Steam Trap Types & Function

Every point where steam gives up its heat produces condensate, and that condensate must leave immediately, without letting live steam escape with it. The device that performs this discrimination is the steam trap: an automatic valve that opens to water and air but closes to steam. A site may have dozens or hundreds of them, they are the most numerous active component in the system, and choosing the right type for each duty is what determines how well and how long they do it. This lesson covers the three families and the selection logic.