Continue to Site

Eng-Tips is the largest engineering community on the Internet

Intelligent Work Forums for Engineering Professionals

  • Congratulations KootK on being selected by the Eng-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

Production of 700 C Steam

AD_1979

Mechanical
Mar 6, 2023
13
Dear all,

Due to an application we need to organize in one of our facilities, we need to deal with the production of a quantity of around 500 kg/h of a really high temperature steam (Around 700 C). Is there any way of doing this? I can get steam up to 450 C....but I cannot find any alternative / technology for getting this extra boost of temperature.

Your help is really appreciated.

Regards,
AD
 
Replies continue below

Recommended for you

Yes, this may be possible. The main constraint is temperature resistant material.

ASME codes allow temperatures up to 1200 deg F(649 deg C) for code approved piping material. However, advanced ultra supercritical power plant technology will achieve up to 700 deg C steam temperature. However, special approval from ASME be required for using these materials.
 
700degC at what pressure ?
Around 2 bar.g

For such low pressures, I saw that there are some systems able to produce steam at such temperature, but the problem is they are electrically driven. I am trying to find some technology driven directly by heat produced by fuel and residual heat in our process.
 
Exhaust gas from the radiant section of a typical fired heater is > 800degC , so 700degC superheated steam should be possible. Speak to some fired heater manufacturers in your area and see if they can make something for this low 500kg/hr steam rate. It may be much more expensive than an electrical heater element driven superheater, so see if this increased cost can be recovered in say 5years or so with the cheaper fuel source you have available.
 
Exhaust gas from the radiant section of a typical fired heater is > 800degC , so 700degC superheated steam should be possible. Speak to some fired heater manufacturers in your area and see if they can make something for this low 500kg/hr steam rate. It may be much more expensive than an electrical heater element driven superheater, so see if this increased cost can be recovered in say 5years or so with the cheaper fuel source you have available.
Thanks for your help hear, George.

I'm not sure if you could be familiar with such type of manufacturers in the Benelux region, which is where I'm currently working. Help is highly appreciated here.

Regards,
AD
 
Thanks for your help hear, George.

I'm not sure if you could be familiar with such type of manufacturers in the Benelux region, which is where I'm currently working. Help is highly appreciated here.

Regards,
AD
To achieve steam at around 700°C and maintain a flow of 500 kg/h, you can consider advanced techniques typically used in high-temperature industrial applications. One approach is using specialized superheaters that can further heat steam generated at lower temperatures. These superheaters use materials and designs that withstand extreme conditions to boost steam temperature beyond the usual limits.

Additionally, exploring combustion-based methods that involve high-temperature burners can help achieve the desired steam temperature. Custom engineering solutions, such as integrating advanced heat exchangers or utilizing gas-fired superheaters, might also be viable.
 
Depending on which energy sources are available, might a steam compressor be of use? I haven't checked the thermodynamics or anything, I'm just asking the question; my first employer out of college used one, although not with steam anywhere near 700° C . . .

That notwithstanding, and depending on volume required, a steam compressor might provide some of the enthalpic input at the lower end of the temp increase, reducing the energy consumption of any electric heaters used to attain final temperature.
 
See if there is a Babcock - Wilcox representative somewhere near you

https://www.babcock.com/home/thermal/steam-generators/utility-scale-boilers/
I'm pretty sure Babcock has to have representatives here, both in Rotterdam and Antwerp. I will investigate this and I would also check if other alternatives not involving steam (for instance, use of thermal oil) can be practical for the application my colleagues are thinking.

BR,
AD
 

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor