When medium or high-pressure steam traps discharge condensate into a lower pressure return line, some of the condensate flashes back into steam. Although this flash steam still contains valuable heat energy, its pressure is often too low for effective re-use and may ultimately be vented to atmosphere.

A common method for recovering this energy is to use a flash tank. However, flash recovery systems can create back pressure and require a suitable low-pressure steam demand elsewhere in the plant. So what is the alternative?

One option is to use a steam compressor to raise flash steam to a usable pressure level while preventing backflow into the condensate recovery line.

Read on to learn how steam compressors work, what determines steam compressor efficiency, and which factors should be considered to maximize energy savings and reduce steam waste.

Steam Compressor SC Series 
for recovering and reusing low-pressure steam

Low-pressure waste steam and flash steam are often vented to atmosphere, resulting in significant energy waste.

The SC series uses patented, high-efficiency steam compression technology to recover low-pressure steam and raise it to a usable pressure level. Combining a steam ejector, pressure reducing valve, and built-in cyclone separator, the system maintains dry motive steam for long-term efficiency, can recover steam even at atmospheric pressure, and requires no electricity, making it suitable for explosion-proof areas.