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As businesses rise to an increasingly complex set of energy and sustainability challenges, the need for sustainable solutions is more important than ever before, and Spirax Sarco energy and steam experts have the expertise to help you with these challenges.

Below is a list of twelve steps and methods that can help businesses save money, energy, and steam.

1. Use a steam flowmeter to monitor your steam energy conservation efforts to quickly spot and resolve developing steam wastage problems.
2. Increase your steam system’s efficiency by properly selecting, sizing and installing the type of steam trap best suited for each application.
3. Prevent clogging pipe lines from straining your patience and lowering production. Use Pipeline Strainers to prevent fouling and equipment damage. Install steam line “Y” strainers on their side to eliminate a water pocket, prevent freeze damage and reduce control valve seat erosion.
4. A simple steam separator/filter combination will make any sterilizing equipment safer and more efficient. A separator also makes an effective drip station at any location.
5. Take the guesswork out of testing steam traps by installing a steam trap monitoring system throughout your plant. Effective steam energy conservation requires a regular steam trap-testing and maintenance program. Locate, identify by type, and tag each trap. Inspect and repair or replace with the correct type for each application as required.
6. A steam compressor, which combines low pressure and high pressure steam to make medium pressure steam, may be a worthwhile investment to evaluate. It can also recover otherwise wasted flash steam.
7. Keep your boiler tuned up for peak operating efficiency with regular maintenance of its fuel feed system. Maintain proper levels of CO, CO2, NOx, etc. Monitor boiler exhaust gas stack temperatures. Higher temperatures mean dirty heat transfer surfaces; low temperatures lead to acidic conditions and expensive repairs. Good control prevents air pollution and reduces fuel and operating costs.
8. Boiler blowdown and high purity water treatment is a must. Reduce energy losses by optimizing your “cycles of concentration”, and installing an automatic blowdown control system with a heat recovery package.
9. Generate and distribute steam at high pressure for most efficient boiler operation, highest steam quality, and lowest piping system cost. For best operating economy, reduce the steam pressure at the point of usage with a Pressure Reducing Valve.
10. Generate highest quality steam by preventing boiler overload and installing moisture separators. For peak load periods, reduce non-critical loads with a Back Pressure Regulator. Consider steam accumulators for intermittent peak load periods.
11. Good insulation on steam piping, including flanges and valves, is necessary to reduce heat loss by up to 95%. Regularly inspect existing insulation, replace damaged areas and upgrade poorly insulated areas.
12. For small steam loads occurring at night or on weekends when your large boilers could be shut down, an environmentally friendly alternative is to install an electric boiler. This is also beneficial when a new steam application is to be implemented far from the existing steam distribution system.