Posted by JoeSteam on June 21, 2001 at 09:19:57:
In Reply to: Disk or Bucket type steam trap? posted by BoilingMan on June 20, 2001 at 10:36:47:
There are potential problems with both discs and buckets.
Be careful with disc traps on low pressure, they will fail open with a high backpressure. Also they are not good for process applications because of the air handling problem, and they will wear quickly if outdoors in the rain.
Buckets also 'loose steam' through the air vent in them, they could freeze because they have a water prime, and have very poor air handling abilities because the air vent is small to not loose too much steam when not on start-up (each trap will loose about 3 lb/hr).
The other two technologies that you did not mention are thremostatic and float & thermostatic. I like F&T's for many applications and thermostatics for drip and tracers because they are freeze resistant, energy conserving, and easy to install.