Q-1 |
How long is the life expectancy? |
A-1 |
ECOTRAP is a stainless made simple device with no moving parts. The life expectancy is therefore semi-permanent. |
|
|
Q-2 |
I wonder if the orifice size enlargement can happen? |
A-2 |
Live steam is several hundred times lighter and tries to pass through the orifice 40 times faster than condensate. Therefore, it could cause the orifice enlargement or erosion in case if only live steam to flow through. On the other hand, ECOTRAP is basically designed only condensate to flow through and therefore orifice enlargement or erosion can rarely happen. |
|
|
Q-3 |
I wonder if the orifice blockage or plugging problem may happen? |
A-3 |
Reducing the risk of orifice blockage problem is what ECOTRAP is basically designed for. Our original interrupter technology and multi-orifice structure enabled ECOTRAP has relatively larger orifice and this minimize the risk of dirt blocking the orifice. |
|
|
Q-4 |
Is it capable enough for highly loaded condition? |
A-4 |
You may think that orifice trap is less capable for highly loaded condition as it only has less than 1.5 times of discharge ability for maximal load. But this is not true; ECOTRAP has enough capability as more than few times of condensate will not be generated under normal load fluctuation. Mechanical traps require more than few times of discharge ability for maximal load because of its’ intermittent nature, not because of load fluctuation. |
|
|
Q-5 |
I wonder if any steam loss can happen under extremely small loaded condition? |
A-5 |
Steam loss may happen via orifice under extremely small loaded condition. The loss is around 5% of orifice output capacity, if you have no condensate at all in you system, but the result would vary depends on how much steam pressure you have in your steam system. The steam loss will be dramatically dropped if you have at least some amount of condensate in your system. The amount of steam loss is about the same level of mechanical traps, if you maintain the condensate that is over 25% of orifice output capacity. If you have the equipment such as heat exchanger and dryer with control valve, control valve will close when the pressure drops and the output capacity of ECOTRAP will also be reduced as pressure drops. Therefore, steam loss won’t happen until very small loaded condition. |
|
|
Q-6 |
It looks steam leaking from orifice? What is it? |
A-6 |
The calorie difference of the condensate between high and low pressure will be evaporated when condensate comes out from high-pressure area to low-pressure area. This is what we normally call flash steam. The amount of condensate becoming flash steam is increased when differential pressure is higher, but that is not steam loss.
Mechanical traps have no flash steam when it completely closed, while ECOTRAP has continuous flow and therefore has flash steam. |
|
|
Q-7 |
Is there any way we can stop flash steam? |
A-7 |
Flash steam is a physical phenomenon you can’t completely stop. However, there is a way you can diminish the appearance of flash steam.
To do that, you will need an extra piping from ECOTRAP output, and put that into drainage conduit, then flash steam will be absorbed into Water. You will also need to make a pinhole onto the piping between ECOTRAP and drainage conduit in order to prevent backward flow when steam system completely stopped at regular maintenance. |
|
|
Q-8 |
Steam loss is not a big problem for us as we have condensate re-circulate system? |
A-8 |
That is misconception for the following reasons.
Dropping high pressure steam in to low pressure steam means high calorific value turn into low calorific value, and it also lead a temperature raise in re-circulate pipes as well as heat loss during re-circulation.
The back pressure from high pressure steam trap may lead a deficient capacity or defects in low pressure steam traps and that will also affect system as a whole.
Live steam flow through orifice into re-circulate piping sometime became a cause of water hammer, that may damage equipments in your steam system.
|
|
|
Q-9 |
Can I use ECOTRAP in low differential pressure environment? |
A-9 |
Yes, you can.
ECOTRAP can be used as far as there is at least some differential pressure. This feature enabled ECOTRAP capable of collecting condensate from high-pressure system and that also means no pumping equipment required in the condensate re-circulate piping. That will help you save a lot of money. ECOTRAP is the best solution for those who have low differential pressure. |
|
|
Q-10 |
How does the condensate removal system perform at start up? |
A-10 |
With properly-sized orifices, the ECOTRAP’s condensate removal system works better for plants during shutdown and startup. ECOTRAP continue working as far as there is differential pressure remained in the system even after the shutdown, therefore there will be no much condensate kept in the system when you startup. However, this may not be the case for some systems with large orifice or long flue, and that system may require by-path condensate removal as it normally done in the system with conventional traps. |
|
|
Q-11 |
Do you have high pressure compatible ECOTRAPS? |
A-11 |
Yes we do. T and F model are high-pressure compatible model.
We can also modify the ECOTRAP compatible with JPI, 2500LB, RTJ. Our high-pressure compatible model is even more price competitive than that of other companies. |
|
|
Q-12 |
Noise can be too loud? |
A-12 |
No.
It has some noise as it flows continuously but that is not like intermittent noise. The noise will be almost diminished if you have extra few meters of pipe on the trap. Noise is even smaller for the model with interrupter. |
|
|
Q-13 |
Is there any way we can measure and compare the steam loss between conventional traps and ECOTRAP? |
A-13 |
If your steam system is completely piped and condensate is not discharged into the air, checking with flow meter and see the difference between 2 traps is only the way. If you do not have flow-meter on individual discharge channel, we will recommend you to change all discharge channels with ECOTRAP and see the difference.
If you have system with traps that discharge condensate into air, you can find out the amount of steam loss by measuring the amount of condensate. We have the instruction and the calculation formula; please contact us for more information. |