STEAM TRAP
EDUCATION CENTER

In this fossil fired power plant, main steam drains are used to remove condensate from the main steam line. This steam main is the highest pressured / highest temperature line in the plant. The main steam line runs from the superheater at the top of the boiler, to the inlet side of the high pressure turbine. Main steam drains are situated on this line to remove start-up loads, hot running loads, and cool-down loads.

On high pressure / high temperature applications, the best steam trap design in the marketplace is the Velan Multi-Segmented Bimetallic Steam Trap. The main steam drain application will have a “moderate” start-up curve, followed by a “low-load” hot running load. If there is superheat in the main, there will be “no-load” of condensate at the steam trap. The only other load that will be encountered will be a “moderate” cool-down load when the line is de-energized.

Due to the fact that main steam drains can be very high in pressure and temperature, customers weld these applications. Velan offers steam traps and “Piping Kings” in A105 Carbon Steel, F22 Chrome Moly Steel, and F91 Chrome Moly Steel.

Velan will offer the “N” Series steam trap for main steam drain applications. Click on the following pressure range for the appropriate Velan “N” Series Steam Trap: