All steam traps aren`t equal

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Plant Engineering (Chicago)

OSTI ID:378059

Picut, R ^[1]

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1. Watson McDaniel Co., Norristown, PA (United States)

Steam traps are automatic valves that sense the difference between steam, air, condensate, and noncondensate gases such as CO{sub 2}. Their objective is to purge air, condensate, and other noncondensate gases and trap steam in the system where it belongs. A properly working trap should never let steam escape. Though the requirements for steam traps are simple, even the most experienced plant engineers and maintenance personnel have trouble in their selection and care. This fact is not surprising when a typical plant using a range of steam pressures can easily have in excess of 100 different steam traps to consider in terms of type, pressure rating, capacity, and manufacturer. There are five major types of steam traps in common use today: inverted bucket, float and thermostatic (F and T), thermodynamic, bimetallic, and thermostatic. Each is described.

• OSTI ID: 378059
• Journal Information: Plant Engineering (Chicago), Journal Name: Plant Engineering (Chicago) Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 50; ISSN PLENAV; ISSN 0032-082X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DESIGN
OPERATION
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
STEAM SYSTEMS
STEAM TRAPS