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 ST T SHEET

SUBCOOLING TRAPS
(Bi-Metal Type)

TYPICAL MFG: Bestobell Delta Series

BASIC OPERATION: A single or combination of elements usually attached to a piston

type valve with an adjustment screw.
ADJUSTNENT
REW

U)

a) Cold condensate around element allows the valve to open and discharge condensate.

b) A balance is established between the opening force provided by the service pressure
and the closing force of the element created by the temperature. The element
adjusts the valve opening to accommodate the quantity of condensate being discharged.

c) When the condensate reaches saturation - steam temperature, the expansion or

deflection in the case of a Bestobell element will close the valve shut.

ADVANTAGES:

1) No live steam loss with normal operation.

2) In line repairable and adjustment.
3) Decreased discharge of flash steam.
4) Makes best use of sensible heat.
5) Not effected by water hammer.
6) Not effected by superheat.
7) Can be installed in any direction.
8) Back pressure does not cause trap to fail.

DISADVANTAGES:

1) Backs up condensate with normal operation - lowering PH levels and causing corrosion
and steam leaks ahead of trap.
2) Susceptible to dirt - can waste steam.
3) Must have strainer or integral strainer.
4) Build up of chemicals and dirt on element changes operation.
5) Erratic operation - variance in load/pressure - operation back up condensate
varying degrees - can also waste steam depending on conditions.
 STEAM TRAP FACT SHEET
SUBCOOLING TRAPS
(Bellows Type)
TYPICAL MFG: Gestra MK Series

BASIC OPERATION: Usually a single convoluted welded bellows; a flex ble membrane
with an attached valve and a charge of alcohol and water between the bottom (membrane >
and the top of the bellows. The whole structure is called the capsu e and is usually
removable while the body stays in line.
kESTRA M K

EMBRANE
VALVE

a) The temperature surrounding the bellows is relatively low. The liquid inside the
bellows is condensed and the pressure in the capsule is lower than the service
pressure. This in turn lifts the membrane and opens the valve, thereby discharging
condensate.

b) As the surrounding condensate approaches saturation temperature, the liquid filling

starts to evaporate and the pressure in the capsule pushes the membrane and valve
in a closing direction.

ADVANTAGES:

1) No live steam loss with normal operation.

2) Replaceable capsule without breaking piping (some models).
3) Small and light weight.
4) Decreased discharge of flash steam.
5) Makes best use of sensible heat.
6 Can be insta led in any direction.
7) Suitable for all pressures and flow rates within its range.
8) Back pressure does not cause trap to fail.

DISADVANTAGES:

1) Many models tend to fail closed.

2) Susceptible to dirt - on flat valve and seat cause trap to waste steam - valve
can't fully close.
3) Backs up condensate with normal operation - 1 owering PH levels and causing corrosion
and steam leaks ahead of trap.
4) Susceptible to water hammer.
5) Must have strainer or integral strainer.
6) Erratic operation - variance in load/pressure - operation back up condensate
varying degrees.
 CT SHEET
FLOAT & THERMOSTATIC (F&T) TRAPS

TYPICAL MFG: Sarco, Hoffman, Dunham-Bush

BASIC OPERATION: Float & Thermostatic (F&T) steam traps use a float mechanism
to discharqe condensate and a separate thermostatic controlled orifice to discharge
non-condeniible gases.
TWRMOSTATICALLY
/ ;;$I-F;LLE D

CONDENSATE
ORIFICE

As condensate enters the body of trap, a water level is formed which causes the ball
float to rise, opening the lower condensate orifice to discharge. A water seal exist
over this condensate orifice to prevent loss of live steam. Non-condensible gases
that accumulate above the water seal will be discharged through the thermostatically
controlled orifice at the top. A temperature depression of approximately 15 F from
true steam temperatures is required before the thermostatic device opens the discharge
orifice.

ADVANTAGES:

1) Handles large quantities of non-condensibles due to separate orifice for that

purpose.
2) Continuous condensate discharge provides stable return line temperatures to
minimize possible water hammer.
3) Water seal over condensate orifice prevents loss of live steam.
4) Large condensate capacities available.

DISADVANTAGES:

1) Susceptible to dirt because of the low position and modulating mode of the
condensate orifice.
2) With steam off, water remains in trap body - freeze-ups can occur.
3) Water hammer could cause failure with collapsed floats or ruptured thermostatic
bellows element.
4) Cannot be used in superheat - bellows air vent would be damaged.
5) Normally fail closed.
 FACT SHEET
ORIFICE TRAPS

TYPICAL MFGS: Steamgard/Steam-Miser/Flexitallic

BASIC OPERATION: Fixed hole size mounted in a small pipe fixture to control the flow
of steam, condensate and air from a heat exchanger. Orifice size is generally very
small (.OZO" dia.) but will vary depending upon max. condensate load expected on any
given job. Orifice size is selected by manufacturer only - and it is a very critical
selection. The orifice can either be a flat or elongated hole.

ORIFICE PLATE STAGED ORIFICE TRAP

ADVANTAGES:

1) Live steam loss can be limited due to extremely small orifice sizes used compared
to standard traos when in a failed open mode.
2) Small physical size reduces radi ation loss.
3) Can be mounted in any position.
4) No moving parts to wear and rep1 ace.

DISADVANTAGES:

1) Small size orifices are easily plugged with dirt.

2) Requires a fine mesh strainer ahead of orifice w/frequent cleaning.
3) Given orifice size can effectively drain condensate only within a narrow output
rate. If condensate load varies too much, orifice will either back up condensate
or blow live steam. Not recommended where condensate loads can vary.
4) A continuous back-up of condensate creates a water seal on the trap orifice and
prevents the removal of non-condensable gases from the heat exchange equipment.
This results in excessive corrosion.
5) Small orifice, high velocity flow and dirty steam , can add up to errosive wearing
of the orifice hole - enlarging to oversize with increased loss of live steam.
6) Dirt, boiler chemicals and corroded metal can dissolve in condensate. When hot
condensate passes through the orifice, it flashes into steam, leaving the dirt,
boiler chemicals and corroded metal behind. This can easily plug the orifice
from the back side since they are typically so small (0.020 inches).
 d@& STEAM TRAP FACT SHEET
PI
~tronci
THERMO-DYNAMIC (Disc) TRAPS

TYPICAL MFGS: Sarco, Yarway, Hoffman, Anderson, Clark-Reliance

BASIC OPERATION: Pressure of condensate lifts disc off seat. Flow is across the
underside of the disc to outlet orifice. Discharge continues until flashing con-
densate and steam approaches the trap. (See Fig. 1).

A high velocity jet of flash steam reduces pressure under the disc and at the same
time builds up pressure in the control chamber above disc. This drives the disc
to the seats to shut off the flow and close trap. Trap remains closed as long as
pressure above disc is greater than inlet pressure on bottom of disc. (See Fig. 2).

Pressure in chamber above disc decreases as the trapped steam there condenses.
The disc is lifted by inlet pressure and the trap again opens. (See Fig. 3).

D ISC held Steam

above disc Flash steam Cre,t~ Jet creates
mtes
orew w pressure here
Disc
moves -
down.
utlet Opening

Condensate
reaching I
temper&u
of
saturated Iiteam Condensate accumulation
Condensate or mixture reduces heat transfer
of air and condensate to control chamber

FIG. 1 FIG. 2 FIG. 3

ADVANTAGES:

1) Small, lightweight.
2) One orifice size for all pressures.
3) Large capacities available for its size.
4) One moving part.

DISADVANTAGES:

1) Will not close on steam pressures less than 5 psig.

2) Will not close on back pressures to 80% of steam pressure.
3) Required close clearances make trap very susceptible to dirt.
4) Not immediately responsive to changing condensate loads - backs up condensate
between cycles.
5) Discharge cycle rate determined by pressure loss.above the disc. Ambient conditions
can determine this by cooling effect on trap body resulting in rapid steam con-
densing and pressure loss above disc.
6) Rapid cycling occurs on very light loads.
7) Rapid cycling occurs as trap begins to wear.
8) Rapid cycling creates increased live steam loss.
9) Very slow in discharging non-condensable gases.
10) Very short operating life - 6 months to 1 year average.
 STEAM TRAP FACT SHEET
TLV “J” SERIES
FREE FLOATING BALL STEAM TRAP

TYPICAL MFG: TLV

BASIC OPERATION: 1) Condensate discharge is achieved by condensate floating

the ball away from the valve seat. 2) Air venting is achieved by the bimetal
flexing at a given temperature , opening or closing the air vent valve. See Fig. 1.
3) Steam is trapped because the ball sinks in steam , closing the main valve seat
and the bimetal gets hot in steam, closing the air vent.

ADVANTAGES:

1) Floating ball directly closes valve - no hinges, levers or pins.

2) Floating ball allows continuous discharge of condensate.
3) Bimetal air vent withstands water hammer.
4) Ball and seat replaceable without breaking pipe connection.
5) Ball is free to rotate within trap for larger wearing surface.
6) Thermostatic valve has manual venting capability for adjustable blow-through
(DC effect). See Fig. 2.
7) Straight through horizontal connections - also top-in bottom out drawn stainless
-steel available (SST-3).

DISADVANTAGES:

1) Thermostatic element opens at only one temperature usually 14O'F. This temperature
is so low that the trap is easily air bound. User is then forced to leave open
the manual air vent, causing steam loss.
2) Ball and seat form an almost flat seal - See Fig. 3 - this causes basically
on/off discharge since very little float movement opens seat fully.
3) Low load applications tend to create high steam loss through trap. Small slugs
of condensate can unseat the ball causing steam to leak through the trap. See
Fig. 4.
4) Ball can be damaged by water hammer causing ball to leak and sink (fail closed)
or collapse and not seat (fail open).
5) Ball bouncing
. _-. against seat can dent the ball causing steam loss due to poor_.
seating ability of dent.
6) Seat is difficult to remove from trap and must be driven out with
through the drain plug.

. NANUIL
. VENT -
I I 1
L-&&-l SCREW
-
AIR VENT VALVE -’
SE 41
OPEN-CO&D C L O S E D - HOf

FIG. 1
-I-._ FIG. 2

SEAT

FIG. 3
FIG. 4
, . . . . . ^ _. _.