NICHOLSON STEAM TRAP

SIZING STEAM TRAPS

HOW TO DETERMINE THE PROPER either case a constant static back pres- Above data does not apply to float and
SIZE TRAP sure may exist, against which the trap thermostatic traps, capacities are based
Capacity tables that follow show must discharge. This back pressure on differential pressure, obtained by
maximum discharge rates in pounds may be unintentional or deliberately subtracting any static back pressure
per hour. To select the correct size trap produced. from trap inlet pressure.
from these tables, the normal conden- Unintentional back pressure in conden- WHEN THE NORMAL CONDENSING
sing rate should be converted to a sate return piping is caused by lifting RATE IS KNOWN
“pounds per hour” basis and multiplied the condensate to a higher level, piping Normal condensing rate means the
by a safety factor. which is too small for the volume of pounds of steam condensed per hour
REASON FOR SAFETY FACTORS liquid conveyed, piping with insufficient by the average conditions which prevail
or no pitch in the direction of flow, pipe when the equipment drained is at
For steam applications, the condensa-
and fittings clogged with rust, pipe scale operating temperature.
tion rate varies with:
or other debris, leaking steam traps,
(1) The starting or warming-up If this amount is known, simply multiply
etc. In steam service an intentional
condition. by the safety factor recommended for
back pressure is instigated by means of
the service and conditions, obtained
(2) The normal operating condition. a pressure regulating or spring-loaded
from the pages which follow, and deter-
(3) Any abnormal operating condition. valve in the discharge system, when a
mine size directly from the capacity
supply of flash steam at a pressure less
Of these, the condensing rate for the tables for the type of trap selected.
than the trap pressure is needed.
normal condition is occasionally known, Example: 4000 pounds per hour
or it can be estimated with sufficient If very hot condensate is discharged to
normal condensing rate from heat
accuracy for trap selection; the loads a pressure less than that existing in the
exchanger with submerged single
imposed by warm-up and abnormal trap body, some of it will flash into steam,
coil, gravity drained, 80 PSIG
conditions are seldom known and with a tremendous increase in volume
constant steam pressure. What size
practically impossible to predict. and consequent choking and build-up
thermostatic bellows trap to use?
of pressure in the trap's discharge orifice
During warm-up the trap load is heavy, and the passages and piping adjacent Solution:
since air as well as large quantities of thereto. For condensate at or close to 1. On page 3 recommended safety
condensate must be discharged. Con- steam temperature, this flash pressure factor for single coil, gravity
densate forms at a rapid rate as the cold is quite high, usually considerably drained is 2. Multiplying, 4000 x 2
equipment and connecting piping are higher than any static back pressure = 8000.
brought up to temperature. This usually existing in the trap outlet piping.
results in pressure drop at the trap inlet, 2. In Table G, page 5, the 3/4 Types
thereby reducing its capacity during the For this reason, capacity tables for B and C traps have a rated capa-
period when the load is maximum. thermostatic and thermodynamic traps city of 8895 pounds per hour at 80
are based on gage pressure at the pounds pressure, and one of these
Safety factors are therefore necessary, trap inlet, instead of on the difference should be specified.
to compensate for start-up conditions, between trap inlet and discharge pres-
variation of steam pressure and product WHEN THE NORMAL CONDENSING
sures. Experiments have shown that, RATE IS UNKNOWN
initial temperature, the process cycle for the temperatures applying to these
speed required, and discrepancies tables, unless the static back pressure Determine by utilizing proper formula
between assumed and actual condi- in the return piping exceeds 25% of the from pages 2 thru 4 for the service and
tions which determine the normal trap inlet pressure, no reduction of the equipment to be trapped. Multiply the
condensing rate. trap capacity results. For back pres- result by safety factor recommended
The selection of a safety factor sures greater than 25% of the trap inlet for the operating conditions. See exam-
depends on the type of trap and the pressure there is a progressive decrease ples on the following pages.
operating conditions. If the known or of trap capacity.
calculated normal condensing rate is Thus, if the return piping static pressure
multiplied by the recommended factor is less than 25% of the trap inlet pres-
from the pages which follow, efficient sure, the capacities shown in these
trapping will be assured. tables should be utilized for trap selec-
EFFECT OF BACK PRESSURE ON tion. If the return piping pressure is
TRAP CAPACITY greater than 25% of the trap inlet
Most trap installations include piping pressure, reduce the table capacities
the outlet into a common return system by the percentage indicated in second
or to an available disposal location. In line of Table A on the following pages.

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NICHOLSON STEAM TRAP

SIZING STEAM TRAPS CONT’D.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS USED AIR HEATING (5) When BTU Output is Unknown,
IN NORMAL CONDENSING RATE Steam Mains; Pipe Coil Radiation; Heat Transfer Area is Known:
FORMULAS Convectors; Radiators; etc. (Natural Qh = 5 A Y
A = Heating surface area, square feet Air Circulation) (6) When Volume of Air Heated is Known:
(see Table B) (1) Qh = A Y Qh = 1.09 V X
B = Heat output of coil or heater, BTU Recommended Safety Factors Recommended Safety Factors
per hour For Steam Mains Intake Air Above Freezing -
C = Condensate generated by Ambient Air Above Freezing: Constant Steam Pressure ………. 3
submerged heating surfaces, 1st Trap After Boiler………………. 3 Intake Air Above Freezing -
Ibs/hr/sq ft (Table F) Variable Steam Pressure ………... 4
At End of Main…………………….. 3
D = Weight of material processed per hour Intake Air Below Freezing -
Other Traps ……………………….. 2
after drying, pounds Constant Steam Pressure ………. 4
Ambient Air Below Freezing:
F = Steam flow, Ibs/hr Intake Air Below Freezing -
At End of Main ……………………. 4
G= Gallons of liquid heated per unit time Variable Steam Pressure ………… 5
Other Traps ……………………….. 3
H = Heat loss from bare iron or steel
heating surface, BTU/sq ft/°F/hr
Steam mains should be trapped at all
L = Latent heat of steam at pressure Example: 11,500 cubic feet of air per
points where condensate can collect,
utilized, BTU/lb (see Table C minute heated by blast coil from 50°F
such as at loops, risers, separators,
or obtain from Steam Table) to 170°F with 50 PSIG constant
end of mains, ahead of valves, where
steam pressure.
M = Metal weight of autoclave, retort or mains reduce to smaller diameters,
other pressure vessel, pounds etc., regardless of the condensate load.
Installation of traps at these locations Solution: By formula (6), Qh = 1.09 x
Qh = Condensate generated, Ibs/hr
usually provides ample capacity. 11,500 x .132 = 1655 Ibs/hr. Recom-
Qu = Condensate generated, Ibs/unit mended safety factor, 3 for intake air
time (Always convert to Ibs/hr above freezing and constant steam
before applying safety factor. See For Pipe Coil Radiation,
pressure. 3 x 1655 = 4965 Ibs/hr trap
Examples using formulas 7 and Convectors and Radiators
capacity required.
10 on next page). Single Continuous Coil …………... 2
S = Specific heat of material processed, Multiple Coil ……………………….. 4
BTU/lb/°F
Ta = Ambient air temperature, °F Damp Space Pipe Coil Radiation;
Dry Kilns; Greenhouses; Drying
Tf = Final temperature of material
Rooms; etc. (Natural Air Circulation)
processed, °F
(2) Qh = 2.5 A Y
Ti = Initial temperature of material
processed, °F Recommended Safety Factors
Single Continuous Coil ………….. 2
Ts = Temperature of steam at pressure
utilized, °F (see Table C or Multiple Coil ……………………….. 4
obtain from Steam Table)
U = Overall coefficient of heat transfer, Steam Line Separators; Line Purifiers
BTU/sq ft/°F/hr (see Table E) (3) Qh = .10 F
V = Volume of air heated, cubic Recommended Safety Factors
feet/minute Indoor Pipe Line ………………….. 2
Wg= Liquid weight, Ibs/gallon Outdoor Pipe Line ………………... 3
Wh = Weight of material processed per If Boiler Carry-Over Anticipated… 4 to 6
hour, Ibs (Depending on probable severity of
Wu = Weight of material processed per conditions)
unit time, Ibs
X = Factor for Tf-Ti (obtain from Table D) Unit Heaters; Blast Coils (Forced Air
L Circulation)
(4) When BTU Output is Known:
Y = Factor for H(Ts-Ta) ,Ibs/hr/sq ft
L Qh = B
(obtain from Table C) L

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NICHOLSON STEAM TRAP

SIZING STEAM TRAPS CONT’D.

LIQUID HEATING of 0.51 specific heat, weighing 7.3 Fast Rotation ………………………6
Submerged Coils; Heat Exchangers; Ibs/gal, from 50°F to 190°F in 15 Large Size, Slow Rotation ………. 6
Evaporators; Stills; Vats; Tanks; minutes, using steam at 100 PSIG. Large Size, Fast Rotation ……….. 8
Jacketed Kettles; Cooking Pans; etc. Solution: By formula (7), Qu = 1250 X For Siphon or Bucket Drained Equip-
(7) When Quantity of Liquid to be 7.3 x .51 x .159 = 740 pounds of ment, specify traps with “Steam Lock
Heated in a Given Time is Known: condensate in 15 minutes, or 4 x 740 Release Valve”. Each cylinder should
= 2960 Ibs/hr. Recommended safety be individually trapped.
Qu = G Wg S X factor is 2 for single coil, gravity For Gravity Drained Chest Type
(8) When Quantity of Liquid to be drained. 2 x 2960 = 5920 Ibs/hr trap Dryers and Ironers
Heated is Unknown: capacity required.
Each Chest Individually Trapped… 2
Qh = A U X Entire Machine Drained By
DIRECT STEAM CONTACT HEATING
(9) When Heating Surface Area is Single Trap …………………... 4 to 6
Autoclaves; Retorts; Sterilizers;
Larger than Required to Heat Known Depending on number of Chests
Reaction Chambers; etc.
Quantity of Liquid in a Given Time: For Platen Presses
(10) Qu = Wu S X + .12 M X
Qh = A C Each Platen Individually Trapped … 2
Recommended Safety Factors
When maximum heat transfer efficiency Slow Warm-up Permissible …….. 3 *Entire Press Drained by Single Trap,
is desired, or when in doubt, use formula Platens Piped in Series ……………3
Fast Warm-up Desired ………….. 5
(9) in preference to formulas (7) and (8). *Entire Press Drained by Single Trap,
Example: An autoclave which weighs Platens Piped in Parallel …… 4 to 6
Recommended Safety Factors 400 pounds before loading is charged Depending on number of Platens
For Submerged Coil Equipment; with 270 pounds of material having a
Heat Exchangers; Evaporators; etc. specific heat of .57 and an initial Example: A medium size rotary steam
temperature of 70°F. Utilizing steam tube dryer with condensate lifted to a
Constant Steam Pressure: discharge passage in the trunion,
at 50 PSIG, it is desired to bring the
Single Coil, Gravity Drainage …… 2 temperature up 250°F in the shortest dries 4000 Ibs/hr of granular material
Single Coil, Siphon Drainage …… 3 possible time. to 3300 pounds, with 15 PSIG steam,
Multiple Coil, Gravity Drainage …. 4 initial temperature of material 70°F,
Solution: By formula (10), Qu = (270 x
Variable Steam Pressure: final temperature 250°F.
.57 x .198) + .12(400 x .198) = 40
Single Coil, Gravity Drainage …… 3 pounds of condensate. Using safety Solution: By formula (11) Qh =
Single Coil, Siphon Drainage …… 4 factor of 5 recommended for fast 970 (4000 - 3300) + (4000 x .191)
Multiple Coil, Gravity Drainage …. 5 warm-up and assuming 5 minutes as 945
For Siphon Drained Equipment, specify the time required to complete the
traps with “Steam Lock Release Valve”. reaction, a trap capacity of 40 x 12 x = 1483 Ibs/hr. Using safety factor of
5 = 2400 Ibs/hr is required. 4 recommended for medium size,
For Jacketed Equipment; Cooling
slow rotation: 4 x 1483 = 5932 Ibs/hr
Kettles; Pans; etc.
INDIRECT STEAM CONTACT trap capacity required.
Slow Cooking: HEATING
Gravity Drainage ……………… 3 *A separate trap for each heating
Siphon Drainage ……………… 4 Cylinder Dryers, Drum Dryers, Rotary surface (coil, chest, platen, etc.) is
Moderately Fast Cooking: Steam Tube Dryers, Calenders; etc. recommended for maximum heating
efficiency. Sluggish removal of con-
Gravity Drainage ……………… 4 (11) Qh = 970 (W- D) + Wh X densate and air is certain when more
Siphon Drainage ……………… 5 L
than one unit is drained by a single
Very Fast Cooking: Recommended Safety Factors trap, resulting in reduced tempera-
Gravity Drainage ……………… 5
For Siphon or Bucket Drained tures, slow heating and possible
Siphon Drainage ……………… 6
Rotating Cylinder, Drum and Steam water-hammer damage.
For Siphon Drained Equipment, specify
traps with “Steam Lock Release Valve”. Tube Dryers; Cylinder Ironers; etc.

Example: Heat exchanger with single Small or medium Size,

submerged coil, gravity drained, Slow Rotation ………………………4
heating 1250 gallons of petroleum oil Small or Medium Size,

TABLE A — EFFECT OF BACK PRESSURE ON STEAM TRAP CAPACITY

Back Pressure as Percent of Inlet Pressure 10 20 25 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Percent Reduction of Trap Capacity 0 0 0 2 5 12 20 30 40 55

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 NICHOLSON STEAM TRAP

TABLE B – SQUARE FEET OF SURFACE PER LINEAL FOOT OF PIPE

Nominal Pipe Size (In.) 1/2" 3/4" 1" 1-1/4"1-1/2" 2" 2-1/2" 3" 4" 5" 6" 8" 10" 12" 14" 16" 18" 20" 24"
Area, Sq. Ft. per Lineal Foot .22 .28 .35 .44 .50 .63 .76 .92 1.18 1.46 1.74 2.26 2.81 3.34 3.67 4.19 4.71 5.24 6.28

TABLE C - FACTOR Y - H(Ts-Ta)/L - APPROXIMATE CONDENSING RATE FOR BARE IRON AND STEEL PIPE*
Steam Pressure - PSIG 1 2 5 10 15 20 25 50 75 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 600
Steam Temperature - °F 215 219 227 239 250 259 267 298 320 338 366 388 406 422 436 448 460 470 489
Latent Heat - BTU/lb 968 966 961 952 945 939 934 911 895 879 856 839 820 804 790 776 764 751 728
Factor Y Cond - lbs/hr/sq. ft 0.45 0.46 0.49 0.53 0.56 0.59 0.71 0.84 1.02 1.10 1.34 1.47 1.58 1.80 1.91 2.00 2.35 2.46 2.65
*Based on still air at 60F, recommended safety factors compensate for air at other temperatures. Used for steam trap selection only.

TABLE D — FACTOR X = (Tf–Ti)/L

Tf-Ti STEAM PRESSURE - PSIG
°F 1 2 5 10 15 20 25 50 75 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 600
40 .041 .041 .042 .042 .042 .043 .043 .044 .045 .045 .047 .048 .049 .050 .051 .052 .052 .053 .055
60 .062 .062 .062 .063 .064 .064 .064 .066 .067 .068 .070 .072 .073 .075 .076 .077 .079 .080 .082
80 .083 .083 .083 .084 .085 .085 .086 .087 .089 .091 .093 .096 .098 .100 .101 .103 .105 .106 .110
100 .103 .103 .104 .105 .106 .106 .107 .110 .112 .114 .117 .120 .122 .124 .127 .129 .131 .133 .137
120 .124 .124 .125 .126 .127 .128 .129 .132 .134 .136 .140 .144 .146 .149 .152 .155 .157 .160 .165
140 .145 .145 .146 .147 .148 .149 .150 .154 .156 .159 .163 .167 .171 .174 .177 .180 .183 .186 .192
160 .165 .166 .167 .168 .169 .170 .172 .176 .179 .182 .187 .191 .195 .199 .203 .206 .210 .213 .220
180 .187 .189 .191 .192 .193 .198 .201 .204 .210 .215 .220 .224 .228 .232 .236 .240 .248
200 .211 .212 .213 .214 .219 .224 .227 .234 .239 .244 .249 .253 .258 .262 .266 .275
220 .235 .236 .242 .246 .250 .257 .262 .268 .274 .279 .283 .288 .293 .303
240 .263 .268 .273 .280 .286 .292 .299 .304 .309 .314 .319 .330
260 .290 .296 .304 .310 .317 .324 .329 .335 .340 .346 .357
280 .313 .319 .327 .334 .342 .349 .354 .361 .367 .373 .385
300 .350 .358 .366 .373 .380 .387 .393 .400 .412

TABLE E — FACTOR U, HEAT TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS

BTU/HR/SQ FT/°F TEMP. DIFFERENTIAL
AVERAGE DESIGN VALUES
TYPE OF HEAT EXCHANGER NATURAL CIRCULATION FORCED CIRCULATION
STEAM TO WATER 125 300
STEAM TO OIL 20 45
STEAM TO MILK 125 300
STEAM TO PARAFFIN WAX 25 80
STEAM TO SUGAR & MOLASSES SOLUTIONS 75 150
Coefficients shown are suggested average design values. Higher or lower figures will be realized for many conditions. Use for

TABLE F — FACTOR C, APPROXIMATE CONDENSING RATE FOR SUBMERGED SURFACES,

LBS/HR/SQ FT
HEATING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STEAM TEMPERATURE AND MEAN WATER TEMPERATURE*
SURFACE 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300
IRON OR STEEL 1.6 5 10 17 25 34 45 57 70 84 99 114
BRASS 2.6 8 16 27 40 54 72 91 112 134 158 182
COPPER 3.2 10 20 34 50 68 90 114 140 168 198 228
* Mean water temperature is 1/2 the sum of inlet temperature plus outlet temperature. Table based on heating surfaces
submerged in water with natural circulation. Safety factor of 50% has been included to allow for moderate scaling. If
surface will remain bright, multiply above figures by 2. Use for steam trap selection only.

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