Do all condensate removal devices consume live steam?
Until venturi technology appeared, we did not bother too much about steam consumption. Steam traps were sold as a kind of valve that would be open for condensate and closed for steam. Possible failures were seen as normal and repaired or replaced (when the location of the leak could be established). All systems on the market are subject to energy losses. These can origin from heat transfer from the available surface, or as a result of the various working principles. For example: • The collector vessels of level controlled systems are subject to heat losses. • Thermodynamic traps open at given times, regardless if condensate is present or not. • Thermostatic traps pass steam just before the higher temperature makes them close. • Logically also steam passes when high loads of condensate whirl through a floating trap. In fact, it was accepted that all systems that are related to condensate and steam consume energy, but not much attention was given to that fact. Our company has never claim
