Steam-driven pumps boost condensate efficiency
January 1st 2009 Royal United Hospital (RUH)
Bath is reducing maintenance
costs and improving energy
efficiency by swapping its electrical
condensate return pumps for steamdriven
mechanical pumps from
Spirax Sarco.
RUH Bath uses steam to provide
heating, hot water and other services
throughout the hospital. It saves
energy and water by returning as
much hot condensate as possible to
the boiler house via eight pumping
stations. Each station comprises a
receiving vessel and two pumps, with
one on duty and one on standby.
Condensate collects in the
MFP14's pumping chamber, raising a
ball float and opening a valve to
allow steam into the chamber. The
increased pressure then forces the
condensate out, making the ball drop
and closing off the steam supply.
Each cycle takes around two and a
half minutes and removes 12.8 litres
of condensate at a time. This is in
contrast to the previously used
electrical pumps, which produced a
12 minute cycle, reducing energy
efficiency as the condensate cooled
while waiting to be pumped away. More articles from Spirax Sarco Ltd: | 
