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Insulate condensate pipes? Yes or no?

RayWohlfarth
RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,459
I am sort of torn with whether to recommend insulating condensate pipes for steam breweries. I know @DanHolohan recommends insulating them to reduce carbonic acid but I wonder if the condensate pumps can handle the temperatures. The picture is the disclaimer Armstrong has for the proper operation of the condensate pump. This isn't a slam on Armstrong Im assuming they all would have the same effect.

Assuming a 12 psi steam pressure for a brewery steam boiler, the steam temperature would be 243 degrees F This would make the condensate temperature about 223 degrees F @ atmospheric pressure which would flash to steam. Just curious about your thoughts. I am wondering if the insulation would be doing a disservice

Thanks
Ray Wohlfarth
Boiler Lessons

Comments

  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,170
    The problem -- and you are right, it's not confined to Armstrong -- is one of cavitation at the pump inlet at the higher temperatures. The comment in the disclaimer is rather mild, considering...

    There really are only two solutions. Either raise the total pressure at the inlet, so the pump doesn't cavitate, or lower the fluid temperature. If you had a way to lower the pump two or three feet from the water level in the condensate tank, that would probably be enough (I'd have to run some numbers to check, that's a rough estimate) if you cou9ld drop the return temperature to 212 or so -- atmospheric. On the other hand, if the condensate really is at or close to 220, you might look at ways to maintain some pressure in the condensate tank to do the same sort of thing. But that would give back pressure on your condensate lines...

    hmm. Let me think some more.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Dave Carpentier
    Dave Carpentier Member Posts: 586
    Just throwing a completely uneducated idea out there..
    Would there be a way to have a coil of cold water around the condensate pipe at some nominal distance from the pump ?
    30+ yrs in telecom outside plant.
    Currently in building maintenance.
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,592
    edited May 2023
    Just throwing a completely uneducated idea out there.. Would there be a way to have a coil of cold water around the condensate pipe at some nominal distance from the pump ?
    You would then be paying to cool the condensate you went out of your way to keep hot.  The issue is the water boiling in the pump.



    @Jamie Hall. How about reciprocating pumps instead of centrifugal?


    If the condensate is going through a space that you want heated or a space where the heat ends up in an area you want heated id leave it exposed.

    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,170
    Well, recips are less sensitive to cavitation -- as are progressive cavity types -- but they are expensive to buy in any size and, except for some diaphragm types (which don't like high temperatures) are maintenance nightmares...
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • RayWohlfarth
    RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,459
    I was wondering if the elevated boiler feed tank would be better than one at floor level.

    Ray Wohlfarth
    Boiler Lessons
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,170
    yes
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,592
    Instead of pumping condensate, push it using compressed air in cycles
    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,170
    ChrisJ said:

    Instead of pumping condensate, push it using compressed air in cycles

    That would work... be a bit complicated. There are also steam injectors: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injector which work just fine.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • JohnNY
    JohnNY Member Posts: 3,226
    edited May 2023

    Just throwing a completely uneducated idea out there..
    Would there be a way to have a coil of cold water around the condensate pipe at some nominal distance from the pump ?

    There are several ways to do this smartly. We have run condensate lines through heat exchangers to warm hot water recirculation loops. They work to re-heat the water as it makes its way back to the water heater. We've also run hydronic floor heating loops off of condensate fed heat exchangers.
    Where a boiler is being used, the result is cooler condensate making its way back to the receiving tank.

    Keep in mind, much of the talk on this forum centers around residential heating systems. There are many commercial/industrial systems out there that, as a matter of process, dump all their hot condensate down the drain. It's those systems that tend to create the most opportunity to reclaim their otherwise lost energy.
    Contact John "JohnNY" Cataneo, NYC Master Plumber, Lic 1784
    Consulting & Troubleshooting
    Heating in NYC or NJ.
    Classes
    ChrisJ
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 15,455
    @RayWohlfarth

    The higher the condensate tank the more head on the pump which help. But it's not just cavitation it's seal life.

    I haven't delt with this in a while, but I thought B& G had pumps that would pump high temperature water.


    Steam driven condensate pumps are available from Armstrong, Sarco, Shipco etc
  • Pumpguy
    Pumpguy Member Posts: 645
    For the high temperature condensate discussed in this thread, I would suggest looking into 2 FOOT NPSH type condensate pumps.

    These pumps are very similar to conventional centrifugal type condensate pumps except in addition to the normal centrifugal type impeller, they also have an axial flow propeller mounted just ahead.

    SHIPCO is one of at least two manufacturers I know of that makes these pumps. SHIPCO says theirs can handle condensate up to 210*F.
    Dennis Pataki. Former Service Manager and Heating Pump Product Manager for Nash Engineering Company. Phone: 1-888 853 9963
    Website: www.nashjenningspumps.com

    The first step in solving any problem is TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
  • Pumpguy
    Pumpguy Member Posts: 645

    yes

    I agree. Just be sure only the receiver tank is elevated. You would need the pumps located well below the tank to get the needed NPSH.
    Dennis Pataki. Former Service Manager and Heating Pump Product Manager for Nash Engineering Company. Phone: 1-888 853 9963
    Website: www.nashjenningspumps.com

    The first step in solving any problem is TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
  • RayWohlfarth
    RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 1,459
    Thanks everyone i appreciate the expertise
    Ray Wohlfarth
    Boiler Lessons