Electronic steam trap
AssigneeVelan Inc.
InventorChristian Matthias Wingerath
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-contained electronic steam trap drains condensate from a steam system. The steam trap includes a drain pipe adapted for fluid communication with a steam supply system. Pressure and temperature sensors measure pressure and temperature in an internal passageway of the steam trap. A condensate discharge valve is disposed at or upstream of an output port of the drain pipe. The condensate discharge valve is controlled based on the measured pressure and temperature and a calculated steam saturation temperature. Both a cycling mode and a regulation mode of automatic valve operation are described.
Claims18
An automated electronic steam trap comprising:
- a steam trap having an internal passageway connected between an inlet port configured to receive steam/condensate and an outlet port configured to discharge condensate collected by the steam trap;
- a condensate discharge valve disposed at or upstream of the outlet port for venting condensate from the steam trap when actuated to an open position;
- pressure and temperature sensors disposed to monitor pressure and temperature conditions in the internal passageway upstream of the condensate discharge valve;
- and
- an electronic control processing circuit configured to automatically actuate said valve in response to inputs from the pressure and temperature sensors,
- wherein said electronic control processing circuit is configured to effect a regulation mode wherein said condensate discharge valve is regulated to a partially open position by:
- (a) incrementally opening the valve if the measured temperature is less than the calculated steam saturation temperature offset by a predetermined sub-cooling increment, and
- (b) incrementally closing the valve if the measured temperature is more than the calculated steam saturation temperature offset by a predetermined sub-cooling increment, thereby regulating condensate flow from said discharge valve by regulating the measured temperature to a constant temperature.
A method of automatically draining condensate from a heated fluid/gas line, the method comprising:
- providing a drain pipe configured to be placed in fluid communication with a heated fluid/gas line and having an internal passageway configured to accumulate liquid condensate therein, said drain pipe having an inlet port configured to receive gas/condensate and an outlet port configured to discharge condensate collected by the drain pipe via a condensate discharge valve disposed at or upstream of the outlet port for venting condensate when actuated to an open position;
- measuring pressure in the internal passageway of the drain pipe with a pressure sensor that is in fluid communication with the drain pipe internal passageway;
- calculating saturation temperature of the gas based on the measured pressure;
- measuring temperature in the internal passageway of the drain pipe with a temperature sensor;
- and
- automatically actuating the condensate discharge valve in response to the calculated saturation temperature and measured temperature,
- wherein said automatically actuating is configured to effect a regulation mode wherein said condensate discharge valve is regulated to a partially open position by:
- (a) incrementally opening the valve if the measured temperature is less than the calculated saturation temperature offset by a predetermined sub-cooling increment, and
- (b) incrementally closing the valve if the measured temperature is more than the calculated saturation temperature offset by a predetermined sub-cooling increment, thereby regulating condensate flow from said discharge valve by regulating the measured temperature to a substantially constant temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.