Steam Condensate Return Stations

Duplex condensate return station
Image courtesy Roth Pump

Closed steam systems produce condensate, a dense source of heat. By design, the delivery of heat in a steam system is almost entirely accomplished using the heat of vaporization, with any sensible heat transfer probably being more coincidental than intentional. Condensate will contain most of the sensible heat that was added to the feedwater to get it to the boiling temperature. Conserving that sensible heat through a reuse of the hot condensate is a huge energy saving step. The condensate must be collected and returned to the boiler in a effective manner.

A condensate return station is a common means of moving condensate back to the boiler. It will generally consist of a collection vessel for the liquid condensate and one or more pumps to provide the motive force to move the liquid along its return path. Reliability is a key factor for these systems, since it is conceivable that they may need to perform on a continuous basis for years. A duplex pump arrangement can provide some backup, as well as extra capacity for accommodating large inlet flow. This is an installation where investing in rugged hardware can pay dividends in reduced maintenance burden and trouble free performance for the long term.

Roth Pump Company has been designing and manufacturing condensate return stations and other steam system related components for many years. Their experience and expertise are part of each and every system that leaves their factory. By incorporating low RPM motors, heavy duty pumps, and other features into a compact form factor, the company is able to offer a number of systems that meet a wide range of applications and deliver solid long term performance.

Share your steam system and condensate return requirements and challenges with application experts, leveraging your own experience and knowledge with their product application expertise.

Steam Condensate Return Stations from Mountain States Engineering and Controls