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 Trap Installation Orientation Contents: Steam traps must be installed in piping before use, but some piping runs horizontally and some runs vertically. Is it acceptable to install steam traps in whichever of the two types of piping one wishes? The truth is there are some kinds of traps that have very few restrictions on installation orientation, while there are others that have strict limitations. The rationale behind having restrictions on installation orientation Installation orientation restrictions for a steam trap have to do with both the trap’s construction and its operation principal. ‘Mechanical types,’ whose operation relies on the forces of buoyancy and gravity, have relatively strict rules regarding their installation orientation. If the installation orientation for these types is not correct, the proper balance between buoyancy and gravity cannot be achieved and the valve mechanism can no longer function as it should, which means that the trap cannot do its job. Types in which gravity has no effect on operation, for example types whose operation principal relies on a phase change from steam to water or parts whose shape changes, have relatively few restrictions. Common Trap Installation Orientations Types with severe restrictions, clearly divided into use for either vertical or horizontal piping Mechanical types such as bucket or float come in two types, one for vertical piping and one for horizontal. Each type may only be used in its specified orientation. Even if we install on horizontal piping, the trap should not be installed upside down or sideways. Types with relatively lax restrictions There are many thermostatic and disc types that may be used on both vertical and horizontal piping. In particular, disc types are known for being able to be used on both vertical and horizontal piping with no problems. However even if we install on horizontal piping, we should avoid installing the trap upside down. Thermostatic types have a special condition to watch for. Depending on the installation orientation, the condensate inside the trap may not be level. This operation of this type of trap is based on temperature differences, so unevenness in temperature at the temperature-sensitive part has an adverse effect on operation. Thermo liquid type and Bimetal type have the same principles for installation orientation. Thermostatic Steam Trap When installed in horizontal piping, the X-element is located higher than the piping, so condensate fills the piping and the trap before it reaches the X-element. This causes clearly distinct intermittent operation. When installed in vertical piping, condensate is in continuous contact with the X-element, causing the lower portion of the X-element to be continually surrounded by condensate while the upper portion is continually surrounded by steam. The X-element is therefore forced to operate based on the ‘average temperature,’ making clearly distinct intermittent operation nearly impossible and causing a tendency for unstable operation. However even if we install on horizontal piping, we should avoid installing the trap upside down. Even among traps whose construction and mechanisms are not effected by gravity, there are some cases in which installation orientation has an effect on operation. Exception There is a product in which the trapping mechanism is connected to the installation point on the piping by a specialized flange. At TLV this is known as the ‘Quick Trap Series.’ Regardless of the piping configuration, you simply adjust the specialized flange that connects the trap to the piping in order to maintain the correct trap position. However, even the Quick Trap Series has a proper installation orientation for the trap unit. The trap should be positioned with the top and bottom in the correct orientation, while the connector unit can be installed in any orientation. Check the Instruction Manual This tutorial is just a general overview. Be sure to refer to the correct product instruction manual prior to actual trap installation. Temperature Control Trap Precautions Trap Back Pressure Also on TLV.com Free Float® Steam Traps for Process Use Free Float® Steam Traps for Steam Mains and Tracer Lines Steam and Condensate Training Seminars Engineering Calculator
