Steam traps remove condensate traveling along the bottom of your steam lines, but they cannot remove moisture entrained in the steam flow.

Even at flow velocities as low as 10 m/s (33 ft/s), directional changes and pressure differentials can cause condensate from the bottom of the piping to become entrained in the steam. This reduces steam quality and can result in pinhole formation from LDI erosion at elbows, product defects when condensate comes into contact with the product being heated, and reduced heating efficiency when it reaches heat transfer surfaces.

Up to 98% of this entrained condensate can be removed by a separator. Learn more about the four key separator design principles and how separators contribute to improving steam system performance.