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- Steam Trap (4)
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- Pressure Reducing Valve (2)
- Ball Valve (9)
- Gate Valve (5)
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※ Size Range: DN15-DN300
※ Class Range: ANSI 150LB/ 300LB/ PN10/ PN64
※ Design Standard: ASME B16.34; DIN 3202
※ End Connection: Flanged; BW; Thread
※ Thermodynamic Steam Trap Manufacturer
What is a thermodynamic steam trap?
A thermodynamic steam trap is made up of one moving part. This part is a disc made of stainless steel and it serves as a valve. This steam trap operates by use of flash steam dynamic effect. A thermodynamic steam trap is simple in design and is well suited for serving medium and high-pressure applications. This steam trap is small, free from water hammer effects, and it can be installed in any position be it vertical or horizontal. Thermodynamic steam trap manufacturers design the trap with a compact design and versatile for a broad pressure range. Such characteristics have made thermodynamic steam traps more preferred for wide use in tracing, specific light processes, and drip steam applications.
Figure: Thermodynamic steam trap.
How does a thermodynamic steam trap work?
Two main types of thermodynamic steam traps are thermodynamic disc steam traps and thermodynamic impulse steam traps. The disc type trap has a valve that opens and closes as per the force changes that take place on a flat disc valve. For the impulse trap, the piston disc movement is used to control flow. The thermodynamic impulse steam trap can be regulated to either increase or reduce flow. Both of these types of thermodynamic steam traps eject condensate intermittently.
Working of disc and impulse types of thermodynamic steam trap
Types of Thermodynamic steam trap
There are two types of thermodynamic steam traps which are thermodynamic disc steam trap and thermodynamic impulse steam trap. Between these two traps, the most common one is the disc trap. The impulse trap is not common because it tends to leak steam and it can fail in presence of a small amount of dirt clogging the pilot channel.
Opening and closing of disc valve in a thermodynamic disc steam trap
When steam moves at high speed under the valve disc, it causes a decrease in pressure under the valve. This makes the disc be forced onto the seat of the valve due to the great pressure in the chamber and the valve is closed. In a thermodynamic disc steam trap, the controlled steam can be live steam or flash steam. When condensate enters the steam trap and changes phase because of pressure reduction it is said to be flash steam. When the condensate load is very small or if the trap design is compromised enough not to guard against steam loss then it is referred to as live steam. Thermodynamic disc steam trap manufacturers tend to use the best design that helps to eliminate or minimize the use of live steam so that the trap can operate by use of steam where possible. Pressure chamber control steam exerts force downwards on the valve disc top surface which is equal to the product of the pressure and area (pressure*area). On the valve disc underside, the controlled steam makes the pressure reduce under the disc due to its high speed (from Bernoulli’s principle increase in speed results to reduction in pressure). Thermodynamic disc steam trap manufacturers design the trap in a way that makes it close condensate near steam temperature. This happens when the accumulated condensate is discharged. Once the closing force magnitude is high enough to overcome the opening force, then the valve closes.
Working of a thermodynamic disc steam trap
Thermodynamic impulse steam trap
A thermodynamic impulse steam trap is a steam trap that cannot provide a tight shutoff. As such, its use is limited relative to the thermodynamic disc steam trap which is common in the market.
How does a thermodynamic impulse steam trap work?
Thermodynamic disc steam trap
A thermodynamic disc steam trap has condensate flow controlled by a valve disc that opens and closes against a valve seat. In this trap, the valve disc is detached from other parts of this trap and lies on the top of the seat. The valve seat is made up of two seat rings that are inner ring and the outer ring. The use of the inner ring is to separate the inlet hole of the fluid from the outlet hole. This helps to prevent steam short-circuiting to the outlet. Steam leakage from the pressure chamber over the disc to the exit section is controlled by the outer ring.
How does a thermodynamic disc steam trap work?
This type of trap has irregular, cyclical operating characteristics. A valve mechanism comprising of seat rings and a disc is used to open to eject condensate for a few seconds after which it closes for a longer time till a new discharge cycle starts. The action to open and close comes from the difference in force that acts on the bottom and top of the valve disc. The acting forces depend mainly on pressure and kinetic energy variations for general fluids involved that are condensate, air, and steam. During start-up, coming fluids (air, condensate, or steam) exert lifting/opening force at the valve disc bottom side. This causes the valve to lift and open. This allows the condensate to flow. While in the open position, two primary forces acting on the disc valve that is a force due to steam pressure on the disc top section and force due to steam under the disc. The steam that acts to open and close the disc valve is called control steam.
Advantages of thermodynamic steam traps
Advantages of thermodynamics disc steam trap
Disadvantages of thermodynamic disc steam trap
Advantages of thermodynamic impulse steam trap
Disadvantages of thermodynamic impulse steam trap
Applications of thermodynamic steam trap
Troubleshooting thermodynamic steam trap
When a trap is cold and no discharge
When a trap is hot and no discharge
The thermodynamic steam trap is hot and it is losing steam
Thermodynamic steam trap experiencing continuous flow
Summary
A thermodynamic steam trap is a team trap that is versatile and compact meant for a wide range of pressure applications. These traps employ simple design and can operate either in vertical or horizontal positions. Such features make thermodynamics steam traps more common for use in different applications such as rip, tracing, and other light process applications. There are two types of thermodynamic steam traps that is the thermodynamic disc steam trap and the thermodynamic impulse steam trap. Between the two types, the disc type is the one mostly sued because the impulse type tends to leak pilot steam and can fail even when working on a slight amount of dirt.
In the thermodynamic disc steam trap, condensate flow is controlled by a valve disc that opens and closes against a valve seat. This valve is detached from other parts of the trap to rest on the valve seat. During the startup of a thermodynamic impulse steam trap, a valve resting on the seat leaves flow passage via clearance between cylinder and piston. When the flow of condensate and air is increased the valve lifts resulting in more flow. These thermodynamic steam traps are used in various applications such as tracer discharge, drip drainage, and process applications among others. Thermodynamic steam traps have excellent features which give them several advantages compared to other traps such as the ability to handle the high flow, ability to work in superheated and high pressure, ability to handle air venting, can work over a wide range of pressure among others.