Steam

Types of Steam and Conversions:
– Steam is created by heating a boiler with coal or solar energy.
– Wet steam contains water droplets that evaporate as it is heated.
– Saturated steam is at equilibrium with both vapor and liquid water.
– Superheated steam is at a temperature higher than its boiling point.
– Steam tables contain thermodynamic data for water and saturated steam.

Uses of Steam:
Agricultural Use:
– Steam is used for soil sterilization in agriculture to avoid harmful chemicals and improve soil health.

Domestic Use:
– Steam is utilized for cooking, cleaning, heating buildings, and ironing clothes by heating water in a boiler.

Steam in Electricity Generation and Cogeneration:
– Around 90% of electricity is generated using steam, primarily through steam turbines.
– In cogeneration, steam is used for both electricity generation and heat in buildings.

Steam Applications in Various Industries:
– Steam is used in industrial processes to transfer heat, drive reactions, and sterilize objects.
– In chemical industries, steam is crucial for processes like steam cracking and steam reforming.

Other Uses of Steam:
– Steam is employed for energy storage in industrial applications through heat transfer using pipes.
– Mechanical work is achieved through steam engines and turbines, with condensed steam being returned to the boiler for efficiency.
– Steam is also utilized for sterilization in autoclaves, antimicrobial cleaning, and cleaning various materials, kitchen equipment, and engines.