Moisture in steam that is used for sterilization in hospital autoclaves can be one of the causes of wet packs and contaminated loads with instruments that are not safe to use. This can be a big problem and sometimes very hard to discover the cause. Checking the quality of the steam (moisture content) would be the most logical first step. There are two approved standards for testing steam quality the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 1066 (ASME) and the European Standard (EN 285). EN 285 is most often used for testing in pharmaceutical manufacturing. We have the equipment and expertise to test to both standards and can recommend which would be best for your application.

Moisture in steam represents a loss which may be ex¬pressed in many ways according to the application. If we consider it from the point of view of energy use in heat transfer equipment, it is apparent that a given weight of hot water can impart only a fraction as much heat as the same weight of steam. For example at 100 PSIG, a pound of dry saturated steam will give off 880 BTU in the form of latent heat alone plus 126 BTU in condensing to atmospheric pressure whereas the hot water alone could only give off 126 BTU per pound in dropping it’s temperature to 212 degrees F. Thus the ratio in favor of steam is as 1006 is to 126.

Water in steam lines is not only annoying due to the sound and vibration caused by “water hammer,” but this hammer action can break valves and fittings and damage equipment using the steam. Moisture also commonly carries solids in suspension or in solution, which deposit in the line or in strainers, traps, regulators, etc. This shows up as an added expense for maintenance unless the mois¬ture is eliminated by line separators or traps. Further line condensation/heat loss can be minimized by insulating the steam pipes with suitable covering.

There is more than one way to test steam quality. In most cases we use the Ellison Throttling Calorimeter (ASME 1066) which is the most accurate, giving results within ¼% accuracy. This equipment is capable of monitoring steam quality continuously for an extended period of time and not just taking a quick grab sample that only gives a snapshot of the steam system’s performance. Steam quality can change from moment to moment depending on several factors in your system and only through extended monitoring can these changes be observed.
Don’t have your steam quality tested with some homemade device that does not conform to any accepted engineering standard of testing. Have your steam quality tested to some known recognized engineering standard such as ASME 1066 American Standard or EN 285 European Standard for assurance of accurate results. All our testing equipment and procedures meet ASME 1066 and EN 285 Standards. Which method we use depends on your type of facility and the equipment using the steam. We will gladly discuss your individual application and recommend the type testing that would best suite your need. See each type of testing and the equipment used explained in detail under the appropriate heading ASME or EN 285.