How Does A Sanitary Steam Heater Work?

A sanitary steam heater works on the DSI or Direct Steam Injection system to instantly heat any liquid that’s water miscible or even aqueous slurry on a straight-through and continuous basis.

The pick system introduces steam to the liquid by way of an injection tube which leads to the liquid instantly absorbing steam and full transfer of pure heat.

The heater comes with a special spring-loaded piston to regulate the steam flow and prevents equalization of pressure between the steam and water to eliminate a steam hammer. The chamber’s helical flights enhance thorough mixing before discharging.

The spring-loaded piston and steam injection tube are the main components of a sanitary steam heater and have three principal functions:

• They break the steam into smaller streams.
• Responding to changes in steam demand, the piston modulates to keep maintaining a steady differential between the water pressure and steam.
• The piston closes during a shutdown preventing a sudden steam collapse within the tube.

Benefits of a Sanitary Steam Heater

Ensures energy efficiency: A sanitary steam heater is designed to dramatically cut fuel costs by up to 28% as the liquid absorbs the full steam energy.

Great temperature control: Accurate and precise temperature control is maintained in the whole operating range. This  while assuring product quality, also conserves energy. The heater quickly adapts to changes in load while maintaining temperature control to within 1°C or even less precisely.

Operating range is wide: Its turndown ratio  is 12:1 with a single-control valve. This is much better than the ratio of 100:1 that comes with multiple valves for steam control.

Comes without steam hammer: The unique variable-orifice injector helps in maintaining the minimum differential between the water pressures and steam automatically. This cuts out harmful vibrations as also steam hammer.

Lesser noise: Known to generate lesser noise (usually below 85 dba), the sanitary steam heater certainly scores over the venturi-type heater.

Full mixing within the heater body: This eliminates the need for discharge piping that’s straight run as venturi-type heaters require.

Lower drop in liquid pressure: The drop in pressure is never in excess of 2 PSI under normally flowing rates.

Compact design: The current generation sanitary steam heater is designed in a manner to take up the least possible space as compared to traditional heat exchangers.

Instantaneous water delivery: Unlimited and instantaneous hot water supply is guaranteed and this eliminates the requirement for storage tanks.