Some Common Uses of Steam
Steam has a wide range of applications across various industries due to its unique properties, including its ability to carry large amounts of heat energy and its versatility.
Power Generation - Steam is a primary working fluid in many power plants, particularly in thermal power plants. It is used to turn turbines, which generate electricity. The most common method involves heating water to produce steam, which then drives turbines connected to generators.
Industrial Processes - Many industrial processes use steam for heating, sterilization, drying, and cleaning. Industries such as chemical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, textile, and pulp and paper utilize steam in various stages of their manufacturing processes.
Heating Systems - Steam is used for space heating in buildings, including residential, commercial, and institutional facilities. Steam heating systems involve the distribution of steam through pipes to radiators or other heat exchangers.
Mechanical Power - Steam engines have been historically used for mechanical power in applications such as locomotives and ships. While steam engines have been largely replaced by more efficient technologies, some specialized applications still use them.
Cleaning and Sterilization - Steam is an effective agent for cleaning and sterilizing surfaces and equipment. It is commonly used in hospitals, laboratories, and food processing facilities for sterilizing medical instruments, laboratory equipment, and food processing equipment.
Humidity Control - Steam can be used to humidify air in controlled environments such as greenhouses and certain industrial processes where precise humidity levels are required.
District Heating - In some urban areas, steam is used in district heating systems to provide heat to multiple buildings from a centralized source. This is common in cities where excess steam from power generation is utilized for heating purposes.
Oil Recovery - Steam injection is employed in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes to improve the flow of heavy or viscous crude oil in underground reservoirs.
Cooking - Steam is used in various cooking processes, particularly in commercial kitchens and food processing, where it is employed for blanching, boiling, and cooking food.
Textile Industry - Steam is widely used in the textile industry for processes such as dyeing, drying, and finishing of fabrics.
