A Revitalized Steam Lab and Its Impacts on Both Industry and Engineering Education

An “old” and “obsolete” boiler system was revitalized and an enhanced Steam Lab was established based on that system. In this project, modifications and improvements were made to the facility to establish the revitalized steam lab, which contains a 150 BHP boiler, condenser, steam turbine and generator, dynamometer, and various other pumps, heat exchangers and fluid lines. The working Steam Lab will provide test-bed capability for local companies, with which the project team and help the industry to meet the energy challenge by developing their energy-management plans and utilizing various energy sources efficiently and smartly. It will also be incorporated into the mechanical engineering curriculum at the UL Lafayette thereby substantially enhancing the mechanical engineering program and impacting the engineering education in UL Lafayette. This project was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as a part of the Save Energy Now project.