Steam Generation & Distribution2 / 12
Steam Distribution & Insulation
Pipe sizing, heat losses, insulation thickness, and economical design.
10 min read · Jacob Willis, Net Zero Lead · Last reviewed July 2026
Between the boiler and the process, steam travels through a network of mains and branches that can quietly consume a tenth of everything generated. Distribution losses come in two currencies: heat radiated from hot surfaces, which insulation controls, and steam condensed before it ever reaches a user, which drainage and layout control. Both are as unglamorous as engineering gets, and both pay back faster than almost anything else in this course.
In this lesson
- 01Radiation: the case for lagging everything
- 02Condensation in the mains: drainage and steam quality
- 03Right-size and retire
- 04Sources and further reading