Posted by Tony Conner on February 10, 2000 at 17:25:23:
In Reply to: steam turbines posted by Richard on February 10, 2000 at 14:55:49:
: Is it economically feasible to install a steam turbine to produce electric power for a boiler system that can produce 125 psi steam, instead of utilizing a pressure reducing station (most of steam demand is at 50 psi)?
: Thanks
It won't likely pay back very well with a pressure drop that low, unless your electrical costs are just obscene. The things that matter physically are the pressure drop, and the base (not the peak) steam load on the exhaust side of the turbine. Also, the electrical output will wander with the low pressure steam demand, because back pressure turbines work just like PRVs. The steam gets throttled to maintain the downstream pressure. In addition to a bigger pressure drop, you also need a year round process steam load. Building heating loads don't last enough of the year, unless you live at the North Pole. If you've got a 10 PSIG steam load of 3,000 lbs per hour or so that runs most of the year, it'll likely be worth looking at.