Steam trap

(Also called condensomat ) Traps are control valves which automatically derive the forming in steam lines and condensate forming processes in a mostly parallel pipe without water vapor escapes itself to any significant extent from the line. In most plants in the chemical, pharmaceutical and energy-related industrial water vapor is used as the heat transfer medium. This is usually made centrally at different pressure levels, such as from a power plant, are available. By conduction losses, as well as by the particular applications of energy delivery results in condensation of a portion of the steam. To prevent steam blow and to ensure effective use of energy, condensate must be removed from the system early. Even with the return of the condensate in the condensate system are used to ensure that only is in the standing still pressurized water return lines.

Function

To distinguish between the different states and their separation, the various steam traps make different physical properties of the gas / liquid a substance to Use:

• Float traps use the higher specific gravity of water, to separate it from the steam.

• Capsule Steam Traps work with the only pressure-dependent boiling point of water and open at temperatures below which.

• Thermodynamic steam traps make thermal and fluid dynamic phenomena being used to derive low-loss condensate.

• When condensate Venturikondensatableiter venturi opening using the Venturi effect. The power range is influenced by the size of the opening as well as through the counter pressure generated in the opening.

The pressure upstream of the orifice condensate is under pressure and heat, so contains a lot of energy. While hiking through the opening the condensate pressure, so loses energy. Since this energy can not just disappear, it transforms a part of the opening located in the condensate back into steam.

The greater the pressure difference on both sides of the condensate is, the more steam is produced while in the venturi hole. This creates a back pressure there but also because this steam claimed a thousand times as much volume as the condensate from which it arises. By the sudden expansion of the steam is produced in the opening greatly accelerated and generate pressure in both forward and rearward to the same extent. Characterized the flow rate is limited by fresh condensate to the condensate.

Other designs include, without limitation Bellows traps, bimetallic steam traps.

Applications

By design, the different types of steam traps to other pros and cons, so that depending on the application offers a type or exclude. When selecting the arrester especially request to pressure and temperature range are crucial, but also factors such as capacity, durability, efficiency, exposure to contaminants, etc. play a role in the selection.

Since condensate seeks naturally to the lowest points of a piping system, the installation is mounted generally there before and slopes. As with any steam reforming process (heat exchanger, ... ) especially true condensate is, there must also be provided for condensate removal.