Steam trap monitor
Abstract
A steam trap monitor positioned downstream of a steam trap in a closed steam system includes a first sensor (the combination of a hot finger and thermocouple well) for measuring the energy of condensate and a second sensor (a cold finger) for measuring the total energy of condensate and steam in the line. The hot finger includes one or more thermocouples for detecting condensate level and energy, while the cold finger contains a liquid with a lower boiling temperature than that of water. Vapor pressure from the liquid is used to do work such as displacing a piston or bellows in providing an indication of total energy (steam+condensate) of the system. Processing means coupled to and responsive to outputs from the thermocouple well hot and cold fingers subtracts the condensate energy as measured by the hot finger and thermocouple well from the total energy as measured by the cold finger to provide an indication of the presence of steam downstream from the trap indicating that the steam trap is malfunctioning.
- Inventors:
-
- Plainfield, IL
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866680
- Patent Number(s):
- 4764024
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F16 - ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS F16T - STEAM TRAPS OR LIKE APPARATUS FOR DRAINING-OFF LIQUIDS FROM ENCLOSURES PREDOMINANTLY CONTAINING GASES OR VAPOURS
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01K - MEASURING TEMPERATURE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- steam; trap; monitor; positioned; downstream; closed; sensor; combination; hot; finger; thermocouple; measuring; energy; condensate; cold; total; line; thermocouples; detecting; level; contains; liquid; boiling; temperature; water; vapor; pressure; displacing; piston; bellows; providing; indication; processing; means; coupled; responsive; outputs; fingers; subtracts; measured; provide; presence; indicating; malfunctioning; total energy; boiling temperature; vapor pressure; cold finger; processing means; positioned downstream; steam trap; trap monitor; /374/73/237/
Citation Formats
Ryan, Michael J. Steam trap monitor. United States: N. p., 1988.
Web.
Ryan, Michael J. Steam trap monitor. United States.
Ryan, Michael J. Fri .
"Steam trap monitor". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866680.
@article{osti_866680,
title = {Steam trap monitor},
author = {Ryan, Michael J},
abstractNote = {A steam trap monitor positioned downstream of a steam trap in a closed steam system includes a first sensor (the combination of a hot finger and thermocouple well) for measuring the energy of condensate and a second sensor (a cold finger) for measuring the total energy of condensate and steam in the line. The hot finger includes one or more thermocouples for detecting condensate level and energy, while the cold finger contains a liquid with a lower boiling temperature than that of water. Vapor pressure from the liquid is used to do work such as displacing a piston or bellows in providing an indication of total energy (steam+condensate) of the system. Processing means coupled to and responsive to outputs from the thermocouple well hot and cold fingers subtracts the condensate energy as measured by the hot finger and thermocouple well from the total energy as measured by the cold finger to provide an indication of the presence of steam downstream from the trap indicating that the steam trap is malfunctioning.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988}
}