ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 14
TECHNICAL FEATURE
FIGURE 1 Simplified Steam Distribution System.
From Steam
Plant
To Steam Plant
To Steam Plant
HPS
HPC
PC
To
Other Loads
HPC
HPS
LPC
LPS
PC
SV
High Pressure
Condensate
High Pressure
Steam
Low Pressure
Condensate
Low Pressure
Steam
Pumped
Condensate
Steam
Vent
Steam Pressure
Regulator
Steam Trap
From
Other Loads
LPC
Condensate
Receiver &
Pump
TABLE 1 Fundamental Fluid Pressure Drop Equations.
EQUATION
Darcy-Weisbach
∆P = 1
C fLV
d
f =
log10
Swamee-Jain
0.25
ϵ /d
37.
Re =
+
dV
Cv
2
5.74
Re .09
Reynolds Number
(3)
2
(2)
2
(1)
CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES
ΔP = pressure drop, psi or Pa
C1 = 3.597x10-7 (I-P); 500 (SI),
dimensionless
ƒ = friction factor, dimensionless
L = pipe length, ft or m
V = steam velocity, fpm or m/s
d = pipe inside diameter, in. or mm
υ = specific volume, ft3/lbm or m3/kg
ϵ = absolute roughness; 0.00216 in.
(0.0549 mm) for carbon steel,
0.000072 in. (0.00183 mm) for
copper and stainless steel*
Re = Reynolds number, dimensionless
C2 = 720 (I-P); 1,000 (SI), dimensionless
ν
= kinematic viscosity,
ft2/sec or m2/sec
* Absolute roughness values include a 20% allowance for manufacturing tolerances and aging.3
* The author acknowledges that defined pressure ranges differ throughout
various applications and industries. High and low steam pressure ranges
cited in this article are as defined in the 2021 ASHRAE Handbook-
Fundamentals, Chapter 22 (Pipe Design).1
14
ASHRAE JOURNAL ashrae.o rg
J U N E 2023
This article reviews guidelines for steam distribution
system pipe sizing, general installation
practices and common piping system pitfalls.
Industrial facilities-manufacturing plants, processing
plants and laboratories in particular-are
the primary focus, although the guidelines are
mostly suitable for other steam applications,
such as commercial and institutional facilities.
Steam piping systems are composed of steam
supply, liquid condensate recovery, two-phase
condensate recovery and vent piping. Supply
piping delivers steam from a boiler plant or
other source to various high-pressure (15 to 150
psig [100 to 1000 kPag])* use points and pressure
reducing stations. Condensate recovery
piping returns steam condensate to the plant in
liquid or two-phase form. Steam vents ensure
atmospheric condensate recovery vessels do not
become pressurized, while aiding in the prompt
removal of condensate from equipment and
drip legs. A simplified steam distribution system
LPC
Vent
Low Pressure
Steam Load
(Modulating)
High Pressure
Steam Load
(Modulating)
Flash
Vessel
LPS
To
Other Loads
(Supplemental)
From
Other Loads
To
Other Loads
LPS
Slope
Slope
HPS
HPC
PC
SV
LPS
HPS
HPC
HPS
HPS
HPC
http://ashrae.org
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASHRAE Journal - June 2023
Contents
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - Intro
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - Cover1
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - Cover2
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 1
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - Contents
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 3
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 4
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 5
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 6
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 7
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 8
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 9
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 10
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 11
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 12
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 13
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 14
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 15
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 16
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 17
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 18
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 19
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 20
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 21
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 22
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 23
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 24
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 25
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 26
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 27
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 28
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 29
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 30
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 31
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 32
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 33
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 34
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 35
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 36
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 37
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 38
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 39
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ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 65
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ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 68
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 69
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 70
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 71
ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - 72
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ASHRAE Journal - June 2023 - Cover4
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