Steam heating

(mechanical engineering) A system that used steam as the medium for a comfort or process heating operation.

A heating system that uses steam generated from a boiler. The steam heating system conveys steam through pipes to heat exchangers, such as radiators, convectors, baseboard units, radiant panels, or fan-driven heaters, and returns the resulting condensed water to the boiler. Such systems normally operate at pressure not exceeding 15 lb/in.² gage or 103 kilopascals gage, and in many designs the condensed steam returns to the boiler by gravity because of the static head of water in the return piping. With utilization of available operating and safety control devices, these systems can be designed to operate automatically with minimal maintenance and attention.

In a one-pipe steam heating system, a single main serves the dual purpose of supplying steam to the heat exchanger and conveying condensate from it. Ordinarily, there is but one connection to the radiator or heat exchanger, and this connection serves as both the supply and return. A two-pipe system is provided with two connections from each heat exchanger, and in this system steam and condensate flow in separate mains and branches.

Another source for steam for heating is from a high-temperature water source (350–450°F or 180–230°C) using a high-pressure water to low-pressure steam heat exchanger. See also Boiler; Comfort heating; Oil burner; Steam-generating furnace.