Plant Utilities worked example
Condensate Return Savings at 99% usable condensate share: a worked example
What does the result look like when usable condensate share reaches 99%? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use it when reviewing condensate return savings for a utility budget, maintenance priority, capacity check, energy project, or production support plan.
The inputs for this scenario
- Condensate returned: 850 klb (unchanged)
- Avoided makeup water and fuel cost: 7.5 $ / klb (unchanged)
- Usable condensate share: 99 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 90)
- Pumping and treatment credit: 0 $ (unchanged)
Working through the calculation
- Applying the documented formula (Total condensate return savings cost = condensate returned × avoided makeup water and fuel cost × usable condensate share + pumping and treatment credit) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
- At this operating point the engine returns 6,311 $ for total condensate return savings cost, the number this scenario is built around.
- At this operating point the engine returns 7.43 $ / item for cost per item or period.
- At this operating point the engine returns 6,311 $ for variable condensate return savings cost.
- At this operating point the engine returns 0 $ for fixed utility adder.
How this compares with the baseline
- Against the tool's baseline example, where usable condensate share sits at 90% and the headline result is 5,738 $, this scenario comes in 10% above the baseline at 6,311 $.
- A figure at this level is achievable when usable condensate share is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. It uses a single blended avoided-cost rate and does not separate fuel from water and chemistry, nor does it net out pumping energy, so refine the per-klb rate and credit if you need an audit-grade figure.
Results at a glance
- Total condensate return savings cost: 6,311 $ (headline result)
- Cost per item or period: 7.43 $ / item
- Variable condensate return savings cost: 6,311 $
- Fixed utility adder: 0 $
Run it with your numbers
- Every input above is editable in the live Condensate Return Savings calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.