Introduction - Why Steam Traps? Module 11.

SC-GCM-79 CM Issue 2 Copyright 2006 Spirax-Sarco Limited

Block 11 Steam Trapping

Module 11.1
Introduction - Why Steam Traps?

The Steam and Condensate Loop

11.1.1

Introduction - Why Steam Traps? Module 11.1

Block 11 Steam Trapping

Introduction
Throughout the history of steam utilisation, Spirax Sarco has been at the forefront of improving
the efficiency of steam plant. Since 1935, the Spirax Sarco range of products has widened
considerably and is now specified worldwide on the many types of plant employing steam.
Today, there are few manufacturing processes that do not rely upon steam to provide an end
product.
The steam trap is an essential part of any steam system. It is the important link between good
steam and condensate management, retaining steam within the process for maximum utilisation
of heat, but releasing condensate and incondensable gases at the appropriate time.
Although it is tempting to look at steam traps in isolation, it is their effect on the steam system as
a whole that is often not appreciated. The following questions become important:
o

Does the plant come quickly up to temperature or is it slow to respond,

and its performance less than it should be?
Is the system trouble free, or does inadequate steam trapping permit waterhammer,
corrosion and leakage, and high maintenance costs?
Does the design of the system have a negative effect on the life and efficiency
of the steam traps?

It is often true that if an inappropriate steam trap is selected for a particular application, no ill
effects are noticed. Sometimes, steam traps are even shut-off completely without any apparent
problems, for example on a steam main, where incomplete drainage of condensate from one
drain point often means that the remainder is simply carried on to the next. This could well be a
problem if the next drain point is blocked or has been shut-off too!
The observant engineer may recognise that wear and tear of control valves, leakage and reduced
plant output, can all be remedied by paying proper attention to steam trapping. It is natural for
any mechanism to suffer from wear, and steam traps are no exception. When steam traps fail
open, a certain amount of steam can be passed into the condensate system, although it is often
a smaller quantity than might be expected. Fortunately, rapid means of detecting and rectifying
such failures are now available to the steam user.

Why steam traps?

'The

duty of a steam trap is to discharge condensate

while not permitting the escape of live steam'

No steam system is complete without that crucial component 'the steam trap' (or trap). This is the
most important link in the condensate loop because it connects steam usage with condensate
return.
A steam trap quite literally 'purges' condensate, (as well as air and other incondensable gases),
out of the system, allowing steam to reach its destination in as dry a state /condition as possible
to perform its task efficiently and economically.
The quantity of condensate a steam trap has to deal with may vary considerably. It may have to
discharge condensate at steam temperature (i.e. as soon as it forms in the steam space) or it may
be required to discharge below steam temperature, giving up some of its 'sensible heat' in the
process.

11.1.2

The Steam and Condensate Loop

Block 11 Steam Trapping

Introduction - Why Steam Traps? Module 11.1

The pressures at which steam traps can operate may be anywhere from vacuum to well over a
hundred bar. To suit these varied conditions there are many different types, each having their
own advantages and disadvantages. Experience shows that steam traps work most efficiently
when their characteristics are matched to that of the application. It is imperative that the correct
trap is selected to carry out a given function under given conditions. At first sight it may not seem
obvious what these conditions are. They may involve variations in operating pressure, heat load
or condensate pressure. Steam traps may be subjected to extremes of temperature or even
waterhammer. They may need to be resistant to corrosion or dirt. Whatever the conditions,
correct steam trap selection is important to system efficiency.
It will become clear that one type of steam trap can not possibly be the correct choice for all
applications

Considerations for steam trap selection

Air venting

At 'start-up', i.e. the beginning of the process, the heater space is filled with air, which unless
displaced, will reduce heat transfer and increase the warm-up time. Start-up times increase and
plant efficiency falls. It is preferable to purge air as quickly as possible before it has a chance to
mix with the incoming steam. Should the air and steam be mixed together they can only be
separated by condensing the steam to leave the air, which must then be vented to a safe place.
Separate air vents may be required on larger or more awkward steam spaces, but in most cases
air in the system is discharged through the steam traps. Here thermostatic traps have a clear
advantage over some types of trap since they are fully open at start-up. Float traps with inbuilt
thermostatic air vents are especially useful, while many thermodynamic traps are also quite
capable of handling moderate amounts of air. However, the small hole in fixed orifice condensate
outlets and the bleed hole in inverted bucket traps both vent air slowly. This could increase
production times, warm-up times, and corrosion.

Condensate removal

Having vented the air, the trap must then pass the condensate but not the steam. Leakage of
steam at this point is inefficient and uneconomical. The steam trap has to allow condensate to
pass whilst trapping the steam in the process. If good heat transfer is critical to the process, then
condensate must be discharged immediately and at steam temperature. Waterlogging is one of
the main causes of inefficient steam plant as a result of incorrect steam trap selection.

Plant performance

When the basic requirements of removing air and condensate have been considered, attention
may be turned to 'plant performance'. Simply put, unless specifically designed to waterlog, for a
heat exchanger to operate at its best performance, the steam space must be filled with clean dry
steam. The type of steam trap will influence this. For instance, thermostatic traps retain condensate
until cooled to below saturation temperature. Should this condensate remain in the steam space,
it would reduce the heat transfer area and the heater performance. The discharge of condensate
at the lowest possible temperature may seem very attractive, but generally most applications
require condensate to be removed from the steam space at steam temperature. This needs a
steam trap with different operating properties to the thermostatic type, and this usually means
either a mechanical or thermodynamic type trap.

The Steam and Condensate Loop

11.1.3

Introduction - Why Steam Traps? Module 11.1

Block 11 Steam Trapping

Before choosing a particular steam trap it is necessary to consider the needs of the process. This
will usually decide the type of trap required. The way in which the process is connected to the
steam and condensate system may then decide the type of trap preferred to do the best job
under the circumstances. Once chosen, it is necessary to size the steam trap. This will be
determined by the system conditions and such process parameters as:
o

Maximum steam and condensate pressures.

Operating steam and condensate pressures.

Temperatures and flowrates.

Whether the process is temperature controlled.

These parameters will be discussed further in subsequent Modules within this Block.

Reliability

Experience has shown that 'good steam trapping' is synonymous with reliability, i.e. optimum
performance with the minimum of attention.
Causes of unreliability are often associated with the following:
o

Corrosion, due to the condition of the condensate. This can be countered by using particular
materials of construction, and good feedwater conditioning.
Waterhammer, often due to a lift after the steam trap, sometimes overlooked at the design
stage and often the cause of unnecessary damage to otherwise reliable steam traps.
Dirt, accumulating from a system where water treatment compound is carried over from the
boiler, or where pipe debris is allowed to interfere with trap operation.

The primary task of a steam trap is the proper removal of condensate and air and this requires a
clear understanding of how steam traps operate.

Flash steam

An effect caused by passing hot condensate from a high pressure system to a low pressure system
is the naturally occurring phenomenon of flash steam. This can confuse the observer regarding
the condition of the steam trap.
Consider the enthalpy of freshly formed condensate at steam pressure and temperature (obtainable
from steam tables). For example, at a pressure of 7 bar g, condensate will contain 721 kJ /kg at a
temperature of 170.5C. If this condensate is discharged to atmosphere, it can only exist as
water at 100C, containing 419 kJ /kg of enthalpy of saturated water. The surplus enthalpy content
of 721 - 419 i.e. 302 kJ /kg, will boil off a proportion of the water, producing a quantity of steam
at atmospheric pressure.
The low pressure steam produced is usually referred to as 'flash steam'. The amount of flash
steam released can be calculated as follows:
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If the trap were discharging 500 kg /h of condensate at 7 bar g to atmosphere, the amount of
flash steam generated would be 500 x 0.134 = 67 kg /h, equivalent to approximately 38 kW of
energy loss!

11.1.4

The Steam and Condensate Loop

Block 11 Steam Trapping

Introduction - Why Steam Traps? Module 11.1

This represents quite a substantial quantity of useful energy, which is all too often lost from the
heat balance of the steam and condensate loop, and offers a simple opportunity to increase
system efficiency if it can be captured and used.

How steam traps operate

There are three basic types of steam trap into which all variations fall, all three are classified by
International Standard ISO 6704:1982.

Types of steam trap:

o

Thermostatic (operated by changes in fluid temperature) - The temperature of saturated

steam is determined by its pressure. In the steam space, steam gives up its enthalpy of
evaporation (heat), producing condensate at steam temperature. As a result of any further
heat loss, the temperature of the condensate will fall. A thermostatic trap will pass condensate
when this lower temperature is sensed. As steam reaches the trap, the temperature increases
and the trap closes.
Mechanical (operated by changes in fluid density) - This range of steam traps operates by
sensing the difference in density between steam and condensate. These steam traps include
'ball float traps' and 'inverted bucket traps'. In the 'ball float trap', the ball rises in the presence
of condensate, opening a valve which passes the denser condensate. With the 'inverted bucket
trap', the inverted bucket floats when steam reaches the trap and rises to shut the valve. Both
are essentially 'mechanical' in their method of operation.
Thermodynamic (operated by changes in fluid dynamics) - Thermodynamic steam traps
rely partly on the formation of flash steam from condensate. This group includes
'thermodynamic', 'disc', 'impulse' and 'labyrinth' steam traps.

Also loosely included in this type are 'fixed orifice traps', which cannot be clearly defined as
automatic devices as they are simply a fixed diameter hole set to pass a calculated amount of
condensate under one set of conditions.
All rely on the fact that hot condensate, released under dynamic pressure, will flash-off to give a
mixture of steam and water.
The following Modules include reference to these steam traps.

The Steam and Condensate Loop

11.1.5

Introduction - Why Steam Traps? Module 11.1

Block 11 Steam Trapping

International and European Standards

relating to steam traps
ISO 6552 : 1980
(BS 6023 : 1981)

Glossary of technical terms for automatic steam traps

ISO 6553 : 1980

CEN 26553 : 1991 (Replaces BS 6024 : 1981)
Marking of automatic steam traps

ISO 6554 : 1980

CEN 26554 : 1991 (Replaces BS 6026 : 1981)

Face-to-face dimensions for flanged automatic steam traps

ISO 6704 : 1982

CEN 26704 : 1991 (Replaces BS 6022 : 1983)
Classification of automatic steam traps

ISO 6948 :1981

CEN 26948 : 1991 (Replaces BS 6025 : 1982)

Production and performance characteristic tests for automatic steam traps

ISO 7841 : 1988

CEN 27841 : 1991 (Replaces BS 6027 : 1990)

Methods for determination of steam loss of automatic steam traps

ISO 7842 : 1988

CEN 27842 : 1991 (Replaces BS 6028 : 1990)

Methods for determination of discharge capacity of automatic steam traps

11.1.6

The Steam and Condensate Loop

Introduction - Why Steam Traps? Module 11.1

Block 11 Steam Trapping

Questions
1. Are steam traps required to pass air?
a| Steam traps should not pass air under any circumstances

b| Only when the trap has passed all the condensate

c| Air should be removed as soon as it reaches the trap

d| Only on high pressure steam systems

2. How is flash steam produced?

a| From condensate passing from high to low pressure systems

b| From saturated steam

c| From superheated steam

d| From steam mixed with high temperature air

3. Should steam traps match the application?

a| Any steam trap (if properly sized) can be fitted to any application

b| Only if fitted to a heat exchanger

c| Only on high pressure steam systems

d| Yes

4. Unless they are designed to flood, what is important when removing condensate from
heat exchangers?
a| Condensate is allowed to sub-cool before reaching the trap

b| Condensate is removed at steam temperature

c| Condensate should back-up into the steam space

d| That the trap is fitted level with or above the heater outlet

5. Can temperature controlled applications be trapped?

a| Traps should not be fitted under any circumstances

b| Only if there is no lift after the trap

c| If the pressure on the trap is always higher than the backpressure

d| Pumps should always be fitted to remove condensate

6. What are the main considerations for steam trap selection?

a| Price

b| Air venting, plant performance, flow capacity and reliability

c| Connections

d| The trap must be the same size as the condensate drain line

Answers

1:c, 2: a, 3: d, 4: b, 5: c, 6: b
The Steam and Condensate Loop

11.1.7

Block 11 Steam Trapping

11.1.8

Introduction - Why Steam Traps? Module 11.1

The Steam and Condensate Loop