Steam is a much-needed resource that industrial plants are trying to utilize as an effective resource for production lines.  Over the years there have been improvements made to increase operational thermal efficiency and heat rates.  However, there is still a need for improving the precise coordinated control of temperature, pressure, and quality of steam.  The steam production in power and process plants are still looking for a more advanced piece of equipment that can aid them in more efficiency.

Advantages of Superheated Steam in Applications

Superheated steam has some major advantages when used in applications.  Superheat is a firm proponent of steam generation and can be used in even the most powerful ways like power stations to drive turbines.  One of the biggest reasons that steam generation is useful is that it prevents steam from traveling to the boiler and cools and condenses.  Superheating prevents that process, while only using a small amount of energy.

Desuperheaters

A desuperheaters role in applications is to lower the temperature of vapors and superheated steam.  They can accurately reduce the temperature, which is why it is so critical in power generation.  Superheated steam is an energy source for mechanical power generation in steam turbines.

In industrial plants that generate steam for power generation and process applications, the steam has to divert directly to the process side.

Turbine Bypass Desuperheating

A desuperheaters operation is to reduce the pressure of superheated steam that supplies around a turbine or power engine.  We know this process as turbine bypass desuperheating.  The reduction of steam is superheated, and it is incompatible for use.

Desuperheaters control the temperature of the turbine exhaust steam.  When the steam temperature gets too high, they need the desuperheater to assure proper operation of the downstream installed process equipment.

New Technology in Desuperheaters

Traditional desuperheaters are not able to properly solve all the industrial plant solutions needed to move forward.  Therefore, Komax created an updated version of the desuperheater that can handle all the applications while creating efficient and effective operations.

What makes the Komax desuperheater a better alternative?  Theirs utilizes a low-pressure water injection spray nozzle that is carefully directed upstream.  The flow of this steam causes the cone of water to reverse direction and pass downstream through the mixing module.  Because of this, the steam and water can effectively mix and reduce the superheat to the precise temperature for the specific mixture.

The Komax Equalizer has six fixed mixing elements built-in.  The superheated steam goes into the equalizer module and is merged with the injected cooling product.  From there it is divided and mixed by the elements in each of the six areas.  Several impingement mixing zones build at the exit, completing the three-stage contracting process.  Thus creating an effective power generating resource that meets the industry’s needs.

If you need a specifically custom-designed desuperheater, Komax can help.  As an industry leader in static mixing, desuperheaters, direct injection steam heaters, and heat exchangers, the team will find an efficient solution.