CALCULATION OF STEAM CONSUMPTION

by Arun
(Bangalore,Karnataka,India)

I would like to know the steam consumption of a flat work ironer with steam chest size :Diameter800mmx3000mm Long.The temperature required at the steam chest is around 140~150degree centigrade.
Please help me out in solving this and also the calculation involved in it.
Regards,
Arun

Reply

Thank you Arun for your interesting Question.

I am afraid that I am unable to enter into a calculation of that nature, you are best to discuss the requirement with your boiler and iron supplier, normally you can convert from the KW consumption needs of the machine and the number of hours work planned.

You can convert from kilograms of steam needed and check with your boiler man, but things like pipe lengths and working pressures will make a difference to the speed at which the iron can be run and finnish the work.

There is also the factor of the extraction rate of your washing machines and their spin speed and drum diametre, which will provide the g force to remove the water from the fabric before being placed on the ironing bed.

This will be measured as a percentage of the weight of water removed or left in the fabric, an 800cm drum size can be used without the flatwork having to be placed in a tumble dryer, so a high spin washer-extractor will remove 50% whereas a ridgid mount slow spin machine will be nearer 30% removed during the spin cycle.

You may be using the steam for other machines such as tumble dryers, or direct injection into the washing machine, this would require an on site visit by a boiler specialist.

My spreadsheets only go up to 1.6 metre rotary iron, so you will have to discuss the quantity of steam required with the company who supplied or built your iron.

you can find some of these companies listed in my links pages