Condensate contains a significant amount of sensible heat, accounting for 10% to 30% of the initial heat energy contained in steam. No wonder reusing hot condensate can lead to considerable savings. When efficiently recovered, it is actually possible to reduce boiler fuel needs by up to 10-20%.    

Thinking about implementing a condensate recovery system? There are two main types to consider: vented and pressurized. The selection should be based on a careful economic analysis relative to the gains and losses of each system, which includes the following factors:   

• Sensitivity to backpressure
• Amount of equipment being drained and recovered relative to the economic and physical constraints
• Need for a flash recovery system

Read more to learn about vented and pressurized condensate recovery, as well as the pros and cons of each system.