Posted by Carl on April 06, 2000 at 13:28:00:
In Reply to: steam traps posted by David Broustis on April 05, 2000 at 16:55:00:
: Can anyone provide a realistic (i.e. based on experience) savings estimate for repairing steam traps that are blowing through. We have numerous systems with one or more bad traps. In general, we run at 10 lbs pressure, and have a variety of thermostatic and F&T traps. Condensate gets returned to the system (along with plenty of steam).
: Thanks in advance.
I will give you a web site, www.enerchecksystems.com/steamcht.html, whic provides the average loss in pounds of steam per hour for various size orfices. You need to know first of all the fixed cost of your steam per pound. Lets for example say you have one trap losing .50 pounds of steam per hour and your cost per thousand pounds of steam per hour is 7.00, Just multiply the .5 times 24 hrs. times $7.0 which would give you for the single trap a cost of $74.00 per day.
Thats a quick dirty way to see what you lose. There have been several articles published on this subject in maintenance management publications. I can see if I can dig up the issue and reply again with it later.