What Are Steam Traps?
Mostly, steam traps are automatic valves that discharge condensate and some non-condensable gasses. In a perfect world, they perform this task without consuming much live steam in the system. The most important functions a steam trap performs are the following:
1. They get rid of condensate as soon as it is formed
2. They get rid of non-condensable gasses
What Kinds of Steam Traps Are There?
There are three major types of steam traps.
1. Mechanical Traps (inverted bucket & Float and Thermostatic)
2. Thermodynamic Traps
3. Temperature Traps
Mechanical traps open and close based on the quantity of condensate trapped inside. A float rises when condensate levels increase and a mechanical linkage opens the steam trap valve so that it can drain. This is a rather straightforward process.
Temperature valves require expansion and contraction due to temperature change to function. Thermodynamic steam traps open and close as the surrounding static pressure changes. A fourth trap, Venturi trap, allow condensate to fully discharge while retaining most of the steam, so steam loss is negligible.
Monitoring Steam Traps Performance and Heat Loss
Because most types of steam traps rely on temperature change to work effectively, it is very important to closely monitor heat loss and heat retention in the steam traps. If steam traps are opening too frequently because of temperature volatility, it’s likely that the extra wear and tear will necessitate frequent replacement t. Conversely, if steam traps are not opening frequently enough and condensation is allowed to accumulate, this causes a whole other problem.
Most steam trap preventative maintenance programs are very labor intensive. They require field personnel to physically walk to the trap and take a temperature measurement at the inflow of the trap and at the condensate side of the trap. We all know usually what happens to preventative maintenance programs? The personnel is usually gravitating to maintenance and putting out fires instead of preventing them.
Wireless steam trap temperature monitoring equipment is one of the most cost effective ways to proactively monitor the steam traps in your plant. This can be performed using monitoring devises on the trap or monitoring the inside of a removable insulation jacket. The one benefit of having a sensor inside a removable insulation blanket is you are actually measuring the BTU savings as a result of that jacket. The insulating is actually paying for the monitoring.
