Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.

6
SC-GCM-84 CM Issue 2 © Copyright 2006 Spirax-Sarco Limited

Module 11.6
Selecting Steam Traps -
Canteen Equipment;
Oil Transfer /Storage;
Hospital Equipment

The Steam and Condensate Loop 11.6.1

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

Selecting Steam Traps

Key:
A - Best choice.
B - Acceptable alternative.
1 - With air vent in parallel.
2 - At end of unlagged cooling leg. Minimum length 1 m.
3 - Use special tracing traps which offer fixed temperature discharge option.
4 - If the equipment is temperature controlled, a condensate pump and trap combination may be required.
5 - With close to steam temperature capsule.
6 - Fitted with anti-air-binding disc.

Application
FT FT-C TD BPT SM No.8 IB
range (float- range (Balanced (Bimetallic) (Liquid range
Steam trap: (float- thermostatic (Thermodynamic) pressure expansion) (Inverted
thermostatic) with steam thermostatic) bucket)
release)

Canteen equipment
Boiling pans - tilting B A2, 5
Boiling pans - fixed A B B1 B
Boiling pans - pedestal B A2, 5
Steaming ovens A2, 5
Hot plates B A2, 5

Oil transfer / storage

Bulk oil storage tanks A B1
Line heaters A B1
Outflow heaters A B1
Tracer lines B A B2 (non-critical only) B
Jacketed pipes B1, 6 A5 B1

Hospital equipment
Autoclaves and sterilisers B B A5

Industrial dryers
Hot air dryers A B1 B
Drying coils B1 A B1
Multi-bank pipe dryers A B1 B B1
Drying cylinders B A B1
Multi-cylinder sizing machines B A B1

Laundry equipment
Garment presses B B A6
Ironers and calenders B A B1 B5
Tumbler dryers A B
Dry cleaning machines A B1

11.6.2 The Steam and Condensate Loop

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

FT FT-C TD BPT SM No.8 IB

range (float- range (Balanced (Bimetallic) (Liquid range
Steam trap: (float- thermostatic (Thermodynamic) pressure expansion) (Inverted
thermostatic) with steam thermostatic) bucket)
release)

Presses
Multi-platen presses
B A6
(parallel connections)
Multi-platen presses
A1, 6
(series connections)
Tyre presses B B1 A B1

Process equipment
Boiling pans - fixed A B B1 B
Boiling pans - tilting B A
Retorts A
Industrial autoclaves A B1
Digesters A1 B1
Hot tables B B6 A2
Brewing coppers A1 B
Evaporators, calandrias A1 B B1
Vulcanisers A B1 (jacket only) B1

Space heating equipment

Calorifiers A4
Heater batteries A4
Radiant panels and strips A B1 B1 B1
Radiators and
B A B
convection cabinets
Unit heaters and air batteries A4
Overhead pipe coils B A B1

Steam mains
Pressure reducing valve station A B5
Horizontal runs B A B
Shutdown drain
B3 B A
(frost protection)
Separators A B B
Steam header drainage A B6 B
Terminal ends B A1 B1

Tanks and vats

Process vats
B B A B5 B
(rising discharge pipe)
Process vats
A B6 B5
(discharge pipe at base)
Small coil heated tanks
A B5
(quick boiling)
Small coil heated tanks
B A
(slow boiling)

The Steam and Condensate Loop 11.6.3

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

Canteen Equipment
A - Best choice, B - Acceptable alternative, 1 (parallel air vent), 2 (with 1 m cooling leg), 5 ('near-to-steam' capsule).
Ball float- Ball float Thermodynamic Balanced Bimetallic Liquid Inverted
Application thermostatic FT-C pressure expansion bucket
Boiling pans - tilting B A 2, 5
Boiling pans - fixed A B B1 B
Boiling pans - pedestal B A 2, 5
Steaming ovens A 2, 5
Hotplates B A 2, 5

Canteen boiling pans

Although similar in construction to process jacketed pans, canteen boiling pans do not normally
have the same need for rapid heating, consequently the steam pressure is normally lower.
Condensate loads will normally be much lower. Whilst air and condensate removal are not so
critical, air vents can still be useful in reducing heat-up times.
Tilting boiling pans
Figure 11.6.1 shows a balanced pressure thermostatic trap, draining a slow boiling tilting pan. A
balanced pressure air vent (fitted as shown) will speed up the boil of, for example, 140 litres of
soup by about 20 minutes. If faster cooking would be an advantage, an air vent should be fitted.
A good alternative to the balanced pressure steam trap is a float trap with steam lock release.

Air vent

Balanced pressure
steam trap

Condensate to
vented receiver
Fig. 11.6.1 Slow boiling tilting pan

Pedestal boiling pans

The correct way to drain pedestal boiling pans is to use a balanced pressure thermostatic trap and
strainer. For efficient operation this should be fitted about 1 m away from the outlet at the end of
the cooling leg (Figure 11.6.2). There is usually no need to fit an air vent on this type of pan.

Balanced pressure
steam trap

Condensate to
vented receiver
Fig. 11.6.2 Pedestal pan

11.6.4 The Steam and Condensate Loop

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

Steaming ovens and hotplates

Figure 11.6.3 shows an ideal layout for draining and air venting steaming ovens. There are three
vital features:
o The steam inlet must be drained just before the inlet valve by a balanced pressure thermostatic
trap.
o Each compartment outlet must have a similar trap direct on to the outlet, but without a strainer
(to let the greasy condensate pass through before the grease cools).
o The traps draining the compartments, and the air vents, should be fitted with near-to-steam
elements. The ovens should be blown through with steam after cooking has finished.

Steam in
Air vent

Air vent
Balanced pressure
steam trap

Each
compartment
separately
trapped

Condensate
to waste

Fig. 11.6.3 Direct steaming oven

Figure 11.6.4 shows a kitchen hotplate fitted with a Fig 5 type strainer, close coupled to a balanced
pressure thermostatic steam trap, an ideal combination for this application.

Balanced pressure
steam trap

Condensate to
vented receiver
Fig. 11.6.4 Kitchen hotplate

The Steam and Condensate Loop 11.6.5

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

Oil Transfer / Storage

A - Best choice, B - Acceptable alternative,
1 (parallel air vent), 2 (with 1 m cooling leg), 5 ('near-to-steam' capsule), 6 (anti-air-binding disc).

Ball float- Ball float Balanced Liquid Inverted

Application thermostatic FT-C Thermodynamic pressure Bimetallic expansion bucket
Bulk storage tanks A B1
Line heaters A B1
Outflow heaters A B1
Tracer lines B A B2 (non-critical only) B
Jacketed pipes B 1, 6 A 5 B1

Bulk storage tanks

Oil and other fluids are stored in tanks that are heated by pipe coils or other forms of heating,
either alone, or in combination with outflow heaters, to provide the correct temperature for
pumping. Line heaters raise the temperature of fuel oil to that required for burning or for process
use.
There are several ways to heat small to medium sized storage tanks, such as with pipe coils
(Figure 11.6.5) spread across the bottom of the tank, or with 'bayonet' or 'field' heaters
(Figure 11.6.6). In these situations a large pipe, sealed at both ends, is fixed through the side of
the tank. Steam is fed to the remote end by an internal pipe and condensate is removed from the
nearest end. However, on larger tanks, one of the more widely used methods is the fitting of a
number of special heaters served from an internal ring main as in Figures 11.6.7 and 11.6.8.
With all coil configurations it is essential that each pipe section or each heater is separately
trapped.
Long coils are susceptible to waterhammer, as they will collect condensate along their
length. Because of this, it makes sense that coils are designed with a constant fall in the direction
of steam flow. The modern float-thermostatic trap is equipped to withstand high levels of
waterhammer, but if the symptoms are extreme, an inverted bucket trap or balanced pressure
trap is a good choice. It may be necessary to lag float-thermostatic traps to protect them
against damage by freezing. The inverted bucket trap may require a separate air vent to be
fitted in parallel to remove air from the coil on start-up.

Steam in

Condensate to drain Condensate to drain

Fig. 11.6.5 Oil storage tank - pipe coil

11.6.6 The Steam and Condensate Loop

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

Steam in

Condensate to drain

Fig. 11.6.6 Oil tank - bayonet heater

Tank

Steam in

Steam ring main

Heater sections

Condensate out

Fig. 11.6.7 Large oil tank with multi-heaters

Air eliminator draining

to a safe place

Steam in
Oil out

Oil in

Condensate
Fig. 11.6.8 Three section oil heater battery to drain

Oil heater batteries

These are single or multi-stage heat exchangers and should be treated in a similar manner to
outflow heaters. Each stage should be individually trapped and since they are often fitted indoors
where the traps are not likely to freeze, float-thermostatic traps are the best choice.

The Steam and Condensate Loop 11.6.7

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

Outflow heaters
An outflow heater is a shell and tube heat exchanger installed in the side of a storage tank, which
heats the oil locally as it is pumped out of the tank. Automatic temperature control is usual and
Figure 11.6.9 shows a Spirax Sarco self-acting control with the sensor in the oil outlet, actuating
a valve in the steam supply.
The first choice is to use a float-thermostatic trap. If exposed to the elements, it should be
insulated. It is normal for condensate to be wasted due to the risk of contamination by the oil,
but if condensate is being returned and lifted up to a return main it is not recommended that it
is lifted by its own pressure, as flooding and waterhammer are likely at light loads. A pump /trap
installation may be used under these conditions.

Steam in

Oil
out Tank

Heater
To condensate system
Oil in

Float-thermostatic trap
Condensate to drain

Fig. 11.6.9 Outflow heater

Tracer lines
Tracer lines should be arranged to fall in the direction of steam flow and should not exceed
25 metres in length for 10 mm tracers or 50 metres for all larger sizes, each length being drained
by a balanced pressure thermostatic tracing trap or a thermodynamic trap. It is preferable to run
single tracers near the bottom of the product line, and where it is necessary to pass flanges, this
should be done with a horizontal loop to help maintain a continuous fall towards the trap.

Oil pipeline

Steam

Balanced pressure trap

Condensate to return or to waste

Fig. 11.6.10 Steam tracer line

11.6.8 The Steam and Condensate Loop

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

Oil pipe tracing is not normally considered 'critical', and where condensate is discharged to
waste, a bimetallic trap or a balanced pressure thermostatic tracing trap (in the constant
temperature discharge mode) can be used. This will conserve energy and prevent unsightly flash
steam. However, if critical tracing is considered essential, a thermodynamic or balanced pressure
trap, discharging close to steam saturation, should be used.
A convenient method of supplying steam to large numbers of tracers on process lines, and for
draining condensate from them, is to use distribution and collection manifolds. These are shown
in Figure 11.6.11, along with universal steam traps, and pipeline connectors with integral isolation
valves. These allow traps to be changed quickly and without any downtime.

Process line

Steam
Tracer line Condensate
to return

Steam manifold
Steam traps Condensate manifold

Control system

Condensate to waste
Blowdown to waste
UTD steam trap with via a diffuser
pipeline connector
Fig. 11.6.11 Typical tracing application with steam and condensate manifolds

Jacketed pipes
When the temperature of the product is critical (because of the danger of solidification, burning
or vaporisation) the complete product pipeline is 'traced' with a steam jacket. This application is
often seen in 'sulfur' plants.
Jacketed pipes are generally constructed in not more than 6 m lengths and ideally, each length
should be separately trapped using a balanced pressure thermostatic tracing trap, (Figure 11.6.12),
or a TD trap.
Steam in Steam in

Process flow Process pipeline

Steam jacket

Condensate out Balanced pressure

tracing trap

Condensate to return or to waste

Fig. 11.6.12 Typical steam jacket with balanced pressure trap

The Steam and Condensate Loop 11.6.9

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

It is, however, quite practical to join up to 4 lengths together, but it is important to join the
jackets both at the top and bottom (Figure 11.6.13) so that the steam and condensate can flow
freely and independently. It is worth noting, since many jacketed pipes are exposed to the
elements, that the steel bodies of the thermodynamic and balanced pressure traps are not
damaged by freezing.

Steam connection

Condensate connection
Fig. 11.6.13 Steam and condensate lines between connecting jackets

11.6.10 The Steam and Condensate Loop

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

Hospital Equipment
A - Best choice, B - Acceptable alternative, 5 ('near-to-steam' capsule).
Application Ball float- Ball float Balanced Liquid Inverted
thermostatic FT-C Thermodynamic pressure Bimetallic expansion bucket
Autoclaves
and sterilisers B B A5

Autoclave and sterilisers

The draining and air venting of modern high vacuum sterilisers is very important and the
manufacturer normally supplies the necessary trapping equipment with the machine.
Figure 11.6.14 shows an autoclave supplied with plant steam for the jacket, and filtered steam
for the chamber. The steam supplied to the chamber must be dry, so a separator drained by a
float-thermostatic trap should be fitted to the steam line. For the chamber a balanced pressure
thermostatic trap with near-to-steam capsule can be used successfully. On large units a float-
thermostatic trap may be needed. A strainer to protect the trap is important, as it will catch any
fibrous material or broken glass. If the steam inlet to the jacket is at the bottom or at one end, an
air vent at the top or the far end will give better heating. The jacket may be drained with a
balanced pressure thermostatic trap-strainer unit.
On new systems, there is an increasing requirement to use all stainless steel pipework and
fittings to comply with European and International standards. In many cases, this will require the
use of 316L steam traps.

Safety
valve
Controller
Filter

Steam in

Jacket Steam
air trap
vent
Chamber
Condensate air vent
from separator
Autoclave
BPT type
steam traps Filtered steam
to chamber

Condensate Condensate from chamber

from jacket

Condensate
to fall to a Float-thermostatic trap
vented reciever
Fig. 11.6.14 Hospital autoclave with filtered steam supply

The Steam and Condensate Loop 11.6.11

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

Questions

1. What steam traps are best suited to draining kitchen boiling pans?
a| Balanced pressure types ¨
b| Thermodynamic types ¨
c| Inverted bucket types ¨
d| Fixed orifice devices ¨

2. Why is it a good idea not to fit strainers on kitchen steaming ovens?

a| They cost too much ¨
b| They block with grease discharged with the condensate ¨
c| There is usually not enough space to fit them ¨
d| They increase radiation losses and effect the trap’s operation ¨

3. How should coils be run in large oil tanks to provide good service?
a| Horizontally ¨
b| Vertically ¨
c| Falling with the direction of steam flow ¨
d| Falling against the direction of steam flow ¨

4. Name a convenient method of collecting condensate from multiple tracer lines?

a| Allow the condensate to drain to waste ¨
b| Group trap large numbers of tracers with one steam trap ¨
c| Fit steam traps every 30 m of tracer line ¨
d| Fit manifolds to collect condensate from multiple tracer lines ¨

5. Why is it important to fit a strainer before an autoclave chamber trap?

a| The strainer will help condense any steam in the condensate line ¨
b| To reduce any effect of backpressure that may occur ¨
c| To protect the trap from broken glass or fibres in the condensate ¨
d| It is not particularly important to do this ¨

6. Why are there normally two steam supplies to hospital autoclaves?

a| In case one of them fails during an operating cycle ¨
b| To allow the autoclave to work at two different pressures ¨
c| Because autoclave manufacturers traditionally fit two supplies ¨
d| One to supply the chamber, one to supply the jacket ¨

Answers
1: a, 2: b, 3: c, 4: d, 5: c, 6: d

11.6.12 The Steam and Condensate Loop

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

The Steam and Condensate Loop 11.6.13

Block 11 Steam Trapping Selecting Steam Traps - Canteen Equipment; Oil Transfer /Storage; Hospital Equipment Module 11.6

11.6.14 The Steam and Condensate Loop