Why Should Condensate Be Returned? 

 

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ØReturn of high purity condensate reduces boiler blow down energy losses and makeup water. This saves 15 to 18 percent of the fuel used to heat the cool makeup water, saves the water itself, and saves treatment costs and chemicals. Reduced condensate discharge into the sewer system also reduces disposal costs. (“Best Practices In Steam System Management” DOE)

 

ØCondensate drained and recovered from steam traps can be collected and reused as boiler feedwater. This helps improve overall system as well as reducing boiler operating costs. Four primary points of savings stemming from condensate recovery:

1. The energy resident in condensate - this is the area where most of the savings are achieved.

2. Water commodity costs.

3. Water treatment aspects.

4. Wastewater charges.

 

ØØRecovered condensate is, quite simply, distilled water. It is ideal for boiler feedwater since it requires minimal chemical treatment and filtration, saving on water, wastewater, energy, and chemical costs. It takes a great deal of energy to treat and heat feedwater to generate steam. In most cases, reusing condensate is more cost-effective than using new utility water.

 

ØØLess obvious than water savings, energy savings are realized because it takes substantially less fuel to convert recovered condensate into steam. Utility water typically enters the boiler-steam system at temperatures between 50ºF and 80ºF, and is then heated to more than 212ºF (the boiling point of water). The temperature of recovered condensate, on the other hand, can exceed 200ºF, requiring substantially less energy to reach boiling point.

 

ØØA condensate recovery system usually relies on little additional equipment: receiver tanks to store recovered condensate and help normalize pressure, insulated pipes to return condensate to the boiler, and pumps to move condensate through the pipes.