Steam Separators
Steam separators, as their name implies, separate steam from entrained condensate, or "dry" the steam. They are most often used in front of equipment that requires especially dry steam, such as platen presses or autoclaves. They are also common on secondary steam lines where condensate has been collected and "flashed" into steam at a lower pressure. Flash steam, by nature, has a high entrained condensate content.
Installation Guidelines
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Roll your cursor over the red dots for more information.
Trap Requirements
Traps are best suited to steam separator applications if they:
- Have a long service life.
- Can endure hydraulic shock.
- Vent non-condensables at steam temperature.
- Peform well on very light loads.
- Respond immediately to slugs of condensate.
- Handle dirt well.
- Fail open.
An inverted bucket trap with a large vent is recommended for most steam separator applications. A differential controller is a good second choice and is preferred when steam quality is 90% or less. When dirt and hydraulic shock are not anticipated, the float and thermostatic trap is a suitable alternative.
MATH |
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To determine trap capacity necessary for installation:
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Safety Factor |
| Use a safety factor of 3:1 for all traps in this application. |
Load Calculation |
| Required trap capacity = safety factor x steam flow rate x anticipated percent of condensate (typically 10 - 20 percent). |
