- Steam accumulator
A Steam accumulator is an insulated steel pressure tank containing hot water and
steam underpressure . It is a type ofenergy storage device which is used to smooth out peaks and troughs in demand for steam in afactory .Charge
The tank is about half-filled with cold water and steam is blown in from a
boiler via a perforated pipe near the bottom of the drum. Some of the steam condenses and heats the water. The remainder fills the space above the water level. When the accumulator is fully charged the condensed steam will have raised the water level in the drum to about three-quarters full and thetemperature and pressure will also have risen.Discharge
Steam can be drawn off as required, either for driving a
steam turbine or for process purposes (e.g. inchemical engineering ), by opening a steamvalve on top of the drum. The pressure in the drum will fall but the reduced pressure causes more water to boil and the accumulator can go on supplying steam (at gradually reducing pressure and temperature) for some time before it has to be re-charged.Pressure and temperature
This steam table shows the relationship between pressure and temperature in a boiler or steam accumulator:
Abbreviations and notes
* PSI = pounds-force per square inch
* Absolute pressure = gauge pressure +atmospheric pressure
* °C = degreesCelsius
* °F = degreesFahrenheit External links
* [http://www.spiraxsarco.com/resources/steam-engineering-tutorials/the-boiler-house/steam-accumulators.asp Steam Accumulators] A complete overview of the need for steam storage to meet peak load demands in specific industries, including the design, construction and operation of a steam accumulator, with calculations - Spirax Sarco
ee also
*
Fireless locomotive ources
* Everyman's Encyclopaedia 1931, volume 2, page 543
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