Direct steam injection into cooling water line at pump suction

[Amanda123]

Currently there is an operation scenario at one of our plant which directly injecting steam into cooling water line at pump suction in order to generate hot water at 60 deg C for circulation, by doing this its generate vapor at pump suction and lead to cavitation which ultimately damage pump and mechanical seals. Please advise better solution to this rather than installing a heat exchanger.

 

[EdStainless]

Inject the steam after the pump.
And make sure that the steam gets well dispersed.
Normally this is done with a sleeve with lots of small holes in it.
Look at someone like PICK that makes direct injection heaters.

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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube

 

[georgeverghese]

Ed's idea is one way - another way, if your steam pressure is too low for pump discharge injection, is to install a vapor disengagement drum between the injection point and the pump.

 

[Amanda123]

Dear all

Thank you for the reply. There is another latest update, i have find out there is condensate tank nearby which most of condensate being send to drain. If i replace the steam injection with this condensate from condensate tank at pump suction to get hot water at 60 deg c, is that it will solve the problem since there will be no steam bubble? or still need to relocate the injection point to pump discharge?