What does "Wet Steam" mean to you?

ARobertson13

I don't vote on a technical definition. It either is or is is not. I did not have time to go through my reference notes which are quite extensive so I noticed a posting by Dan Holohan [could not find it earlier because I keep misspelling his name] "Dry Steam is the goal" March 01, 2023. One of the issues that I have with steam heating people is not using proper terminology for characteristics and activities of steam heating equipment. I do not think this is unreasonable.

ethicalpaul

I would never call anyone unreasonable for not voting on my poll, I am thankful for any participation!

But just to be clear, I'm not looking for some published definition—I can go to google for that. I'm interested in what the steam community thinks it is, and this is the most comprehensive residential steam community that I believe exists.

I'm not sure what you mean by "it is or it is not", I would think you would have some idea what you think wet steam is, but sharing it is, of course, up to you!

EdTheHeaterMan

It's both of the above. They are the same thing, just of different magnitude

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1840486#Comment_1840486

So to be clear, your opinion of wether the steam heating industry as a whole believes that Wet Steam is exact science as opposed to what we believe to be an acceptable amount of water vapor, droplets, or actual water in a main pipe. Of course the goal is dry steam in the main pipe. but that would mean that the steam would need to be superheated by at least 1° above the saturated steam temperature. On a one pipe steam system that would be impossible since the pipe with the dry steam in it cold not hold any return condensate. if the steam in the main is superheated, then any condensate in the main would instantly flash to steam since the "Dry Steam" in the main is superheated.

This is like saying that a circulator on a hot water system is not a pump. it should be called a circulator and never called a pump when in fact it is a pump. It is not a positive displacement pump but it still is a pump. We like to use the term circulator in the industry in order to differentiate between something that moves water in an open system as opposed to something that moves water in a closed system.

By your assertion in you two comments we know what your Non Vote would be.

Thanks for your informative and exacting opinions

ethicalpaul

Let's please be nice @EdTheHeaterMan we all have our reasons for our positions even if they aren't always clear to others.

Let's not get sidetracked too much with superheated steam but I think that superheated steam might lose some of its heat to condensate it came into contact with without causing immediate flashing or collapse. But this is just my thoughts as I've never worked with it myself.

After all, our saturated steam comes into contact with different temperatures of condensate during a steam cycle and sometimes co-exists with it, either warming the condensate to some level, or causing some condensation, or even some re-vaporization, or some combination thereof.

ARobertson13

I do not mean to offend any one. I have always tried to assist technicians, engineers, plumbers ect. in carrying out their trades in a professional manner. There are problems as I have stated before in the steam heating industry. One of which is people throwing around terms that they really do not understand. I try to avoid correcting such contractors but I remember what I was told in vocational technical high school in the early 1970's. You have to use correct terminology correctly. Especially when you are getting paid. One instructor would yell "It is not a battery it is a Cell" In high school I took machine shop, Electrical installation, plumbing and my diploma trade electronics. I later went on to Community college and then engineering school. Worked for 2 startup companies, a consumer electronics Co, T Mobile, 3 defense contractors. I have seen it again and again. People cause problems for themselves, fellow employees, contractors and customers not using or knowing proper terminology.

danmayer175

It's small droplets of water that get carried up into the mains with the steam

I prefer non-scientific definitions, because it's easier to manipulate them to my advantage. Some examples:

Dry steam is the result of my skillful tinkering with the system (in spite of my wife's insistence that I'm meddling in matters beyond my grasp).

Wet steam is the result of poor workmanship from the past that I can't possibly change with my limited skills (sorry honey, it is what it is).

ethicalpaul

Absolutely @ARobertson13. Figuring out the proper terminology is one of the goals of this discussion, not that it's going to be any kind of authority but it will hopefully help a little.

Intplm.

It's both of the above. They are the same thing, just of different magnitude

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1840530#Comment_1840530

Ahh. I like this one. @danmayer175 But as you read on here, your skills just might be going up a few ticks. I like that you offer the practical purposes of this subject. At the end of the day, this is what it really comes down to.