What is Desuperheated Steam?

To understand what desuperheated steam is, first it is necessary to understand what superheated steam is.  Superheated steam occurs when all liquid water has been boiled into steam, but additional energy is still available which further increases the steam temperature above its saturation/boiling point. 

Desuperheated steam results when this “superheated” steam either naturally or by design is reduced in temperature closer to its saturated steam temperature. Desuperheated steam can occur naturally via heat loss in pipework, or it can be deliberately induced with a desuperheater device.

A desuperheater device injects a controlled amount of water into the superheated steam. The steam temperature is reduced by evaporative cooling from the water being injected into the superheated steam thereby lowering the temperature to allow for more efficient downstream use of the steam.

Benefits of desuperheated steam

• Desuperheated steam protects process equipment further down the production line
• In some process applications it can improve heat transfer
• Makes steam usable for downstream applications

Fun fact: You receive more steam out of a desuperheater than you put in!