STEAM TRAP APPLICATIONS Watson McDaniel（沃森McDaniel疏水器应用程序）.pdfVIP

STEAM TRAP APPLICATIONS INTRODUCTION TO STEAM TRAPS WHAT IS A STEAM TRAP AND WHAT DOES IT DO? A steam trap is an automatic valve that allows condensate, air and other non-condensable gases to be discharged from the steam system while holding or trapping the steam in the system. Several different types of steam trap technologies exist to accomplish this extremely critical and necessary task. Explained below are why steam traps are required, their primary applications, how each type functions, their advantages and disadvantages, and when each should be applied. WHY ARE STEAM TRAPS REQUIRED? For any steam system to operate properly a method must used to remove the condensate, air and other non-condensable gases such as carbon dioxide from the steam. CONDENSATE: When steam releases its heat energy in a heat exchanger making hot water, from a radiator heating a room, from a steam pipe transferring steam or from any process application, the steam reverts back to water. This water, technically referred to as condensate, must be separated from the steam and removed from the system or the system would back up with water. The removal of condensate from steam is considered the primary function of the steam trap. AIR: Air exists in all steam pipes prior to system start-up when the system is cold. This air must be bled out of the piping system so that the steam can enter and eventually reach the designated process applications. If the air is not removed, the steam will effectively be blocked from entering the steam pipes by the residual air. In addition to blocking the steam, air acts as an insulator to heat transfer. Even after the system is filled with steam, small amounts of air can re-enter the system thru various paths such as boiler water make-up systems and vacuum breakers. NON-CONDENSABLE GASES: