When calculating heat loss through underground steam distribution piping, do I use sensible heating valve or total (sensible+latent) heating valve(Regulators)?

Saturated steam at 200 psig.  We have a 10% steam loss each month.  I am looking at the heat loss through the distribution piping network.  Another possible loss I am thinking about is the steam traps.  Any thoughts?

If your steam leaves the source saturated, it can do one of two things.

If the pressure drops along the piping system are "just right" then the steam will tend to superheat as it loses pressure, minimizing losses due to moisture.

However, I doubt that to be the case, because Peter Pan doesn't work here, Murphy does, (sorry murphymok), and Murphy's laws govern.

So, if your saturated steam is losing heat, then it is getting wetter and wetter as it travels from the source to the users.  Since the velocities probably aren't high enough to meet the conditions of my first suggestion, they are low enough to permit the moisture to drop out along the piping, or be separated out every time it goes around an elbow, or any other fitting that causes a momentum change in the steam flow, probably doing a number on the elbows, etc., in the process.

Therefore, checking all the traps would be a good idea.  I suspect that if you are able to determine a reasonable flow from all or almost all of the traps, and figure the latent heat of this amount of water, you will find the majority of your steam losses.

MORE NEWS