ABSTRACT
Once the boiler has produced steam, the steam goes to processes where the heat of the steam is used as an energy source. Lines that carry steam give off heat, and the amount of heat they give off depends upon the steam temperature, the ambient temperature around the lines, and the amount of insulation surrounding them. Occasionally steam lines develop leaks, and these can create opportunities for cost savings. As steam lines give off heat, some of the steam within them condenses, and the condensate must be removed, generally through steam traps. Steam traps and the condensate return system separate condensate from the steam distribution system and thereby perform three important functions: prevent water hammer, return condensate to the boiler, and improve the quality of the steam for further processes. Steam traps also help in the removal of air and dissolved gases from the steam, thus removing two insulators and sources of inefficiency.
