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Hi
Superheated steam is steam that is at a temperature higher than the saturation temperature for the steam pressure. For example, steam at a pressure of 3 bar g has a saturation temperature of 143.762°C. If further heat were to be added to this steam and the pressure remained at 3 bar g, it would become superheated.
So, desuperheating is the process by which superheated steam is restored to its saturated state, or the superheat temperature is reduced.
The idea behind desuperheating is that saturated steam has a better energy exchange capacity (U coefficient) than superheated steam.
Superheated steam must cool down before condensing, therefore it is less efficient than saturated steam in appliances such as heat exchangers.
Also, superheated steam is a thermal insulator, just like air.
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What is the function of desuperheater?
Most desuperheater applications reduce the temperature of steam generated by high pressure/high temperature boilers to levels required in process operations. The primary function of a desuperheater is to lower the temperature of superheated steam or other vapors. This temperature reduction is accomplished as a result of the process vapor being brought into direct contact with another liquid such as water. The injected water is then evaporated. The two main reasons for lowering the steam or vapor temperatures are: (1) to permit operation of downstream process equipment that is designed for lower temperatures, and (2) to maintain a constant temperature for processes that require precise temperature control. 1.2
Is there a difference between a desuperheater and an attemperator?
A desuper heater is for low and medium pressure and temperature application as required in process plants. Attemperator covers all the range depending on the steaming parameters of the boiler. In functioning, they are both the same i.e. they remove the superheat of the steam with help of water either by direct contact with spray or by indirect contact in a heat exchanger.
What is meant by desuperheating vapor?
Basic steam desuperheatingDesuperheating is the process by which superheated steam is restored to its saturated state, or the superheat temperature is reduced. Most desuperheaters used to restore the saturated state produce discharge temperatures approaching saturation (typically to within 3°C of the saturation temperature as a minimum).Designs for discharge temperatures in excess of 3°C above saturation are also possible and often used.There are basically two broad types of desuperheater:Indirect contact type - The medium used to cool the superheated steam does not come into direct contact with it. A cooler liquid or gas may be employed as the cooling medium, for example, the surrounding air. Examples of this type of desuperheater are shell and tube heat exchangers. Here the superheated steam is supplied to one side of the heat exchanger and a cooler medium is supplied to the other side. As the superheated steam passes through the heat exchanger, heat is lost from the steam, and gained by the cooling medium. The temperature of the desuperheated steam could be controlled by either the inlet superheated steam pressure or the flowrate of the cooling water. Control of the superheated steam flow for this purpose is not normally practical and most systems adjust the flow of the cooling medium.Direct contact type - The medium used to cool the superheated steam comes into direct contact with it. In most cases, the cooling medium is the same fluid as the vapour to be desuperheated, but in the liquid state. For example, in the case of steam desuperheaters, water is used. A typical direct contact desuperheating station is shown in Figure 15.1.3. When the desuperheater is operational, a measured amount of water is added to the superheated steam via a mixing arrangement within the desuperheater. As it enters the desuperheater, the cooling water evaporates by absorbing heat from the superheated steam. Consequently, the temperature of the steam is reduced.Control of the amount of water to be added is usually achieved by measuring the temperature of the steam downstream of the desuperheater. The set temperature of the desuperheated steam would typically be 3°C above that at saturation. Therefore, in such arrangements the inlet pressure of the superheated steam should be kept constant.Desuperheating calculationsThe amount of water added must be sufficient to cool the steam to the desired temperature; too little water and the steam will not have been cooled enough, too much and wet saturated steam will be produced which will require drying through a separator. Using Equation 15.1.1, which is based on the conservation of energy, the cooling liquid requirement can be easily and quickly determined:Equation 15.1.1Where:cw=Mass flowrate of cooling water (kg / h)s=Mass flowrate of superheated steam (kg / h)hs=Enthalpy at superheat condition (kJ / kg)hd=Enthalpy at desuperheated condition (kJ / kg)hcw=Enthalpy of cooling water at inlet connection (kJ / kg)Example 15.1.1Determine the required cooling water flowrate for the conditions in the following Table:Solution:The necessary information can be obtained or interpolated from hard copy steam tables; the relevant extracts are shown in Table 15.1.1 and Table 15.1.2. Alternatively, the Spirax Sarco online steam tables can be used.Table 15.1.1 Extract from steam tables - Saturated water and steamTable 15.1.2 Extract from steam tables - Superheated steamThe information required to satisfy Equation 15.1.1 is therefore:s=Mass flowrate of superheated steam = 10 000 kg / hhs=Enthalpy at superheat condition (From steam tables 300°C at 10 bar a) = 3 052 kJ / kghcw=Enthalpy of the cooling liquid = 4.2 kJ / kg°C x 150°C =630 kJ / kgDetermining the enthalpy at the desuperheated condition, hd:From steam tables, the saturation temperature (T s) at 10 bar a is 180°C, therefore at the required desuperheated condition, the temperature will be:Ts + 5°C = 185°CInterpolating between the enthalpy of steam at 10 bar a and its saturation temperature, and at 10 bar a and 200°C:Enthalpy at 10 bar a, T s (saturated steam tables) = 2 778 kJ / kgEnthalpy at 10 bar a, 200°C (superheated steam tables) = 2 829 kJ/kgInterpolating for enthalpy at 10 bar a and 185°C:Finally, applying Equation 15.1.1:Equation 15.1.1Note that the desuperheated steam is supplied at a rate of:10 000 + 1 208 kg / h = 11 208 kg / hHad the requirement been for 10 000 kg / h of the desuperheated steam, the initial superheated steam flowrate can be determined using a simple proportional method:
What is meant by a desuperheating a vapor?
Basic steam desuperheatingDesuperheating is the process by which superheated steam is restored to its saturated state, or the superheat temperature is reduced. Most desuperheaters used to restore the saturated state produce discharge temperatures approaching saturation (typically to within 3°C of the saturation temperature as a minimum).Designs for discharge temperatures in excess of 3°C above saturation are also possible and often used.There are basically two broad types of desuperheater:Indirect contact type - The medium used to cool the superheated steam does not come into direct contact with it. A cooler liquid or gas may be employed as the cooling medium, for example, the surrounding air. Examples of this type of desuperheater are shell and tube heat exchangers. Here the superheated steam is supplied to one side of the heat exchanger and a cooler medium is supplied to the other side. As the superheated steam passes through the heat exchanger, heat is lost from the steam, and gained by the cooling medium. The temperature of the desuperheated steam could be controlled by either the inlet superheated steam pressure or the flowrate of the cooling water. Control of the superheated steam flow for this purpose is not normally practical and most systems adjust the flow of the cooling medium.Direct contact type - The medium used to cool the superheated steam comes into direct contact with it. In most cases, the cooling medium is the same fluid as the vapour to be desuperheated, but in the liquid state. For example, in the case of steam desuperheaters, water is used. A typical direct contact desuperheating station is shown in Figure 15.1.3. When the desuperheater is operational, a measured amount of water is added to the superheated steam via a mixing arrangement within the desuperheater. As it enters the desuperheater, the cooling water evaporates by absorbing heat from the superheated steam. Consequently, the temperature of the steam is reduced.Control of the amount of water to be added is usually achieved by measuring the temperature of the steam downstream of the desuperheater. The set temperature of the desuperheated steam would typically be 3°C above that at saturation. Therefore, in such arrangements the inlet pressure of the superheated steam should be kept constant.Desuperheating calculationsThe amount of water added must be sufficient to cool the steam to the desired temperature; too little water and the steam will not have been cooled enough, too much and wet saturated steam will be produced which will require drying through a separator. Using Equation 15.1.1, which is based on the conservation of energy, the cooling liquid requirement can be easily and quickly determined:Equation 15.1.1Where:cw=Mass flowrate of cooling water (kg / h)s=Mass flowrate of superheated steam (kg / h)hs=Enthalpy at superheat condition (kJ / kg)hd=Enthalpy at desuperheated condition (kJ / kg)hcw=Enthalpy of cooling water at inlet connection (kJ / kg)Example 15.1.1Determine the required cooling water flowrate for the conditions in the following Table:Solution:The necessary information can be obtained or interpolated from hard copy steam tables; the relevant extracts are shown in Table 15.1.1 and Table 15.1.2. Alternatively, the Spirax Sarco online steam tables can be used.Table 15.1.1 Extract from steam tables - Saturated water and steamTable 15.1.2 Extract from steam tables - Superheated steamThe information required to satisfy Equation 15.1.1 is therefore:s=Mass flowrate of superheated steam = 10 000 kg / hhs=Enthalpy at superheat condition (From steam tables 300°C at 10 bar a) = 3 052 kJ / kghcw=Enthalpy of the cooling liquid = 4.2 kJ / kg°C x 150°C =630 kJ / kgDetermining the enthalpy at the desuperheated condition, hd:From steam tables, the saturation temperature (T s) at 10 bar a is 180°C, therefore at the required desuperheated condition, the temperature will be:Ts + 5°C = 185°CInterpolating between the enthalpy of steam at 10 bar a and its saturation temperature, and at 10 bar a and 200°C:Enthalpy at 10 bar a, T s (saturated steam tables) = 2 778 kJ / kgEnthalpy at 10 bar a, 200°C (superheated steam tables) = 2 829 kJ/kgInterpolating for enthalpy at 10 bar a and 185°C:Finally, applying Equation 15.1.1:Equation 15.1.1Note that the desuperheated steam is supplied at a rate of:10 000 + 1 208 kg / h = 11 208 kg / hHad the requirement been for 10 000 kg / h of the desuperheated steam, the initial superheated steam flowrate can be determined using a simple proportional method:
What is the difference between saturated steam and Superheated steam?
Saturated steam occurs when steam and water are in equilibrium. If you have a closed container of water and heat it, above 100 celsius the steam pressure will start to rise, and as the temperature continues to rise, the pressure will go on rising. What is happening is that steam is being evolved to match the temperature (steam tables will give this relation) and the steam conditions are said to be saturated because if the pressure is raised by external means, some of the steam will start to condense back to water.If the steam pressure is held at a lower level than that achieved at saturation, by taking steam off to feed a turbine or other steam usage, there is effectively an excess temperature for that pressure, and the steam is said to be superheated. It in fact then becomes dry, and behaves as a gas. The amount of superheat can be quantified as so many degrees of superheat (celsius or fahrenheit).Turbine designers want steam to be superheated before reaching the turbine, to avoid condensation causing blade erosion, and steam producing boilers in power plants are designed to produce superheated steam. In plants where no turbines are used, only satured steam is normally generated.In heating applications, saturated steam is preferable, because it has a better energy exchange capacity. Superheated steam must cool down, and become saturated steam, before condensing in a heat exchanger. Also, superheated steam is a thermal insulator, like air.That is why it is necessary to direct superheated steam through a desuperheater before using the steam in heating applications.
