Condensate Pumping
Condensate Pumping
Condensate Pumping
High temperatures and the danger of impeller cavitation is the major challenge of condensate pumping Often its necessary to pump generated condensate from heat exchangers and other consumers widely distributed in the plant, back to the condensate receiver in the boiler house. A special challenge with hot condensate, which is often close to 212oF (100oC), is cavitation of the pump and the pump impeller. Centrifugal pumps generates lower pressure behind the wheels, and the hot condensate temporarily evaporate and expand on the back side of the vanes - before it implodes and condensate. Over time this will erode and destroy the pump impeller. To avoid the problem there are two alternative solutions: Add pressure to the suction side of the pump Use a pressure powered pump instead of a centrifugal pump
increasing the piping dimensions for minimizing the friction loss hf in the suction pipe
If it's not possible to increase the suction pipe and lowering the pump regarding the receiver, it's possible to reduce the absolute pressure of the condensate Pvp, by reducing the condensate temperature with a cooling exchanger on the suction pipe.