Steam Trap Query

http://www.spiraxsarco.com/uk/ (usual disclaimer).

If I understand your application correctly, the issue is the condensate generated during startup of the boiler or the turbine. Since you have a high degree of superheat, condensate should not be a problem once operating temperature is reached.

A moisture separator is a more effective method of insuring condensate removal during startup. Traps cannot usually handle startup loads because much of the liquid never enters the trap. The separators will remove 99 % of the liquid and will remove droplets as small as 5 microns. Normally, a separator uses a steam trap to drain the collected condensate. But for superheat lines you can use a manual drain valve and simply crack it open enough to drain the condensate during startup. Or use a simple orifice behind the manual drain valve sized for the load.

Level switches can also used in the body of the separator to activate a drain valve if condensate occurs during upset conditions and before anyone can get to the manual drain.

Properly sized piping and drip legs are an essential component of effective condensate removal. If the drip leg diameter and length are adequate, a steam trap can, and will effectively remove the condensate. Start up loads vary in rates due to startup procedures, carry over and piping layout, but if traps are sized correctly, they are not an issue.

In this case a bottom inlet top outlet inverted bucket trap piped from the drip leg would be the most cost effective way to go. Look at the Armstrong #411GCV with 5/64"R60 orifice with burnished valves and seats. It is designed for this service and unlike the float type traps will fail "safe" or open to protect the turbine. More info at

www.armstronginternational.com

Your application is very high pressure & super heated steam.

The selection of steam Traps then are :

Thermodynamic:Compact, simple, light weight, robust, no adjustment required, unaffected by water hammer, super heat or vibration, resistant to corrosive condensate.undamaged by freezing.Max. operating pressure: 60 Bar +

Inverted Bucket:

withstand reasonable water hammer.

Can be used in super heat if fitted with check valve on the inlet.Max. operating pressure: 60 Bar +

Bi-metallic:

Robust all steel, resists water hammer, corrosive condensate.

Free Air discharge.Max. operating pressure : 40 Bar +

Ball Floats :

Cannot withstand the hammering and can be damaged.Models with in-built airvent not used in super heated steam.Max. operating pressure: 30 bar +

Suggest you use: Thermodynamic Steam Traps engineered as per discharge capacity.

Need at install a bi-metallic air vent on by-pass if excess air discharge required.

Neither.

The best replacement is a GEM steam trap.

No moving parts, 10-year no fail guarantee. Sizes for all applications.

Depending on where you are located, you can get more information from Thermal Energy International Inc., the exclusive licensee in Canada and key industrial markets in the U.S. or from GEM in the U.K.

Regards

Stuart McCarthy

Thermal Energy

stuart.mccarthy@thermalenergy.com

613-723-6776 x 220

New technogical development. after going tru the web site, I'll agree with you.