Effect of Hot Condensate on a Steam Line

You might lose your job because you do not know enough about the materials you are supposed to maintain if this is or is not a problem. More to my point, when you ask for help you don't tell if this is just a discoloration from a drip or a steam cleaning like spray that is peeling back the insulation making a cloud of hot wet asbestos.

1. My first question is why don't you direct the condensate away from the steam piping?
2. The insulation will start to deteriorate and the piping inside it will start to corrode faster.
3. The insulation will become soaked with water and will present a burn / scorch hazard if anyone presses against it.
4. What size is the steam piping?

The steam line gets wet. If the insulation is damaged, then the hot condensate will probably become steam again except at a much lower pressure. And you will need more make up water for your boiler.

if downstream has a steam trap, then it does not affect the line, more or less, you'ld lose steam reheat.

Oxygen plant production

Depends upon the type of insulation and the material of construction for any cladding on the insulation. Aluminum pipe protection cladding sheets are regularly used over insulation to protect it from liquids and especially from rain on outside installations.

Cover the insulation with aluminum pipe protection cladding sheets and you won't have to worry about wet insulation. It is usually white or aluminum colored.

Good Luck, Old Salt

Just fix the bloody leak!

I have to concur with Crabtree - fix the leak! To answer your question: there will a loss of metal somewhat rapidly on the steam line, as the condensate will carry exterior contaminants from the air through which it fell. This will result in failure of the steel eventually. It also depends more on whether this steam line stays hot all the time, or is intermittant. The more time the line is cold, the worse the corrosion if it stays wet, on the other hand it will not be very long until under-deposit corrosion weakens the steel line to the point of failure.

As informed by the other CR4 member, lagging (if not aluminum cladded) will get damaged, and may fall out exposing the pipe to atmosphere leading to higher radiation losses.

Further, It will lead to fast corrossion. Steam pipe is already hot, and condensate will get evaporated. Moisture combined with high heat ( surface temp., will be high) the corrossion will be fast at least 8 times than normal rate of corrossion The pipe will tend to become weak and hoop stress will increase and pipe carrying steam will birst - may be a catostrophic disaster.

First of all an Engineer should not think like this, condensate leak means, energy is lost, condensate is lost and make up water drawal will be more and water treatment cost will go high and fuel cost will be higher than normal.

DHAYANANDHAN.S

DHAYANANDHAN has given the only correct answer ....

If this leak goes on long enough it can erode away the steam pipe below.

Erosion from flashing condensate can even cause pipe failure.... this has happened before

Thank you Mr. MJCronin for your observation and appreciation.

Thanks,

DHAYANANDHAN.S

If you want to hear a loud laugh, tell that to the Lagger who has to replace the insulation on a very hot pipe. They don't like to work on hot and/or leaking pipes any more than you would. If Calcium Silicate insulation and aluminum cladding are used there is very little need to replace it in the future.

Lagging is one of the lesser preferred trades.

Good Luck, Old Salt