Where do I get a loaded steam cost per 1,000 lb?

Ask utilities or finance for the plant's loaded $/klb. DOE benchmarks the fuel part as fuel price × (steam − feedwater enthalpy) ÷ boiler efficiency: $9.39/klb at $8/MMBtu gas in its example.

Why does lower-pressure steam need fewer pounds for the same duty?

Each pound releases more latent heat at lower pressure: 946 Btu at 15 psig against 882 at 100 psig. The same duty needs about 7% less steam if the cooler jacket keeps up.

How do I get the heat duty for a batch heat-up?

Batch weight × specific heat × temperature rise ÷ heat-up hours, plus vessel losses. Heating 20,000 lb of a water-like batch 150 °F in 3 hours takes 1,000,000 Btu/hr.

Does this work for direct steam injection?

No. Injected steam gives up latent heat plus part of its liquid heat, so it needs fewer pounds, and its condensate dilutes the batch.

Process Manufacturing calculator

Steam Cost Calculator

Price the steam a jacket, coil or exchanger condenses during a batch step, and check that this steam pressure can reach your product temperature. You need the heat duty, gauge pressure, hours, loaded $/klb and target temperature.

What this calculator does

Steam cost for a heating step from its heat duty, steam pressure and hours, with a check that the steam is hot enough.

Formula used

Latent heat, steam temperature: NIST saturation table at gauge pressure + 14.696 psi
Steam demand (lb/hr) = heat duty (Btu/hr) ÷ latent heat (Btu/lb)
Steam used (klb) = steam demand × run time ÷ 1,000; steam cost = steam used × loaded steam cost
Cost per hour = steam demand × loaded steam cost ÷ 1,000; delivered heat ($/MMBtu) = loaded steam cost × 1,000 ÷ latent heat
Temperature margin = steam temperature − highest product temperature

Inputs explained

Process Heat Duty: From your heat balance, or the Heat Exchanger Duty calculator.
Steam Pressure at the Load: Gauge pressure in the jacket or coil, after any reducing valve.
Run Time: Hours the load draws steam at this duty.
Loaded Steam Cost: Plant steam price per 1,000 lb, from utilities or finance.
Highest Product Temperature: Hottest the batch or stream must reach in this step.

How to use the result

Best suited to steam line on a batch standard cost, choosing jacket pressure for a heat-up, comparing steam with electric or hot oil heating.
At lower pressure a cooler jacket transfers heat more slowly, so the step can run longer than your hours. Superheat and condensate subcooling are ignored; each adds a little heat per pound.

Current U.S. benchmarks

The producer price index for industrial chemicals stands at 336.006 (BLS, Aug 2026), up 13.3% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.
The U.S. has 14,543 chemical manufacturing establishments employing about 911,245 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

Where do I get a loaded steam cost per 1,000 lb? Ask utilities or finance for the plant's loaded $/klb. DOE benchmarks the fuel part as fuel price × (steam − feedwater enthalpy) ÷ boiler efficiency: $9.39/klb at $8/MMBtu gas in its example.
Why does lower-pressure steam need fewer pounds for the same duty? Each pound releases more latent heat at lower pressure: 946 Btu at 15 psig against 882 at 100 psig. The same duty needs about 7% less steam if the cooler jacket keeps up.
How do I get the heat duty for a batch heat-up? Batch weight × specific heat × temperature rise ÷ heat-up hours, plus vessel losses. Heating 20,000 lb of a water-like batch 150 °F in 3 hours takes 1,000,000 Btu/hr.
Does this work for direct steam injection? No. Injected steam gives up latent heat plus part of its liquid heat, so it needs fewer pounds, and its condensate dilutes the batch.

Related guides

What Does a Thousand Pounds of Steam Actually Cost?

Last reviewed 2026-10-01.