U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Industrial Technologies Program – BestPractices

Steam Tip Sheets

Quick and to the point, these two-page tip sheets give engineers, technicians, equipment operators, and others technical advice to improve steam systems.

  • Benchmark the Fuel Cost of Steam Generation (PDF 212 KB)
  • Clean Boiler Water-side Heat Transfer Surfaces (PDF 211 KB)
  • Consider Installing a Condensing Economizer (PDF 264 KB)
  • Consider Installing High-Pressure Boilers with Backpressure Turbine-Generators (PDF 266 KB)
  • Consider Installing Turbulators on Two- and Three-Pass Firetube Boilers (PDF 214 KB)
  • Consider Steam Turbine Drives for Rotating Equipment (PDF 210 KB)
  • Considerations When Selecting a Condensing Economizer (PDF 304 KB)
  • Cover Heated, Open Vessels (PDF 216 KB)
  • Deaerators in Industrial Steam Systems (PDF 198 KB)
  • Flash High-Pressure Condensate to Regenerate Low-Pressure Steam (PDF 212 KB)
  • Inspect and Repair Steam Traps (PDF 186 KB)
  • Install an Automatic Blowdown Control System (PDF 212 KB)
  • Install Removable Insulation on Valves and Fittings (PDF 218 KB)
  • Insulate Steam Distribution and Condensate Return Lines (PDF 162 KB)
  • Improve Your Boiler's Combustion Efficiency (PDF 238 KB)
  • Minimize Boiler Blowdown (PDF 215 KB)
  • Minimize Boiler Short Cycling Losses (PDF 212 KB)
  • Recover Heat from Boiler Blowdown (PDF 216 KB)
  • Replace Pressure-Reducing Valves with Backpressure Turbogenerators (PDF 240 KB)
  • Return Condensate to the Boiler (PDF 239 KB)
  • Upgrade Boilers with Energy-Efficient Burners (PDF 212 KB)
  • Use Feedwater Economizers for Waste Heat Recovery (PDF 238 KB)
  • Use Low Grade Waste Steam to Power Absorption Chillers (PDF 269 KB)
  • Use Steam Jet Ejectors or Thermocompressors to Reduce Venting of Low-Pressure Steam (PDF 255 KB)
  • Use Vapor Recompression to Recover Low-Pressure Waste Steam (PDF 221 KB)
  • Use a Vent Condenser to Recover Flash Steam Energy (PDF 213 KB)

Steam publications page.