Steam and Cogeneration Course

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          Steam is central to the operation of most industrial facilities. Typically, steam systems comprise one of the largest operating costs associated with an industrial plant. This course will cover the operation of typical steam systems and will discuss methods of system efficiency improvement. The course is divided into three major categories:

                               Steam Generation Efficiency

                               Resource Utilization Effectiveness

                               Steam Distribution System Management

The following is a general description of the course content.

         In the Steam Generation Efficiency category of the course the boiler is investigated and the target is obtaining optimum steam generation efficiency. The concept of efficiency is thoroughly investigated and the factors affecting efficiency are identified. Typically, the major avenue of loss associated with boiler operation is energy carried from the system with the flue gas exiting the boiler. Flue gas heat recovery and excess air control are major components associated with this loss. These areas will be covered in the course as well as other areas of efficiency impact such as, blowdown, water quality, and boiler shell integrity.

Resource Utilization Effectiveness is a very broad category encompassing fuel selection, combined heat and power systems, steam system balancing, and steam end users. These investigation areas can have significant impact on the economics of a facility. Facilities capable of utilizing multiple fuels can realize significant savings as a result of fuel price differences. Combining generation of the supply for a site’s thermal demand with the electrical demand can result in major improvements in overall cost effectiveness. The course covers the basic concepts of steam turbine operation and the economic impacts of supplying steam exported from turbines.

Steam Distribution System Management is a major challenge in many systems. Identifying and reducing the sources of loss in a system will be discussed. Several focus areas are incorporated in this category, including:

                  Steam leaks

                               Pipe failures

                               Steam trap failures

                   Heat transfer loss through insulation

                   Condensate loss

                                Condensate worth

                                Recovery system considerations

These areas are fundamental in the field of energy management and generally result in attractive economics when savings opportunities are identified.

          For each of the categories the presentation goes into the details of the equipment and the theory of operation. The measurements required for appropriate management of each area will be identified. The economic impact of each area will also be identified. Many case studies will be presented from steam system assessments conducted by the instructor.