Do you have a steam trap maintenance program in place? Steam traps are automatic valves located on distribution lines that help optimize system performance by purging condensate and maintaining steam quality. In systems that have not received maintenance in three to five years, up to 30% of steam traps may have failed, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Failed steam traps waste energy by allowing live steam to escape into the condensate return systems. Since many steam systems have hundreds of traps, the energy — and money — loss can be substantial.
Regular maintenance equals savings
Steam trap replacement can pay for itself quickly. For facilities that don't currently have a regular steam maintenance program, an annual steam trap survey can save 5% to 15% of system fuel costs.
Here's an example of the potential energy savings in dollars. In a plant where the value of steam is $8.50 per thousand pounds, an open inspection program indicates that a trap on a 150 psig line is stuck open. The trap orifice is one-eighth of an inch in diameter and has an estimated steam loss of 62 pounds per hour. The annual cost savings would be approximately $4,617 (62 x 8,760 hr/year x $8.50 = $4,617) if the failed trap were repaired. At the cost of approximately $600, the payback for the newly installed steam traps would be less than two months.
Testing steam traps
Inspect and test steam traps regularly to ensure that they are functioning properly. You can test traps in four ways:
- Temperature. Plugged traps are cool while operating; leaking traps are hot. Check the temperature of the trap with a non-contact, infrared thermometer.
- Acoustic. Listen. If you hear a modulating, continuous flow, the trap is operating fully. An intense rushing sound may indicate a blow-by condition or some other problem. Don't hear anything? The trap may be plugged.
- Visual. Visual inspection involves venting live steam to check the discharge valve downstream of the trap. Visual inspection isn't 100% reliable, but it can help you spot design issues that can lead to steam trap failures.
- Electronic. Ultrasonic testers let you hear what's going on inside the trap. Touch the trap on the downstream side with the instrument's contact probe and adjust the sensitivity to hear the flow better.
Establish a plan of action
Establish a program for regular steam trap inspection, testing and repair. To minimize energy losses, test at the following intervals:
- High pressure (150 psig and above): weekly to monthly
- Medium pressure (30-150 psig): monthly to quarterly
- Low pressure (below 30 psig): annually
See Steam Systems from the DOE for additional tools, tips and resources for optimizing steam system performance.