Enter steam output, pressure and feedwater temperature, pick two fuels and compare cost per ton, fuel use and the payback of switching. For biomass, moisture enters the heating value per ISO 18125.
Pre-sizing and estimating tool: results do not replace design, calculations or reports signed by a licensed professional, nor verification against the applicable codes and standards.
Each line moves one fuel price from −40% to +40% of the value entered. Where the lines cross, both cost the same per ton of steam.
Cost per ton of steam versus biomass moisture (or efficiency, for fuels without moisture).
Yearly fuel spend at the operating hours entered.
Take this page’s results to another calculator with the fields already filled in.
Cash flow of the improvement: investment in year 0 and annual savings escalated at the rate entered, discounted at the MARR.
The report gathers this page's inputs, results, equations, assumptions and references, with fields for project, engineer and revision. In the print dialog, choose Save as PDF.
It depends on fuel, price and efficiency. With natural gas at $6/MMBtu (HHV), 88% efficiency on an LHV basis and 176 °F feedwater, 150 psig steam costs roughly $18 per metric ton, about $8 per 1,000 lb. The calculator redoes the math with your data.
Water does not burn and takes energy to evaporate. Per ISO 18125, every point of moisture lowers the LHV and raises the fuel needed per ton of steam; the boiler also loses efficiency with wetter flue gas.
U.S. gas and oil energy prices are quoted on an HHV basis. When you choose a price per MMBtu, therm or GJ, the calculator treats it as HHV and converts it to LHV, the basis used for efficiency here.
Important notice: Indus Metrics tools produce estimates and pre-sizing results from the data you enter and from published engineering methods. They do not replace design, calculations or reports signed by a licensed professional engineer (PE), nor verification against the applicable codes, standards and regulations, such as OSHA rules and the ASME codes. Material and fuel properties vary: check manufacturer data or your own process analyses before deciding. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use.
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