Steam Traps

Types

Link
Thermostati
c

Mechanical

Ball Float

Inverted
Bucket

Lever Float

Bimetallic

Free Float

Types

Thermostati
c

Thermodynamic

Link
Balanced
Pressure

Impulse

Disk

Disk

Mechanical
Working
Lackings
Size

Based on density difference of condensate and steam or

buoyancy
Large Size
Large

Ball Type
Working
Based on buoyancy of the float in condensate
Continuous drain of condensate. The opening changes
Operation Mode
based on the flow of condcensate.
Size
Medium

Working

Difference

Lever Float
Based on buoyancy of the float in condensate
A lever connected to Float controls opening and closing
of valve
Due to limited movement of lever arm the movement of
condensate is hindered sometimes.

Impulse
Motive steam
Loss
Popularity
Disadvantages

High
Less Common
Fails in the slight presence of dirt blocking pilot channel

Operation Mode Intermittently Drains condensate

Noise Level

High

Thermostatic
Based on expansion of metal/liquid
Slow response
Medium

Inverted Bucket Type

Based on buoyancy of the float in condensate
Intermittently Drains condensate after removal of
accumulated steam/air slowly
Large
Free Float
Based on buoyancy of the float in condensate
The ball floats freely in condensate
Condensate drains freely without obstruciton.
Natural rotation Free Float allows for an almost infinite
number of contact points to seal the orifice, significantly
reducing localized valve wear.
Disk
Low
More popular in industries
Intermittently Drains condensate
High

Thermodynamic

High Steam loss in impulse type

Compact

Application

Steam Distribution Piping

Steam-heating Equipment
No Stall

Steam-heating Equipment
Stall (where steam control
valve is used)
Tracer Lines
High Temp.

Tracer Lines
Low Temp.

Power-driven Equipment
Positive Pressure

Power-driven Equipment
Negative Pressure

Trap Requirements
Tight seal to minimize steam leakage even with low condensate loads
Unaffected by environment, even in adverse weather conditions
Ability to vent start-up air and operating air
Continuous condensate discharge to minimize pooling
Unaffected by back pressure in return
Non-blast discharge characteristics in open-drainage applications
Continuous condensate discharge to maximize heating consistency and minimize pooling
Unaffected by large variations in condensate load
Ability to vent both start-up and operating air
Ability to discharge condensate even at lowest available differential pressure and operate effectively against hig
Ability to 'fail open' so that condensate is discharged even if trap is damaged or worn
Non-blast discharge to minimize piping erosion
Same as above, except;
No-subcooling condensate discharge from equipment to maximize heating consistency
Ability to discharge condensate without steam loss regardless of NEGATIVE or POSITIVE differential pressure con
May require other components to discharge condensate if system is damaged or worn
Compact and light
Little to no subcooling
Trap suitable for operation in all piping orientations
Requires scale / copper precipitate removal function if frequent blockage
Same as above except;
Subcooling preferred:
to use steams sensible heat
to achieve lower temperature
Tight seal to minimize steam leakage even with very low condensate loads
Unaffected by environment, even in adverse weather conditions
Ability to vent start-up air
Continuous condensate discharge to minimize pooling
Unaffected by back pressure in return
Non-blast discharge characteristics in open-drainage applications
Same as above, except;
Ability to discharge condensate generated in vacuum condition
May require other components to discharge condensate if system is damaged or worn
System must prevent reversed flow

Evaporation
Case I- Evaporation Rate Unknown
T (Steam)
T (Process)
U
A
dT
Heat
Steam Latent Heat
Condensate Rate
Condensate Line Size
Heating
Case I- Process flowrate unknown
T (Process in)
T (Process out)
T (Steam)
dT lmtd
U
A
Heat
Steam Latent Heat
Condensate Rate
Condensate Line Size

150 C
64 C
400 W/m2.K
7 m2
86 C
240800.0 W
2120.6 kJ/kg
408.8 kg/hr
20 mm

30 C
60 C
150 C
104.281785 C
200 W/m2.K
10 m2
208563.6 W
2120.6 kJ/kg
1062.2 kg/hr
32 mm

Evaporation
Case I- Evaporation Rate Known
Process Latent Heat
Evaporation Rate
Heat
Steam Latent Heat
Condensate Rate
Condensate Line Size

Heating
Case I- Process flowrate known
Flow rate (Process)
T (Process in)
T (Process out)
Cp (Process)
Heat
Steam Latent Heat
Condensate Rate
Condensate Line Size

1085 kJ/kg
1000 kg/hr
1085000.0 kJ/hr
2120.6 kJ/kg
511.7 kg/hr
25 mm

1000 kg/hr
30 C
60 C
0.8 kJ/kg.K
24000.0 kJ/hr
2120.6 kJ/kg
122.2 kg/hr
15 mm

0
0.2
0.5
1
2
3
5

15
20
25
32
40
50
65 - 100

Condensate Load
ton/hr
< 0.2
0.2 - 0.5
0.5 - 1
1-2
2-3
3-5
>5

Line Size
mm
15
20
25
32
40
50
65 - 100

Source

Trap Nozzles Size = Line Size

Safety Factor
The safety factor is a coefficient used when selecting the traps required discharge capacity. It helps provide a b
condensate volume exceeds calculated/predicted values. The estimated condensate load should always be mult
safety factor for trap selection.
TLV Trap Type
Minimum Recommended Safety Factor
Float
1.5
Bucket
2
Disc
2
Thermostatic (X-element)
2
Bimetal
3 to 5

y. It helps provide a buffer zone for instances when

hould always be multiplied by the recommended