What is Process Steam?

Within the industrial applications for power and energy generation, process steam is used in a number of areas.  Most commonly, process steam is distributed within an industrial facility in the form of " saturated steam."  Saturated steam occurs at pressures pre- determined by the required saturation temperature, which in turn is based on the total overall highest required temperature for the facility. 

This steam is either directly supplied by a boiler or by cogeneration (also referred to as " CHP," "CHP systems" or "combined heat and power" utilizing one or more steam turbines. In this case, the boiler supplies the steam turbine and the steam is taken from the exhaust of a back-pressure turbine.

In both of these cases, the (fossil fuel fired) boiler(s) can be partially replaced by solar thermal collectors - thermal energy storage may be needed depending on the overall energy requirements and time of day.  In this case, please refer to Solar Steam Generation as it may be possible to generate up to 100% of the facility's process steam requirements thereby replacing fossil fuel(s) completely. At the very least, a Solar Steam Generation system saves energy expenses by replacing costly fossil fuels with essentially-free solar energy also greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprint of the produced goods.

Applications for Process Steam

Process steam serves several industrial sectors, a few of which include; chemical/petro-chemical, food processing, mining, refineries, the textile industry and more specifically; 

• Process steam 

• Process Heat - used directly in industry to provide the thermal energy for endothermic processes ( chemical reactions or heat for boiling, washing, drying, sterilization, etc.

• Cooling - Process heat also can provide cooling, chilling and/or air-conditioning using the heat for "driving" either absorption chillers or adsorption chillers.

What is a Heat Recovery Steam Generator?

A Heat Recovery Steam Generator, or "HRSG" is a boiler that captures or recovers the exhaust of a prime mover such as a combustion turbine, natural gas or diesel engine to create steam.

Stated another way, a HRSG is used to recover energy from the hot exhaust gases in power generation. It is a bank of tubes that is mounted in the exhaust stack. Exhaust gases as much as 800 °F to 1200 °F heat these tubes. Water is pumped and circulated through the tubes and can be held under high pressure to temperatures of 370°F or higher which can be boiled to produce steam.

Furthermore, the HRSG separates the caustic compounds in the flue gases from the occupants and equipment that use the waste heat. HRSG's are found in may combined cycle power plants.

What is Pressure to Power ^sm ?

We provide Pressure to Power ^sm Solutions for industrial clients that are wasting pressure through pressure reduction valves, steam pressure reduction and natural gas companies (local distribution companies - LDC's) at city gates where natural gas pipeline pressure is reduced at their city gates to distribution pressure.

There are millions of applications in the USA and around the world where clean, renewable energy and power can be generated with low, medium and high pressure pressure.  This pressure can be in the form of air, natural gas, or many other gases that are under pressure.  In addition, pressurized liquids are another potential resource for generating renewable power.  If the pressure or volume of the gas or liquid is high enough to spin a turbine (and connected generator) then this would be a potential resource for making essentially-free renewable energy.

These turbines are referred to as "displacement turbine" which spin or rotate between the upstream and downstream  gas or liquid fluid.

We provide renewable energy, clean power and net zero energy architectural, engineering and project development services.

Please note, we do not sell PRV's (pressure reduction valves).