5 ways to optimise your healthcare steam system
Angelo Giambrone, 14/01/2021
Whether it is ensuring that your critical services are working correctly, saving energy and reducing carbon emissions, or planning for future plant developments and modernisation, here are five ways you can optimise your healthcare steam system to help you to achieve your goals.
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1 Measure and Save
The NHS Net Zero program calls for ‘continuous monitoring and evaluation’. For existing plants you can monitor your steam usage and target areas for improvement. Planning modifications? Steam metering allows you to plan accurately for plant upgrades and future system changes.
You’ll need: A range of steam meters that are deliver accurate and reliable data.
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2 Sterilise Once
Steam is the preferred medium for sterilisation. By using the correct steam quality, you can achieve repeatable and consistent steriliser performance to:
→ improve patient safety
→ minimise infection risk
→ maximise the output from your decontamination facility
You’ll need: The latest innovation in clean steam generation, delivering steam to meet the requirements of EN 285.
Find out more on Clean Steam Generators >>
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3 Return Condensate to the Boilerhouse
Are your condensate pumps working correctly? Is the overflow losing water? Condensate should be returned to the boilerhouse where possible, so it is important to ensure your systems are working effectively. Returning just an extra 4 litres of hot condensate every minute could save over £10,000 per year!
You’ll need: Modern, variable speed condensate return systems such as the Spirax Sarco Condensate Recovery Unit that can help to capture all your valuable condensate.
Find out more on Condensate Return >>
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4 Achieve Reliable Delivery of Hot Water, Instantaneously
The importance of hand washing has been emphasised now more than ever. Reliable delivery of hot water right across the hospital site is paramount. Instantaneous hot water systems remove the need for storage vessels and reduce the legionella risk.
You’ll need: The EasiHeatTM Heat Exchange System. Delivering instant hot water in healthcare, with over 2000 units currently operating in UK Hospitals, supported by Spirax Sarco’s After Sales Support Service.
Find out more on Heat Exchangers >>
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5 Carry out steam trap surveys
Ensuring your steam traps are working effectively should be a routine part of your steam system management. A correctly operating trap population saves energy, reduces emissions and keeps your steam system working efficiently. Simple to test and simple to rectify, a real quick win.
You’ll need: Steam Trap Surveys to help identify savings and improve plant performance.
Find out more on System System Surveys >>
Service Contracts the easy way to achieve operational efficiency
Chances are, the most cost-effective way for plant managers to keep their steam system operating at its full potential, is to outsource some, or all, of the maintenance work. A service contract is a flexible way to make sure that a plant maintains peak operational efficiency, ensures equipment longevity and gives the customer peace of mind that all their equipment is safely maintained by dedicated engineers.
Rising fuel prices – what you need to know
For plant managers, two things in life are certain: manufacturing uses a lot of energy; and that energy costs money. In fact, a survey by The Daily Telegraph and YouGov revealed that 28 per cent of manufacturing companies spend more than £250,000 a year on energy . That’s enough to make anyone’s eyes water.
Efficient steam trap management: How to maintain a safe, lower carbon and energy-efficient steam system
Implementing an effective steam trap management plan, doesn’t need to be complicated. Lowering Carbon output, increased production and energy savings are all benefits you could achieve from regular management.
The easy way to keep your steam system performing to its full potential
Time. There’s just never enough of it, especially when you’re running a steam system. Your busy job, which is full of deadlines and ever-changing demands, can leave you feeling as though there is no time to stay on top of your steam system’s upkeep.
Steam systems all go at cancer research facility
Being held responsible for a facility where vital cancer research is conducted is no mean task for any facilities team. So having confidence that all specialist mechanical services are working at their optimum level is paramount. By streamlining maintenance of its steam systems, the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research has mitigated outstanding risk and freed up in-house resource to focus on what they do best.
Steam Trap Surveys and Management
Surveys cover a wide range of equipment including steam traps, high limit control equipment and condensate pumps. Each survey first measures your system's current efficiency and identifies areas of improvement and the potential savings to be gained.