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Water Touches Everything
As Earth Day approaches, we are reminded of the profound impact our planet’s water systems have on every aspect of life. This year, NASA’s Earth Day poster, titled “Water Touches Everything,” serves as a powerful visual testament to the significance of water on Earth.
Water: The Lifeblood of our planet
Water is the lifeblood of our planet, shaping climate, weather, and supporting a myriad of ecosystems. NASA’s poster highlights the interconnectedness of water systems and their influence on every living thing.
It urges us to recognize the importance of water in our lives and to take steps to protect our planet’s water systems. It’s a reminder that every action we take, no matter how small, can have a ripple effect on the health of our oceans and, by extension, on the entire planet. Look for the link below for a downloadable NASA poster.
Water: Management
WATER MANAGEMENT FOR STEAM HEATING AND STEAM PROCESSING
So many of the products and services we use every day rely on water in the form of steam for heating and processing. Residential and commercial buildings are heated with steam including Hospitals, College Campuses & Apartment Complexes. Steam is used to process Food, Dairy, Beverages, Pharmaceuticals & more. Water management and conservation are critical components in steam heat and steam processing systems for several reasons:
EFFICIENCY
Proper water management ensures that steam systems operate efficiently. By maintaining the right water quality and quantity, systems can produce steam with the desired properties, such as temperature and pressure, which are essential for optimal performance. Efficient systems require less fuel and reduce operational costs.
ENERGY CONSERVATION
By implementing water conservation measures, such as reusing condensate, optimizing water treatment processes, and mitigating radiant heat loss, facilities can reduce energy consumption. This not only lowers energy costs but also contributes to water reduction and other sustainability efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Efficient water management in steam systems can minimize the environmental footprint by reducing the demand for water and energy resources. It also helps in decreasing emissions associated with energy production, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment.
How to IMPROVE WATER MANAGEMENT IN Steam Systems
Improving water management in your steam system is essential for operational efficiency, cost savings, and environmental sustainability. Here are some strategies to enhance water management:
REGULAR MAINTENANCE
Ensure regular maintenance for boilers, steam lines and steam traps. Cover steam traps with removable, reusable Heat Shields to increase thermal efficiency.
INSULATION
Removable, Reusable Insulation Blankets for Valves, Flanges, Strainers, and other fittings and equipment with complex surfaces are important. Because of their complexity and need for accessibility, they are often left uninsulated. Components needing regular inspection and maintenance require a removable and reusable insulation solution. Thermal insulation blanket systems, correctly sized and engineered for the particular component and application are removable and reusable. With integral fasteners and proper fit, insulation blankets are easy to install, remove for access and then easily reinstalled by maintenance staff.
WATER TREATMENT
Choose a reliable vendor and regularly read water chemistry reports to maintain water quality and prevent scaling and corrosion.
CONDENSATE RECOVERY
Implement a condensate recovery system to reuse hot condensate and insulate condensate tanks. Reduce the need for fresh make-up water and save energy.
ECONOMIZERS
Use feedwater economizers for waste heat recovery and condensing economizer to capture and reuse heat from exhaust gases. Insulate with reusable blanket insulation for economizers.
Does Insulating Valves and tanks make a difference in energy and water usage?
Yes. These Valves and fittings may look like a very small part of a large piping system, but because of their geometric complexity they have a lot of surface area. More surface area creates more opportunity for heat loss. How much? As an example, Four 10-inch 150# gate valves will have the equivalent surface area to nearly 20 feet of 10-inch pipe. A typical steam system has over 500 fittings!
LOCATE THE SOURCES OF RADIANT HEAT LOSS TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS
A Shannon Energy Survey can show you, systematically, the areas where you are losing significant radiant heat in your steam system. View this video for examples. Mitigating radiant heat loss in steam systems provides a substantial sustainability measure.
SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION
Optimize the operation of your steam boiler system by broadening attention to all components. Contact us for information about our energy conservation measures including fuel, emissions and water reduction along with supporting data, payback periods & ROI.
