Dynamics of steam accumulation

Abstract

Steam accumulators are applied as buffers between steam generators and consumers in cases of different steam production and consumption rates. The steam accumulator is filled with water and steam and it operates with a sliding pressure and condensation and evaporation processes. Dynamics of the steam accumulator operation, characterized mainly by the pressure and water level transients, depends on the accumulator volume and initial and boundary process parameters. The non-equilibrium numerical model of steam accumulator is developed with the aim of predicting a steam accumulator capacity and as a support to the design of a control system. The model is based on the mass and energy balance equations for each phase and closure laws of phase transitions. The steam accumulator pressure transients are predicted for the case of periodic variable steam supply to a coal drying plant. The influence of the inlet steam enthalpy on the water mass and level change is investigated. The applied methodology is new regarding the commonly used equilibrium approach.