The U.S. Navy’s current design of steam pipe systems onboard ships is based upon conservative estimates of moisture presence. To increase efficiency while maintaining a safe system, an analysis was done on one section of the piping system. The focus of this research was to determine the location and quantity of excess moisture accumulation to inform future design of piping systems. Using the computational fluid dynamics software, ANSYS CFX, a sample piping system was designed and tested with high quality steam. The computational mesh was refined at steady-state conditions to improve the efficiency of future computational fluid dynamics research efforts. The piping system was tested using transient analysis to determine the moisture accumulation as a result of inlet quality and pressure variation to simulate changes in steam plant operation. The results of this research will inform the future design of these piping systems and advise the necessity and location of steam traps and piping bends.

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Ensign, United States Navy