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Orifice Plate Steam Traps vs. Conventional
Traps
Steven G. Liescheidt, P.E., CSI-CCS, CCPR.
Overview
This
course, based on the document "Guide to Orifice Plate Steam Traps" published by
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, provides guidance on when orifice plate steam
traps should be considered for use in new or existing steam systems. As
the name implies, orifice plate steam traps are simple devices containing a thin
plate with a small-diameter hole in the center. The orifice restricts the
amount of condensate or steam that can flow out of the system. An
optimally sized hole will allow only condensate to flow out, while allowing
little or no steam to escape.
Orifice plate steam traps have an advantage over conventional steam traps in
that there are no moving parts that can break. However, there are few
applications that are suitable for orifice plate steam traps. The pressure
and the condensate load must be relatively constant in order for an orifice
plate steam trap to provide reliable and efficient service. And the steam
must be relatively clean. Debris can cause the orifice to clog and abrasive
particles can cause the orifice to grow in size due to erosion.
In
addition to discussing orifice plate steam traps, this course covers the basics
of other types of conventional steam traps, such as thermostatic, mechanical and
thermodynamic traps, including their relative merits in different applications.
The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of
fifteen questions at the end of this course to obtain PDH credits.
Specific Knowledge or
Skill Attained
This course teaches the following specific knowledge and
skills:
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The functional
requirements of a steam trap
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How an orifice plate
steam trap operates
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Advantages and
disadvantages of orifice plate steam traps relative to conventional traps
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Types of
thermostatic traps and how they operate
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Types of mechanical
traps and how they operate
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Types of
thermodynamic traps and how they operate
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Learnings from
previous users of orifice plate steam traps in testing programs
Course
Click on the following PDF attachment and review
"Guide to Orifice Plate Steam Traps" published by the Oak Ridge National
Laboratory prior to taking a quiz for credit.
"Guide
to Orifice Plate Steam Traps" (417 KB)
You may need Acrobat Reader to view this document.
Click on the link below to download a free copy of Acrobat Reader.
To obtain PDH credits for this course, you will need to take a quiz for
credit. Click on the link below.
(To take the quiz,
your web browser must be set to accept cookies. See how to
check your cookie settings.)
 
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