Steam Valves and Purpose
Steam valves are used to control the flow and pressure level of steam and heated water vapor.
Steam is used in a large number of industrial applications. It is used for powering turbines to generate electricity and for food, chemical and other product processing. Steam is also used for cleaning, heating, and humidification. Most applications require some control, and steam control valves become an important part of the process. The major application of valves with steam is to reduce the pressure of the inlet steam for process application. In addition to controlling pressure, a steam valve can control temperature. Industrial processes frequently use steam at lower pressures. Since steam at a low pressure has higher latent heat, (which increases energy efficiency) and steam pressure and temperature are related, temperature is controlled through the control of steam pressure. Lower steam pressure will also provide improved plant safety.
Steam is sometimes considered antiquated due to its connection to steam locomotives and early industrial factories, but it remains a useful conveyor of heat energy. Steam can be produced by any number of methods, many of which are considered environmentally sound. Using steam for process heating offers multiple benefits over other heating methods. These benefits include simplicity of the system, high efficiency, and reliability, making steam a popular choice for modern process designers. By regulating steam pressure and flow a state of the art automated valve helps maximize delivery and process efficiencies.