"There are three principal forms of energy used in industrial processes: electricity, direct-fired heat, and steam. Steam provides process heating, pressure control, mechanical drive, and component separation, and is a source of water for many process reactions. Steam has many performance advantages that make it an indispensable means of delivering energy. These advantages include low toxicity, ease of transportability, high efficiency, high heat capacity, and low cost with respect to the other alternatives. This book is designed to provide steam system users with a reference that describes the basic steam system components, outlines opportunities for energy and performance improvements, and discusses the benefits of a systems approach in identifying and implementing these improvement opportunities"--Page [ix]. |