Condensate pipes

Routing of pipework

It is recommended that condensate pipes are installed with a continuous slope of at least 1% in the flow direction to allow liquid condensate to drain off easily and heat exchangers and pipework to be emptied. This makes the heat exchanger start-up process easier and reduces the danger of corrosion.

Water pockets in particular should be avoided as these can lead to steam hammer, especially when starting up the heat exchanger.

Vertical sections in condensate pipes are possible. In addition to the hydrostatic pressure loss, higher flow pressure losses must also be taken into account in this case. Horizontal sections must still be sloped and suitable cold liquid condensate or start-up drainage outlets provided at the lowest points.

As the condensate normally does not accumulate at a sufficient height above the feed water vessel, it should be collected in condensate tanks and recirculated via condensate pumps/siphons.

Sizing

Condensate pipes must on no account be dealt with in the same way as pipes that only carry water. As the volume increases significantly during re-evaporation, both the steam fraction and water fraction must be taken into account during sizing.

If the required cross-sectional area is significantly undercut, this can lead to water droplet erosion on valves and elbows due to the resulting high flow speed.

The area required for the steam fraction and water fraction are derived from the corresponding densities, mass flow rates and recommended speeds.

By rearranging the equation to make the diameter the subject, the following is obtained: