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A steam trap selection guide - Float & Thermostatic, Inverted Bucket, Bimetal Thermostatic, Impulse and Thermodynamic Disc steam traps
There are three primary categories of steam traps:
Popular traps in these categories includes the inverted bucket steam trap, the float steam trap, the thermostatic steam trap and the thermodynamic disc steam trap.Which one is preferred depends on the application. A steam trap prime missions is to remove condensate and air preventing escape of live steam from the distribution system. The steam trap must adapt to the application. A disc thermodynamic steam trap should never be used together with a modulating heat exchanger - and a floating ball steam trap is overkill for draining steam pipes. The table below can be used as a short guide for the selection of steam traps:
Operation Type of Steam Trap No or little Light Load load Normal Failure Mode
Normal Load
Heavy Load
Usually Usually No continuous. continuous. Continuous Closed Action May cycle. May cycle. Small May dribble Intermittent Continuous Variable Dribble Usually Dribble Action May blast at high Continuous Open pressures
Inverted Bucket
Bimetal Thermostatic
No Action
Impulse
Usually Usually continuous continuous Small with blast with blast Continuous Open Dribble at high at high loads loads
Operation Type of Steam Trap No or little Light Load load Normal Failure Mode
Normal Load
Heavy Load
intermittent operation - condensate drainage is continuous, discharge is intermittent small dribble at no load, intermittent at light and normal load, continuous at full load excellent energy conservation excellent resistance to wear excellent corrosion resistance excellent resistance to hydraulic shocks vents air and CO2 at steam temperature poor ability to vent air at very low pressure fair ability to handle start up air loads excellent operation against back pressure good resistance to damage from freezing excellent ability to purge system excellent performance on very light loads immediate responsiveness to slugs of condensate excellent ability to handle dirt large comparative physical size fair ability to handle flash steam open at mechanical failure
intermittent operation fair energy conservation fair resistance to wear good corrosion resistance poor resistance to hydraulic shocks (good for bimetal traps) do not vent air and CO2 at steam temperature good ability to vent air at very low pressure excellent ability to handle start up air loads excellent operation against back pressure good resistance to damage from freezing good ability to purge system excellent performance on very light loads delayed responsiveness to slugs of condensate fair ability to handle dirt small comparative physical size poor ability to handle flash steam open or closed at mechanical failure depending of the construction
continuous operation but may cycle at high pressures no action at no load, continuous at full load good energy conservation good resistance to wear good corrosion resistance poor resistance to hydraulic shocks do not vent air and CO2 at steam temperature excellent ability to vent air at very low pressure excellent ability to handle start up air loads excellent operation against back pressure poor resistance to damage from freezing fair ability to purge system excellent performance on very light loads immediate responsiveness to slugs of condensate poor ability to handle dirt large comparative physical size poor ability to handle flash steam closed at mechanical failure
intermittent operation poor energy conservation poor resistance to wear excellent corrosion resistance excellent resistance to hydraulic shocks do not vent air and CO2 at steam temperature not recommended at low pressure operations poor ability to handle start up air loads poor operation against back pressure good resistance to damage from freezing
excellent ability to purge system poor performance on very light loads delayed responsiveness to slugs of condensate poor ability to handle dirt small comparative physical size poor ability to handle flash steam open at mechanical failure