A benefit with steam is the large amount of heat energy that can be transferred. The energy
released when steam condenses to water is in the range 2000 - 2250 kJ/kg (depending on the
pressure) - compared to water with 80 - 120 kJ/kg (with temperature difference 20 - 30 oC).
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance can be expressed as:
Q = m cp dT (1)
where
cp = specific heat of substance (kJ/kg oC ) - Material properties and heat capacities common
materials
This equation can be used to determine a total amount of heat energy for the whole process, but
it does not take into account the rate of heat transfer which is:
In non-flow type applications a fixed mass or a single batch of product is heated. In flow type
applications the product or fluid is heated when it constantly flows over a heat transfer surface.
The mean rate of heat transfer for such applications can be expressed as:
q = m cp dT / t (2)
where
cp = specific heat of the product (kJ/kg.oC) - Material properties and heat capacities common
materials
The time required to heat 75 kg of water (cp = 4.2 kJ/kgoC) from temperature 20oC to 75oC with
steam produced from a boiler with capacity 200 kW (kJ/s) can be calculated by transforming eq.
2 to
t = m cp dT / q
= (75 kg) (4.2 kJ/kgoC) ((75 oC) - (20 oC)) / (200 kJ/s)
= 86 s
Note! - when steam is injected directly to the water all the steam condenses to water and all the
energy from the steam is transferred instantly.
When heating through a heat exchanger - the heat transfer coefficient and temperature difference
between the steam and the heated fluid matters. Increasing steam pressure increases temperature
- and increases heat transfer. Heat up time is decreased.
Overall steam consumption may increase - due to higher heat loss, or decrease - due to to shorter
heat up time, depending on the configuration of the actual system.
q = cp dT m / t (3)
where
If we know the heat transfer rate - the amount of steam can be calculated:
ms = q / he (4)
where
The evaporation energy at different steam pressures can be found in the Steam Table with SI
Units or in the Steam Table with Imperial Units.
A quantity of water is heated with steam of 5 bar (6 bar abs) from a temperature of 35 oC to 100
o
C over a period of 20 minutes (1200 seconds). The mass of water is 50 kg and the specific heat
of water is 4.19 kJ/kg.oC.
q = (50 kg) (4.19 kJ/kg oC) ((100 oC) - (35 oC)) / (1200 s)
= 11.35 kW
Amount of steam:
= 0.0055 kg/s
= 19.6 kg/h
Water flowing at a constant rate of 3 l/s is heated from 10 oC to 60 oC with steam at 8 bar (9 bar
abs).
= 628.5 kW
= 0.31 kg/s
= 1115 kg/h