Beyond Control Valves: Drum Dryers Save Energy with Steam Jet Ejectors

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Written By nitant harani
Thermocompressor for textile industry

Textile Manufacturing Process consume huge amounts of steam in Washing, Dying & Drying Process. Traditional control valves & steam traps often limit efficiency — wasting Live steam from Trap Bypass, Leaking Steam Trap & Recurring Maintenance. Modern patented steam equipment like Baelz Jetomat® steam jet ejectors offer a smarter alternative. By combining advanced variable nozzle design with a simple Venturi principle, Jetomat functions as a thermo compressor that reuses waste steam & improves throughput.

 

Why Control Valves Waste Energy

Conventional control valves simply throttle steam down to the required pressure. In the process, energy is lost & High Temperature steam condensate must be dumped through traps.
Over time, plants see thicker condensate films on dryer drums, uneven heating & wasted flash steam venting to atmosphere.

With valves & traps, the steam & condensate loop is inefficient: you burn fuel to make high-pressure steam, only to throw away part of it as flash.

 

How Jetomat Works

Jetomat is essentially a compact thermo vapour recompressor (or steam jet thermocompressor) designed as part of a heat recovery system. Its diffuser & nozzle geometry accelerates high-pressure motive steam into a jet stream. This creates suction, pulling in condensate from Drum Dryers instead of relying on Gravity, like when you drink Soda from with a Straw.

The two flows mix inside the ejector body & the diffuser converts velocity back into usable pressure. The outcome: instead of losing energy, Jetomat delivers a stable supply of mixed steam at the right pressure.

 

Steam jet ejector working principle means

  • No wasted live steam — recompressed back into the steam dryer circuit.

  • Continuous condensate & flash steam recovery system action, with no reliance on multiple traps or bypass.

  • Stable dryer skin temperature, ensuring consistent drying conditions.

In short, it’s a self-regulating steam compressor for your heating systems — simple, robust, & maintenance-light.

 

Real-World Textile Industry Results

One textile finishing plant in Turkey swapped valves for Jetomat steam thermocompressors on its drum dryers.
It was 3 row drying stage with each row consisting of 12 drum dryers, controlled by a valve.

  • BEFORE: 5.5 bar steam throttled to 3 bar, with each drum fitted with a trap.

  • AFTER: Jetomat running at 5.5 bar motive steam, entraining low-pressure return steam at 1.5 bar, delivering 2 bar outlet pressure.

 

Results:

Steam consumption fell by 20% (2.6 t/month → 2.2 t/month).

  • Drum traps were eliminated completely.

  • Heat distribution improved: uniform surface temperature within 1°C vs a 15°C spread with valves.

  • Drying speed increased, enabling higher throughput with the same boiler.

In another single-row dryer case, the retrofit delivered ~15% steam savings & removed all five traps.

 

Key Benefits of Jetomat in Textile Dryers

Saving Energy: Typical savings of 15–20% steam consumption per dryer.

  • Increase Production Speed: Same Machine’s production speed can increase by 20% -100%.

  • No Steam Separator Needed: By recompressing flash steam, Jetomat reduces water hammer risk & simplifies the steam & condensate system.

  • Flash Steam Recovery System: Captures waste steam & puts it back to work, reducing boiler load & fuel bills.

  • Improved Production Speed: More uniform drying temperatures mean fabrics come out evenly dried, & better drying quality.

  • Simplified Heating Systems: Jetomat replaces control valves, multiple traps, & a vent line with a single, robust steam jet compressor.

 

Why It Matters

Energy is one of the largest costs in textile production. By installing Jetomat, mills not only cut fuel bills but also modernize their steam & condensate infrastructure with reliable thermocompressor design. Unlike complex valves or pumps, Baelz ejectors are Reliable & Automat Production — meaning less downtime & fewer maintenance headaches.

 

Conclusion

Jetomat steam jet ejectors prove that efficiency & throughput don’t have to be a trade-off. By integrating a thermocompressor working principle into your dryer line, you can save 15 –30% energy, eliminate steam trap maintenance, & achieve faster, more consistent drying

 

Ready to see what Jetomat can do for your plant?

Contact us today for a free evaluation of your heating systems & learn how a flash steam recovery system could boost your textile operations.

 
nitant harani