3 replies to this topic

[Cdillr]

Hi,

Can you help? I want to calculate what flow of steam I will get through a pipe. The process will have a 1 bar steam supply connected to an atmospheric tank with a 25 mm NB pipe. Pipe will be about 15 metres long. How do I calculate what the steam flow will be, or will it be limited by the supply (pressure regulator)?

Thanks

Cdillr

[latexman]

Cdillr,

Do you have Crane Technical Paper No. 410? If you do, go to page 3-4 and use Equation 3-20. You didn't describe the atmospheric tank. Does it have a vent or is it open top? If it has a vent, the escaping steam and/or heated expanding gas (air?) may create a backpressure in the tank and slow the steam flow rate. If you do not have Crane TP 410, I'd recommend you get one. It's the best, concise fluid flow reference I've ever used. And, yes, the pressure regulator may limit the steam flow, but that's another fluid flow question.

[Cdillr]

Thanks Latexman. I will try to get hold of a copy. The tank is large and vented to atmosphere (so long as I size the vent correctly!). Am I right in thinking that there is a balance between the pressure drops through the pipe to the tank and the "nozzle" where the pipe enters the tank? As the flow increases the pressure dropin the line will increase. The pressure at the entry into the tank will then drop thus reducing the flow into the tank until some form of equilibrium or balance is reached?Thanks again.

[fallah]

cdillr,

You can model your fluid flow system, in one side from steam header with supposed constant pressure of 1 barg and at the other side, to storage tank with supposed constant pressure of 0 barg connected by 2" pipe of 15 m length. Thus total pressure drop would be 1 bar and having diameter, length, friction factor,..., of pipe you can calculate the flow of steam through it.

Fallah