Heating with Steam

I published an article in the March, 2005 issue of Engineered Systems Magazine entitled “Heating with Steam”.  Following is an excerpt with a link to the article in its entirety.

“Compared to hot water, there are several advantages to steam.  Due to higher energy content per mass, the required heat transfer area is smaller, heat coefficients are higher, distribution pipes and necessary plant sizes are smaller.  Rather than costly circulating pumps and the relatively larger components needed for hot water systems, steam is distributed and controlled through pressure differentials.  However, utilizing the heat of steam requires its condensing, which can be troublesome.  In fact, condensate and its removal are the source of most of the problems associated with steam heating.  To effectively take advantage of steam’s higher energy content and flexibility, the byproduct, condensate, must be controlled and utilized so as not to hamper heat transfer, or, worse, lead to frozen or damaged coils.”

Download the article in pdf here.

Enjoy.

The World of Industrial HVAC

Industrial HVAC is almost a misnomer in the US.  We have lost so much industry in our metamorphosis to a post-industrial society that there is less of a demand for our products and services.  As paper, textile, and steel mills close on our shores we all know that the chance of new ones being built is little-to-none.  We have found some degree of cross-over as we apply our technology and our products to institutional and healthcare settings.  And we are still maintaining some older plants.  But for the most part we are living in a new world.  The current recession has only made matters worse.

I am mainly stating the obvious here.  I am not decrying international trade, nor longing for the old days.  What we have is what we have.  The work ahead of us is focused on making proper use of what we have.  There are still uses for steam technologies, evaporative cooling, direct gas-fired make-up air, and process controls.  The challenge I think is re-imagining the world, seeing things differently.  If we continue to look at the world based on the way it was we will miss out on the way it will be.  That being said, I don’t have the answers.  But hopefully I have enough imagination and fortitude to find a way to make it all work out for me and my business.