LOCATION: Hampton, VA
IN-SERVICE: 2008
SIZE & TECHNOLOGY: Steam and Condensate Distribution System
FIRM ROLE: Engineer of Record
NASA undertook a major steam distribution redesign project to replace an aging system that could no longer support the integration of two remote steam generating plants and was having water hammer problems that were causing structural challenges. Waldron was selected to engineer and design a new system for steam supply and condensate return for NASA’s Langley Research Center.
The system installed over a mile of piping and integrated many buildings on the center’s campus into the distribution system that had to be capable of receiving steam from two remotely located steam generating plants. The system consisted of above ground sections, direct buried sections and underground utility tunnel-based sections, all support and anchoring components and flow and pressure control devices and instrumentation.
Steam conditions are 400 psig saturated steam and flow rate of 75,000 lb/hr.