Steam Meter

Steve_210

I have been asked to install a steam meter on a job.  It is an apt building. I have not even seen it yet.  It is low pressure steam ie there is a boiler in the building, it is not City steam.  I have never used a steam meter. Does anyone know the pros and cons and possible problems of using a steam meter or do they even exist?

Thank you in advance.

Jamie Hall

They exist alright

Google or Bing "Steam meters" and you will get a nice listing of sources of information or supply.



You will also find out that on low pressure saturated steam -- our typical less than 2 psi -- that they aren't particularly common... to put it mildly.

Steve_210

Thanks Jamie

I am waiting for one company to get back to me.

Anybody used these on LP steam

Long Beach Ed

Measuring Steam

You may want to put a water meter on the return and measure the condensate instead.

Steve_210

Interesting

Thanks Ed. Have you ever done this, how well does it work?

Long Beach Ed

Water meter

No, I've never done this. But this is how district steam was billed back in the old days.  I saw this in an old heating book. 



The only problem I see is the need for sufficient water pressure to operate the meter and a meter that did not inject too much pressure loss.  No problem on a pumped return, but you'd have to watch out on gravity returns.