Steam trap monitor
US4764024A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 1987 |
| Grant date | Aug 16, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N25/60
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A steam trap monitor positioned downstream of a steam trap in a closed steam system includes a first sensor (the combination of a hot finger and thermocouple well) for measuring the energy of condensate and a second sensor (a cold finger) for measuring the total energy of condensate and steam in the line. The hot finger includes one or more thermocouples for detecting condensate level and energy, while the cold finger contains a liquid with a lower boiling temperature than that of water. Vapor pressure from the liquid is used to do work such as displacing a piston or bellows in providing an indication of total energy (steam+condensate) of the system. Processing means coupled to and responsive to outputs from the thermocouple well hot and cold fingers subtracts the condensate energy as measured by the hot finger and thermocouple well from the total energy as measured by the cold finger to provide an indication of the presence of steam downstream from the trap indicating that the steam trap is malfunctioning.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.