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Washing Cost Calculator
Total washing cost per piece — labour, chemicals, water, fuel, overhead.
CostNest Calculator
Steam Consumption Calculator — kg/hr for Washing & Finishing
Calculate steam requirement in kg/hr from machine capacity, process temperature, and fabric load. Size your boiler correctly and calculate steam cost per piece or per kg of fabric. No account needed — numbers update as you type.
Step By Step
How to Use This Calculator
5 steps
- Enter the machine capacity (kg of fabric per load).
- Input the wash temperature required (°C) and initial water temperature.
- Set the number of loads per hour the machine runs.
- Enter steam pressure (bar) to get specific steam enthalpy from the steam tables.
- Input boiler efficiency (%) to find the actual fuel needed.
Worked Example
Steam Demand Example
Use this sample to sanity-check your inputs and understand what the final result represents.
- 1Machine Capacity: 100 kg load
- 2Heat water from 28°C to 60°C: ΔT = 32°C
- 3Water volume (1:10 ratio): 1,000 litres = 1,000 kg
- 4Heat energy: 1,000 kg × 4.18 kJ/kg·°C × 32°C = 133,760 kJ
- 5At 3 bar steam: latent heat ≈ 2,163 kJ/kg
Final Result
Steam required per load: ≈ 61.8 kg | At 1 load/hr: 62 kg/hr steam demand
Methodology
Steam Calculation Formula
This section explains the calculation logic, assumptions, and source material used to make the result more trustworthy and easier to verify.
Heat Required (kJ) = Mass of Water (kg) × Specific Heat (4.18 kJ/kg·°C) × ΔT (°C)
Steam Required (kg) = Heat Required ÷ Latent Heat of Steam at Operating Pressure
Steam Rate (kg/hr) = Steam per Load × Loads per Hour
Boiler Output Required = Steam Rate ÷ Boiler Efficiency
Fuel Cost = Steam Rate × Specific Fuel Consumption × Fuel Price
Practical Guidance
Steam Efficiency Tips
- 1Steam traps that fail open waste 2–4% of total steam production. A steam trap audit every 6 months pays for itself immediately.
- 2Insulating steam pipes reduces heat loss by 80–90%. Even in hot climates, bare pipes lose significant energy.
- 3Running machines at the minimum effective temperature reduces steam demand. Many processes run 5–10°C hotter than needed out of habit.
- 4Condensate recovery and return cuts boiler fuel consumption by 10–20% by recycling hot, chemically treated water.
- 5A boiler efficiency below 80% means your boiler needs servicing or descaling. Target 85–90% for a modern fire-tube boiler.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I size a boiler for my washing plant?+
Add up the peak steam demand of all machines running simultaneously, add 20% safety margin, and select the next standard boiler size above that total. A washing plant with four 100-kg machines running at 60°C might need 300–400 kg/hr of steam at peak load.
What is the difference between saturated and superheated steam in washing?+
Washing machines use saturated steam for heating water — the steam condenses and releases its latent heat. Superheated steam is used in pressing and finishing (steam irons, tunnels). For boiler sizing in washing, focus on saturated steam latent heat values.
How much does steam cost per kg?+
This depends on your fuel source. Natural gas boilers in Bangladesh produce steam at roughly BDT 3–6 per kg of steam. Diesel boilers cost BDT 8–15 per kg of steam due to higher fuel price. This is why factories with gas connections have a significant cost advantage in washing.
What is condensate recovery and why does it matter?+
When steam heats water in a machine, it condenses back to hot water (condensate) at 80–100°C. Returning this condensate to the boiler saves the energy used to heat cold make-up water and reduces the need for chemical water treatment. A good condensate recovery system saves 15–25% on boiler fuel.