Brochure

106
Selection Guides
Lifting Condensate to Overhead Return
Condensate must be lifted in applications where the trap
is installed below the return line.
Guidelines:
– Steam pressure at the trap inlet lifts the condensate.
Differential steam pressure across the steam trap of
1 psi (0.07 bar) will lift condensate 2 ft. (0.6 m).
– Do not return condensate to an overhead return if
modulating control valves are installed. Modulating
control valves may cause the inlet pressure to modulate
to 0 psi (0 bar). This condition will result in no differential
pressure to push the condensate into the overhead
return. When this happens, condensate will back up
into the steam chamber and result in water hammer.
Use a Hoffman condensate unit to collect condensate
and pump it to the overhead return
CRITERIA F&T Inverted Bucket Thermostatic Thermodisc
Response to Load Changes Fast Moderate Moderate Slow
Air Venting Medium/High Low High Low
Thermal Efficiency Medium/High Medium High Medium
Primary Applications Drip Legs Drip Legs Drip Legs Drip Legs
Process Equip. Process Equip. Process Equip. Tracing
Tracing
Affected by Ambient No No Ye s
Temperatures (Susceptible to freezing) (unless insulated)
Relative Cost Medium/High Medium/Low Low Low
Capacity High High Medium Low
Pressure Range to 250 psig (17.3 bar) to 250 psig (17.3 bar) to 125 psig (8.6 bar) to 600 psig (41.4 bar)
Size vs. capacity Large Large Small Medium
Ease of Maintenance Moderate Moderate Very Easy Very Easy
Orientation limits Ye s Ye s No No
Steam Traps (continued)
Selecting and Sizing Steam Traps (continued)
Steam Trap Criteria Comparison
Hoffman Specialty
®
Selection Guidelines