Question.. I have steam escaping

[ElTigre08]

Question..

I have steam escaping from a reactor at pressure, to a vent line.

I feel like this is a dumb question, but can I assume the initial pressure going into the vent line will be the same as the reactor?

 

[TD2K]

How is the steam getting in the vent line, through a leaking valve, a restriction orifice, a wide open valve? We need some more information.

 

[Latexman]

Technically, no. If you have fluid motion, there is a pressure drop. That's the driving force.

Practically, maybe. Tell us more.

Good luck,
Latexman

 

[ElTigre08]

The steam is through the open in the vent.

 

[sshep]

It sounds like you have a small pipe venting steam to remove non-condensables in a cheap fashion, although my own opinion of this method is that it is wasteful and not as effective as a thermostatic air vent.

This inlet pressure can be assumed to be the reacto pressure, but if the system operates above about 30psig then the flow is choked (sonic limit). The actual flow can be calculated using the method for choked flow in Crane TP410.

best wishes,
sshep