Method and apparatus for inspecting steam traps, and management system for managing steam traps

A steam trap inspecting apparatus, comprising:

• a vibration level detector which detects the vibration level of the steam trap when its valve is closed;
• a calculator which converts the detected vibration level into a sealing performance deterioration value representing a deterioration level of a valve sealing performance of the steam trap under a reference steam pressure using a working steam pressure value;
• and
• a notifying device which notifies at least either one of the calculated sealing performance deterioration value and an estimation of the sealing performance based on the sealing performance deterioration value.

A steam trap management system, comprising:

• a portable steam trap inspecting apparatus including:
• a vibration level detector which detects the vibration level of the steam trap when its valve is closed;
• a calculator which converts the detected vibration level into a sealing performance deterioration value representing a deterioration level of a valve sealing performance of the steam trap under a reference steam pressure using a working steam pressure value;
• and
• a notifying device which notifies at least either one of the calculated sealing performance deterioration value and an estimation of the sealing performance based on the sealing performance deterioration value,
• whereby obtaining inspection results including sealing performance deterioration values of a specified number of steam traps;
• a management unit for totaling and analyzing a variety of pieces of information of the steam traps including the sealing performance deterioration values;
• and
• a transfer unit for transferring the inspection results of the inspecting apparatus to the management unit.