Industrial Process Heating

Steam Heating

Steam heating is a conventional technology where heat is delivered by condensation of steam into liquid in a heat exchanger at the point of use. Steam heating was once considered effective and efficient as a low-cost, process heating option. In today's changing fuel structure, however, fuels for traditional boilers are out of favor, making other options more effective.

Today's choices for process heating reveal the potential disadvantages of steam heat:

• Poor temperature control
• Poor reliability
• Excessive energy consumption from heat losses
• High installation costs
• High maintenance costs

Industrial Applications

• Steam drums
• Bulk water heating
• Humidification
• Space heat

Industrial Benefits

• Low perceived cost

Advanced Energy's Services

Steam heating is widely used, but not necessarily the most cost-effective or efficient heating process for an application. Advanced Energy can evaluate, test, and recommend unbiased solutions to help you meet your objectives. We can provide recommendations for a variety of steam system issues:

• High steam costs.
• Steam systems work well as a centralized way of distributing steam, but if one or two legs of the system travel a long distance before being used, another technology may be more appropriate. Or, a point-of-use steam system, which generates steam at the process, could be used.
• Dual fuel systems -- with the costs of fuel becoming increasingly unstable, fuel choice can provide the necessary stability to stay within budget, and even reap some savings.

For More Information

Contact Mark Gentry at (336) 679-4020 or mgentry@advancedenergy.org.