Superheated steam
Superheated steam is the name for water vapor that has been brought to a higher temperature than the boiling temperature corresponding to the excess pressure . It has a temperature of 300 to 600 ° C.
Superheated steam is further heated by a superheater directly or after it has been removed from the production process in the steam boiler , without increasing the pressure at the same time . The higher the temperature, the greater the efficiency of the process.
If the superheated steam for operating steam turbines is generated directly from the water, it is called live steam . The steam taken from the working process and reheated in a reheater is usually called intermediate steam .
Superheated steam in steam locomotives
In the case of steam locomotives , Wilhelm Schmidt and Robert Garbe first introduced superheated steam to the Prussian State Railways in 1896 by commissioning the construction of two test locomotives of the Prussian S 3 with the Schmidt-type flame tube superheater. The two locomotives were delivered in 1898. When they were tested, the following advantages of superheated steam were shown:
- In relation to its mass, superheated steam has more volume and so less mass has to be generated than steam.
- The condensation of steam back to water is prevented and thus less energy is lost.
Because of these advantages, superheated steam was able to gain acceptance in steam locomotives worldwide.
Further use
Superheated steam is also used for steaming (floor disinfection) .