Uses Steam

1 uses

1.1 agricultural
1.2 domestic
1.3 electricity generation (and cogeneration)
1.4 energy storage
1.5 lifting gas
1.6 mechanical effort
1.7 sterilization
1.8 steam in piping
1.9 wood treatment
1.10 concrete treatment
1.11 cleaning

uses
agricultural

in agriculture, steam used soil sterilization avoid use of harmful chemical agents , increase soil health.

domestic

steam s capacity transfer heat used in home: cooking vegetables, steam cleaning of fabric, carpets , flooring, , heating buildings. in each case, water heated in boiler, , steam carries energy target object. steam used in ironing clothes add enough humidity heat take wrinkles out , put intentional creases clothing.

electricity generation (and cogeneration)

about 90% of electricity generated using steam working fluid, steam turbines.

in electric generation, steam typically condensed @ end of expansion cycle, , returned boiler re-use. however, in cogeneration, steam piped buildings through district heating system provide heat energy after use in electric generation cycle. world s biggest steam generation system new york city steam system, pumps steam 100,000 buildings in manhattan 7 cogeneration plants.

energy storage


fireless steam locomotive

despite resemblance boiler, note lack of chimney , how cylinders @ cab end, not chimney end.

in other industrial applications steam used energy storage, introduced , extracted heat transfer, through pipes. steam capacious reservoir thermal energy because of water s high heat of vaporization.

fireless steam locomotives steam locomotives operated supply of steam stored on board in large tank resembling conventional locomotive s boiler. tank filled process steam, available in many sorts of large factory, such paper mills. locomotive s propulsion used pistons , connecting rods, typical steam locomotive. these locomotives used in places there risk of fire boiler s firebox, used in factories had plentiful supply of steam spare.

lifting gas

owing low molecular mass, steam effective lifting gas, providing approximately 60% lift helium , twice as hot air. not flammable, unlike hydrogen, , cheap , abundant, unlike helium. required heat, however, leads condensation problems , requires insulated envelope. these factors have limited use far demonstration projects.

mechanical effort

steam engines , steam turbines use expansion of steam drive piston or turbine perform mechanical work. ability return condensed steam water-liquid boiler @ high pressure relatively little expenditure of pumping power important. condensation of steam water occurs @ low-pressure end of steam turbine, since maximizes energy efficiency, such wet-steam conditions must limited avoid excessive turbine blade erosion. engineers use idealised thermodynamic cycle, rankine cycle, model behavior of steam engines. steam turbines used in production of electricity.

sterilization

an autoclave, uses steam under pressure, used in microbiology laboratories , similar environments sterilization.

steam, dry (highly superheated) steam, may used antimicrobial cleaning levels of sterilization. steam non-toxic antimicrobial agent.

steam in piping

steam used in piping utility lines. used in jacketing , tracing of piping maintain uniform temperature in pipelines , vessels.

wood treatment

steam used in process of wood bending, killing insects , increasing plasticity.

concrete treatment

steam used accentuate drying in prefabricates. care should taken since concrete produces heat during hydration , additional heat steam detrimental hardening reaction processes of concrete.

cleaning

used in cleaning of fibers , other materials, in preparation painting. steam useful in melting hardened grease , oil residues, useful in cleaning kitchen floors , equipment , internal combustion engines , parts. among advantages of using steam versus hot water spray facts steam can operate @ higher temperatures , uses substantially less water per minute.