Impulse Steam Trap

Miscellaneous Mechanical Components DOE-HDBK-1018/2-93 STEAM TRAPS The valve is attached to the bellows in such a way that the valve closes when the bellows expands. The valve remains closed, trapping steam in the valve body. As the steam cools and condenses, the bellows cools and contracts, thereby opening the valve and allowing the condensate to drain. Impulse Steam Trap Impulse steam traps, illustrated in Figure 19, pass steam and condensate through a strainer before entering the trap. A circular baffle keeps the entering steam and condensate from impinging on the cylinder or on the disk. The impulse type of steam trap is dependent on the principle that hot water under pressure tends to flash into steam when the pressure is reduced. The only moving part in the steam trap is the disk. A flange near the top of the disk acts as a Figure 19 Impulse Steam Trap piston. As demonstrated in Figure 19, the working surface above the flange is larger than the working surface below the flange. Rev. 0 ME-05 Page 37