Steam trap monitor

Patent · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:866680

Ryan, Michael J ^[1]

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1. Plainfield, IL

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.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4764024
• OSTI ID: 866680
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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/