Steam condensation in reformer unit.

[thiru4vino]

Dear participants1

I need your expertise for a clarification in vacuum systems with surface condensers. My adjacent unit has a reformer and they run a steam turbine driven compressor. The steam after expansion said to condense in vacuum. I cannot convince myself to believe that steam to condense in vacuum. Should such a system be possible, if so, how this is accomplished. clarifications please...

My advance thanks to all for participation...

cheers

atm_chill

 

[jay165]

Yo, Chill:

Steam has been condensing at a vacuum sisnce the start of the industrial revolution some 200 odd years ago. Pick up a good thermo book and READ ABOUT IT! Better still, take a walk over to the utility plant and read the gauges.

 

[rmw]

Saturated steam will condense at any pressure, vacuum to some real high pressures, if it encounters a surface (tube) at a lower temperature than its saturation pressure.

The condensation of the steam at low temperatures, (100-125F) actually creates the vacuum in which the condensation occurs and continues. The air removal equipment, jets or vacuum pumps only remove the non condensables that would prevent.

I sense by your question that your area of experience is not in heat transfer or thermodynamics. You may have to start with some basic thermodynamics courses or reading in order to understand the concept.

rmw