Steam Theory 1. Basics of Steam What is Steam? Principal Applications for Steam Types of Steam Flash Steam How to Read a Steam Table 2. Steam Heating Heating with Steam Steam Heating Mechanism Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient What is Vacuum Steam? Tracing the Causes of Heat Maintenance Issues 3. Basics of Steam Traps What is a Steam Trap? The History of Steam Traps #1 The History of Steam Traps #2 How Mechanical Traps Work: A Look at their Mechanism and Merits How Disc Traps Work: A Look at their Mechanism and Merits How Bimetal-Type Thermostatic Steam Traps Work: A Look at their Mechanisms and Merits 4. Steam Trap Selection Steam Trap Selection: How Application Affects Selection Steam Trap Selection: Understanding Specifications Steam Trap Selection: Safety Factor and Life Cycle Cost Traps and Orifices Part 1 Traps and Orifices Part 2 Casting vs. Forging Applications of Different Types of Steam Traps Don't Get Steamed : Selecting Steam Trap Design Understanding Steam Traps Compare Two Fixed Orifice Venturi Products to a Variable Orifice Free Float Steam Trap 5. Steam Trap Problems Is My Trap Leaking Live Steam? Temperature Control Trap Precautions Trap Installation Orientation Trap Back Pressure Double Trapping Group Trapping Steam Locking Air Binding My Steam Trap Is Good - Why Doesn't It Work? 6. Steam Trap Management Introduction to Steam Trap Management Steam Trap Losses - what it costs you A Guide to Steam Trap Testing Implement a Sustainable Steam Trap Management Program Impact Plant Performance by Improving the Steam System 7. Water Hammer Water Hammer: What is it? Water Hammer: The Mechanism Water Hammer: Cause and Location Water Hammer: In Steam Distribution Lines Water Hammer: In Equipment Water Hammer: In Condensate Transport Piping Identifying Water Hammer Using a Thermal Camera Mitigation of Water Hammer in Vertical Flashing Condensate Transport Piping Stop Knocking Your Condensate Return Steam Trap Management: Do Something; Anything. Please! 8. Risk Mitigation Steam System Optimization and Risk Mitigation Risk Based Methodology for Industrial Steam Systems Why Bad Things Happen to Good Steam Equipment Beware of the Dangers of Cold Traps Steam System Winterization: How to Protect Your Plant 9. Steam Quality Wet Steam vs. Dry Steam: The Importance of the Steam Dryness Fraction Separators and their Role in the Steam System Clean & Pure Steam Temperature Problems Caused by Air Removing Air from Steam Equipment Air Vents for Steam Steam Quality Considerations 10. Steam Distribution Best Practices for Condensate Removal on Steam Lines Installation Tips for Steam Traps on Steam Mains Erosion in Steam and Condensate Piping Corrosion in Steam and Condensate Piping Allocate New Plant Focus to Steam System Design—Part 1 11. Condensate Recovery Introduction to Condensate Recovery Returning Condensate and When to Use Condensate Pumps Condensate Recovery: Vented vs. Pressurized Systems Condensate Recovery Piping What is Stall? Methods of Preventing Stall Cavitation in Condensate Pumps Steam Heat Exchangers are Underworked and Over-Surfaced Allocate New Plant Focus to Steam System Design—Part 2 Optimize Reboiler Performance via Effective Condensate Drainage Vent Away Condensate Pump Frustrations in a Flash 12. Energy Efficiency Tips to improve steam plant efficiency Advice on Winter Preparation for Steam Systems Insulating Traps Steam Compressors Why Save Energy? Management Strategies for Conserving Energy Recovering Steam Clouds and Waste Heat Waste Heat Recovery Boiler Energy Saving Tips Steam Line Energy Saving Tips Steam-Using Equipment Energy Saving Tips Preventing Steam Leaks Handle Steam More Intelligently Optimize the Entire Steam System Use Available Data to Lower System Cost 13. Compressed Air / Gas Removing Condensate from Compressed Air Preventing Clogging of Air Traps Air Compressor Energy Saving Tips Improving Compressed Air Quality and Countermeasures Against Leaks 14. Other Valves Types of Manual Valves Bypass Valves Check Valve Installation and Benefits Pressure Reducing Valves for Steam Preventing Clogging of Air Traps Contents: Air traps are installed in compressed air transport piping to automatically remove condensed water (condensate). In this tutorial, we will be discussing air traps. Air Traps for Use under Harsh Conditions As you may know, air piping presents a much harsher environment for traps than does steam piping, as there tends to be a great deal more corrosion inside air piping. Steam piping contains flowing steam, and the piping does not come into contact with oxygen. In contrast, the fluid that is transported in air piping is air, which contains oxygen. Condensate is also present, so if the piping is made of iron or carbon steel then all the conditions necessary for rust to occur are present. As a result, air traps face a much greater danger than do steam traps of clogging due to entrained particulate matter such as rust debris. Clogging Prevention Method No. 1 Do you know that TLV air traps JA3D, JA3, JA5, and JA7 contain a part called a ‘needle?’ The needle is used to remove any dirt or foreign matter clogging the orifice. When the needle is pushed in, it passes through the orifice and its tip lifts the float, which results in the forcible blowout of any foreign matter present. This procedure doesn’t require disassembling the product, and it can eliminate minor clogs. Care must be taken, however, not to overdo the needle blowout operation, as this could result in air leakage. The type of air trap mentioned above must retain a certain amount of water inside the body in order to keep the orifice submerged and thereby maintain a water seal. If the blowout procedure is performed to excess, the water required for the water seal will also end up being discharged. If this accidentally happens, inject water (priming water) from outside the trap to restore the water seal. Priming water can be supplied via the pressure-balancing line, etc. Removal of Scale by Forcible Blowout Air Leakage Due to Excessive Blowout Clogging Prevention Method No. 2 TLV’s TATSU2, an air trap model that offers a self-cleaning feature, has taken this idea of using a blowout to eliminate clogging and built on it by making the blowout procedure occur automatically each time the trap cycles. TATSU2’s self-cleaning feature operates as the condensate is completely discharging from the trap body and the valve closes, thereby blowing out all foreign matter and oil together with the condensate. The TATSU2 air trap, with its large orifice and self-cleaning feature, is the best equipped at clog prevention of all the air traps in the TLV lineup. It is an excellent choice for use in high-viscosity applications. Important Considerations Other than Discharge Performance As we have seen, air traps involve much more than merely discharge performance. Taking differences in installation conditions into consideration when selecting traps contributes to smooth plant operation. Removing Condensate from Compressed Air Air Compressor Energy Saving Tips Also on TLV.com Air and Drain Traps Air Vents Steam and Condensate Training Seminars Engineering Calculator