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 Removing Condensate from Compressed Air Contents: Measures for Dealing with High Humidity Types of Air Traps This tutorial is more like "Air Theory" than "Steam Theory." In some areas, during certain times of year humidity levels can become quite high. Depending on the performance of the air dryer being used with the compressor, in some cases the compressed air can contain large amounts of condensate. Condensate forms inside air when the temperature of the air is cooled to below the dew point. Air traps are used to remove condensate from the air piping. These come in two types - inline types installed directly in the air transport piping, and types installed in branch lines from which the condensate is removed as it flows into the traps. Air traps installed inline are either used in combination with a separator, or a trap with a built-in separator can be selected. Separators use a cyclone-type mechanism or a baffle plate to forcibly separate the suspended condensate out of the air. There are also dryers that chemically remove condensate from extremities with low flow, such as from air used for instrumentation. With air traps, there is often a large amount of dirt such as rust and scale caused by corrosion present inside the piping, and problems due to clogging of the trap are frequent. At such points in the piping, installation of traps with large orifices and a self-cleaning feature that clears out the valve seat each time the trap operates is recommended. An inline cyclone separator that achieves a high 98% separation efficiency is also recommended for removal of the suspended condensate that is so difficult to remove from the air. Cyclone Separator The cyclone separator uses an operation principal in which steam or air is spun at high speeds and the resultant centrifugal force separates out the condensate due to its higher specific gravity. The condensate droplets are separated out with a separation efficiency of 98% (at a steam or air flow rate of 30 m/s). The separator is constructed in such a way that after the condensate is separated, it does not get caught up again with the steam or air but instead drops into the trap section and is removed from the system. Use Available Data to Lower System Cost Preventing Clogging of Air Traps Also on TLV.com Air and Drain Traps Air Vents Steam and Condensate Training Seminars Engineering Calculator