Pump trap solves difficult condensate problem

A new blender used to produce medical grade PVC compounds posed a tricky problem to the designers of its steam heating system.

A new blender used to produce medical grade PVC compounds posed a tricky problem to the designers of its steam heating system.

The blender prepares test compounds in the laboratory of Belfast-based Colorite Europe, a manufacturer of medical grade PVC.

The maximum steam pressure that the blender could accept was just 0.5bar(g).

However, this was insufficient to clear condensate from the vessel's steam heating jacket because of high back pressure caused by a 5m rise in the condensate return pipeline.

"We couldn't just let the condensate to flow to drain", explains " "Ian Taylor, Plant Engineer at Colorite Europe.

"With the blender running for an hour per batch, this would have wasted energy and water.

We had to find a solution that recovered the condensate, so we approached Spirax Sarco".

Spirax Sarco recommended fitting one of its APT10 automatic pump traps, which has solved the problem by pumping out the condensate, allowing it to be recovered and not sent to drain.

The APT10 combines the functions of a steam trap and pump.

In operation, condensate enters the APT10's chamber through the inlet.

When the inlet pressure is too low to force out the condensate, the pump trap's condensate outlet closes.

Condensate flows into and fills the chamber.

A mechanical float rises with the condensate level until a snap action mechanism opens a steam inlet.

Steam pressure then forces out the condensate; the float falls until it re-engages the pump mechanism, which closes the steam inlet and the cycle is repeated.

Since its installation, the APT10 has ensured that the blender remains clear of condensate under all operating conditions.

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