The Importance of Managing Waste Heat in Steam and Hot Water Systems

Steam production and hot water systems are crucial in industrial and commercial heating and cooling systems.

Industrial heating and cooling systems are critical in many manufacturing and production processes. These systems control the temperature and maintain a specific environment in which products are produced, stored, or processed. However, these systems emit a significant amount of heat released into the atmosphere as waste heat.

Steam production is used in various industries to provide heat and power, including food and beverage processing, chemical manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. Steam is generated by boiling water, typically using boilers that burn fuel such as natural gas, propane, or oil. The steam is then distributed throughout the facility using pipes, which can be used for heating, cleaning, or driving turbines to generate electricity.

The use of hot water systems is similar, but instead of steam, hot water provides heat. These systems are standard in hospitals, hotels, and other facilities that require a constant hot water supply. Boilers generate the hot water and circulate it through pipes, radiators, heat exchangers, or other heating elements.

Industrial heating and cooling systems generate significant amounts of wasted or unused heat. There are measures to mitigate the causes of waste heat in industrial heating and cooling systems and reduce its release. One solution is to recover the wasted heat and use it for other purposes, such as heating or cooling nearby buildings or other industrial processes. Another solution is to improve the heating and cooling system's efficiency, reducing the energy required to maintain the desired temperature through more efficient heating and cooling systems, insulation, and enhanced equipment design. Also, by connecting your heating and cooling systems, you recover wasted heat and put it back into your industrial process. 

Armstrong's Circular Thermal℠ significantly improves the thermal efficiency of your facilities. It reduces your need for primary energy by capturing and recirculating waste heat within your plant and toward your production. It significantly impacts your site's thermal decarbonization roadmap by reducing — and sometimes eliminating — the required purchase of renewable energy.

Learn more about Armstrong's Circular Thermal℠ here. To discuss more about Armstrong's approach to steam and hot water thermal efficiency in the Rocky Mountain states, contact Energy-West Controls. Call them at 800-533-4477 or visit https://energy-west.com.

Dependable and Accurate Flow Measurement with Armstrong VERIS Verabar®

Averaging Pitot Tubes are self-averaging flow meters that measure gas, liquid, and vapor flow in pipes and ducts using differential pressure. They are simple and provide long-term pitot tube accuracy and low operating costs. 

The Armstrong VERIS Verabar®  one-piece solid design and bullet form provide clog-free and accurate flow monitoring. The accuracy of Verabar®  averaging pitot sensors is unchanged with time and does not need frequent inspections. When a fluid impacts the sensor, it creates a high-pressure zone in front of the sensor. As fluid accelerates around the sensor, a low-pressure area develops to the sides and rear of the sensor. Multiple strategically positioned sensing ports are in these high and low-pressure zones, providing a measurable averaged differential pressure.

Verabar®  utilizes a leak-proof design, complete with a robust one-piece sensor. Other manufacturers employ a three-piece sensor arrangement with no mechanism to seal the tubes. As a result, temperature, pressure, vibration, and even manufacturing differences might create leakage between the chambers, resulting in considerable undetected accuracy loss. Not the case with Verabar®.

VERIS Verabar® introduces a novel design with built-in valves in the instrument's head. This improved design simplifies installation and maintenance by minimizing the number of connections while lowering connecting hardware costs.

The VERIS Verabar®  flow sensors with differential pressure transmitters provide the market's most dependable and accurate DP flow measuring system.

VERIS Verabar® Benefits

• Superior Signal Stability and Greater Resistance to Clogging
• Long-Term Accuracy You Can Trust
• Data to Back  Up Accuracy Claims
• Quality Assurance

Energy West Controls

https://energy-west.com

800-533-4477

A Powerful Combination of Products and Experience to Assist with Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization

Net-zero has emerged as a common goal as the fight against climate change gathers pace, and the globe pushes toward decarbonization. Many facilities desire a practical, ready-to-implement solution since they are unclear on how to proceed. There is a systematic approach to decarbonization, but what works for one facility could not for another. Energy West Controls experts are available to help you decide what is best for you. 

Energy West Controls offers products that help its customers optimize energy utilization and lower emissions in industries such as:

• Power Generation
• Metals
• Paper
• Food and Beverage
• Pharmaceutical
• Chemical
• Institutional Facilities (Universities, Government, Hospitals, Military)
• Agribusiness

Along with Armstrong's steam and hot water products, the Sage^® IIoT platform, and Everactive's battery-free technology, Energy West Controls delivers the human experience and expertise necessary for a brand-new energy monitoring and management approach for these industries. This method reduces energy consumption in a facility by replacing outdated thermal systems with more energy-efficient equipment. 

Energy West's arsenal is strong. Armstrong's thermal utility solutions include products and services for managing steam and hot water systems, such as steam traps, water heaters, control valves, heat pumps, monitoring equipment, and software. The Sage^® platform enables you to enhance equipment dependability, efficiency, and safety, elevating utility system management to a new level. As a sustainable means to halt waste, the Everactive Steam Trap Monitoring (STM) solution enables maintenance teams to fix trap problems as they arise and thereby increase the effectiveness of the steam system and lower energy consumption. These advanced products and tools allow manufacturing and utility companies greater efficiency while significantly reducing CO2 emissions and energy costs. 

Energy West Controls, Armstrong International, and Everactive are an effective team for identifying energy waste and recapturing it for other applications, in line with the worldwide movement toward sustainability and energy efficiency. We enhance your manufacturing process and performance, lower environmental emissions, boost safety, and assist you in achieving your net-zero carbon target by combining our skills and technology. 

The technology and tools available from Energy West Controls, Armstrong International, and Everactive will help you create a decarbonization road map specific to your facility and industry. Call us right now for further details.

Energy West Controls

https://energy-west.com

800-533-4477

Energy West Controls Announces New Partnership with Armstrong International in Montana

Salt Lake City, March 17, 2022 – Energy West Controls (EWC) and Armstrong International announce a new partnership to service Montana.

Energy West Controls (EWC) announces representation of Armstrong International, world-leading manufacturer of steam, condensate, and hot water control products in Montana. For over 40 years, EWC‘s expertise has identified and solved the toughest steam challenges for industry in the Rocky Mountain region.

“The EWC team is excited to expand our offering of rugged, hardworking products, state-of-the-art technology, custom-engineered systems and services,” says EWC VP of Operations Justin Rich. “We are ready to help you improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption and emissions in Montana.”

EWC has an established team of Sales Engineers, Applications Engineers and Customer Support Specialists. Along with technical industry expertise, customer service is the highlight of entrusting Energy West Controls with your steam, air and hot water business. Residing in Montana, Sales Manager Jaimie Garvin states, “With the addition of Armstrong products in Montana, we have an opportunity to integrate and support engineered steam solutions to solve automation challenges in every market segment.” 

The EWC sales and support of Armstrong products, specializing in steam traps, The Brain and condensate manifold assemblies will give customers in Montana cost efficient, innovative solutions in the refinery, hospital, pharmaceutical and sanitary industries. The factory trained Sales and Support team, the “Experts at the Heart of Industry” will configure, quote and order Armstrong products with reliability and outstanding customer service.

About Energy West Controls (EWC)

Founded by Randy Drown in 1981, EWC (Energy West Controls) has successfully been in business for over 40 years. We are experts in energy services, process valves & automation, fluid sealing and boiler level instruments. With branch offices located in Utah and Colorado, serving industrial B2B customers in Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Northern Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Montana.

The EWC Team are factory trained, experienced professionals that are experts in steam and process valves. The “EWC People” have a deep commitment and dedication to customers and vendors.

Download a copy in PDF

Energy West, Inc.
1955 West Industrial Circle
Salt Lake City, Utah 84104
Phone: 801-262-4477
Fax: 801-261-0862
Web: https://energy-west.com

For Industrial Steam Systems, Condensate Draining Is a Must

Abstracted from a technical article from Armstrong International

In a steam system, condensate is a byproduct of heat transfer. It accumulates in the distribution system as a result of unavoidable radiation. It also forms in heating and process equipment due to the desired heat transfer from the steam to the heated substance. The hot condensate must be removed immediately after the vapor has condensed and released its valuable latent heat. Although the available heat in a pound of condensate is negligible compared to a pound of steam, condensate hot water should be returned to the boiler.

Condensate at the bottom of steam lines can cause one kind of water hammer. As it passes over this condensate at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, steam creates "waves" (Fig. 1). If enough condensate forms, high-speed steam propels it forward, forming a dangerous slug that grows in size as it picks up liquid in front of it. Pipe fittings, regulating valves, tees, elbows, and blind flanges can all be destroyed as the slug changes direction. High-velocity water may erode fittings by chipping away at metal surfaces, in addition to causing damage from this "battering ram."

The necessity of draining the heat transfer unit. 

When steam comes into contact with condensate that has been cooled below the steam temperature, it can cause thermal shock, another type of water hammer. Steam has a much larger volume than condensate, and when it suddenly collapses, it can send shock waves throughout the system. Water hammer of this type can damage equipment and indicates that condensate is not being drained from the system. 

Condensate in the heat transfer unit obviously takes up space, reducing the physical size and capacity of the equipment. Prompt condensate removal keeps the equipment full of steam (Fig. 2). As steam condenses, it leaves a water film on the inside of the heat exchanger. Non-condensable gases do not flow away due to gravity. Instead, they build up as a thin film on the heat exchanger's surface, along with dirt and scale. All of these are potential heat transfer barriers (Fig. 3).

The requirement to remove air and CO2. 

During equipment startup and boiler feedwater, the air is always present. Dissolved carbonates in feedwater may also emit carbon dioxide gas. The gases are pushed to the walls of the heat exchangers by the steam velocity, where they may obstruct heat transfer. These gases must be removed along with the condensate; otherwise, the condensate drainage problem is exacerbated.

For more information on any aspect of industrial and commercial steam or hot water systems in the Rocky Mountain Region, contact Energy West Controls. Call 801-262-4477 or visit Energy-West.com.