Customer:

CPCU

LOCATION:

Paris, France

Scope of Work:

The 480km of steam/condensate piping in the Paris district heating loop was experiencing accelerated piping wear and severe water hammer. The water hammer was a critical safety concern as well as a source of continual annoyance to over 5000 CPCU commercial/ residential customers because of the loud banging. Armstrong International was asked to design a solution to the water hammer problems without causing any service inconvenience for CPCU’s customers.

Upgrade Projects:

Armstrong conducted an extensive audit of the system to include:

• Data logging of pressure and temperature at different areas of the steam and condensate network to isolate water hammer problem areas

• Assessment of different working conditions depending on period of the day and period of the year

Following the audit, Armstrong put in place concrete solutions:

• Design of a custom made steam trap to handle their CPCU’s unique application

• Design of a tailor-made thermo-siphon mixing device using cooler condensate from return lines to cool hot condensate coming out from drip legs to mitigate the water hammer

• Armstrong provided Best Practice engineering drawings for CPCU’s main line condensate stations

Investment:

The total value of the agreement was over $250,000 Eur.

Terms:

Project scope began in 2001.

Benefits:

• Armstrong received an award from CPCU for their product innovation
• Elimination of water hammer provided CPCU with happier customers and a safer work environment for CPCU maintenance personnel
• Reduction of costly unscheduled maintenance
• Substantial condensate saving
• Improvement of steam quality and reduction of wear in pipes