How to Calculate Steam Flow Rate?

No flow meter + no pressure measurement + no temperature measurement = x flow rate.

Where x is unknown.

Do an energy balance around the exchanger. Look at the stream that is being heated, and use its flowrate and change of enthalpy. Divide by the change in enthalpy of the steam at whatever pressure it is connected at (which comes from Steam Tables) and "Robert is your mother's brother". Allow a bit extra for losses.

Have you any access to the heated flow? Kind, temperatures, flow?

You can estimate that the steam brings the heat for the heated flow and compensate some losses to the environment.

There are contact thermometers whit which you can measure the pipe wall temperature at in and out let of steam and of the heated flow. Make an energy/power balance from which you can estimate the steam flow if you can get an indication about the heated product flow.

It will NOT be a precise result but a fair estimation.

1st. Method:

Heating water:

Q = GPM X delta T , Fx cp x 500 x sg/Latent Heat

eg: water flow 50 gpm at 40F, leaving at 140F, steam 15 psig

Q = 50 x 100 x 1 x 500 x 1 /945 = 2645 lbs/hr

IF heating oil = gpm/4 x delta T, F = LBS/HR STEAM

2nd Method:

Weigh a bucket 25% filled with water.

fit a hose on the steam trap outlet and dip into the bucket.

After 15 min. weigh the bucket misus the initial weight.

Take 3 - 4 tests and take the average = litres/ 15 min x 4 = kg/hr x 2.2 = lbs/hr steam.

Compare with formula and take average. Remember steam is never accurate but +/- approximate.

Dear Mr.Ir kavi,

Data is In-Sufficient or practically NIL.

Install Thermometers for the heated fluid, and pressure gauge, and also install a pressure gauge on the steam side, and Thermometers on Steam entry and condensate outlet.

Knowing the flow area for the fluid, Velocity can be calculated by knowing the pressure. Once quantity is known and Temp. Rise Known, the specific heat can be taken from the standards, and arrive at the Heat transferred.

Referring to Steam Tables, and Heat Content, the Quantity of Steam Flow can be calculated, based on the HEAT TRANSFERRED.

The Important condition is , steam should be totally condensed and no steam should escape to atmosphere. If you do not know the Sp.Heat of the Fluid, then all attempt is waste.

One of the Reply is measuring the condensate - Idea is OK, but no steam should escape.

DHAYANANDHAN.S