Sizing pipe after steam traps Michoel V. Calogero” and Arthur W. Brooks! ndersized condensate return-lines create one of the most common problems eneountered with proeess steam traps. Hot condensate passing through a trap orifice loses pressure, which lowers the enthalpy of the condensate. This enthalpy change causes some of the condensate to flash into steam, The volume of the resulting two-phase mixture is usually many times that of the upstream condensate. ‘The downstream piping must be adequately sized to effec- tively handle this volume, An undersized condensate retimn- line results in a high flash-steam velocity, wihich may cause waterhammer (due to wave formation), hydrodynamic noise, premature erosion, and high backpressure, The latter condition reduces the available working differential pres- sure and, henee, the condensate removal eapabilty of the steam trap. In fact, with some traps, excessive backpres- sure causes partial or full failure, Die to the much greater volume of flash steam compared with unflashed condensate, sizing ofthe return line is besed solely on the flash steam. Tt is assumed that all flashing oc- curs across the steam trap and that the resulting vapor- liquid mixture can be evaluated at the end-pressure condi- tions, To ensure that the eondensate line does not have an appreciable pressure-drop, a low flash-steam velocity is as- sumed (60 fUs) [1] SQESTEA, Toe, 85 Papa Ae, Hashem, NY OH PECHUAW Bsjeuring ee, 1 inden Lane Sot, Paabore, NI O69. hs Bros eet the mare 16sig Upstream pressure, ‘The Mash-steam volumetric Nowrate is then determined: Qe = Warm ® ‘Based on the assumed velocity, the required cross-sectional area’is ealeu- lated as: =e Aw = sm00x5 | © ‘To simplify the nomograph, the flaw area is converted to 8 nominal pipe di ameter. For cases of low pressure drop or high suboooling, it may be necessary |. tosze the condensate line based on the liguid velocity. Generally, a velocity of B sis acceptable For flash-steam velocitios other than 50 fis, the nominal pipe size may be approximated by: . 1D, T.0TD ep D,= te © 40 Vu 3° | Additional advantages fo the 20 | nomegraph 1, It yields a single result; decision- making is not required, as with other Figure — This nomograph determines recommended pipe si downstream of steam traps Nomograph The accompanying nomograph quickly sizes the recom- mended eondensate return ine, "The nomograph employs an enthalpy balance atthe up- stream and end-presure conditions to ealeuat the weight percentage of flash steam that is formed and the flash-steam | Tlowrate a as te 100 ® = welt We= W009 @) Nomenclature Arq Required cross-sectional area, D," Nominal pipe size, based on velocity 1, i ‘Nominal pipe size, based on 50 fs, in. Condensate enthalpy at upstream pressure, Ps, Beutb hug Condensate enthalpy at end-pressure, P,, Btw ‘Aig Latent heat of vaporization at P,, Btu Q, Flash-steam volumetric flowrate, ft wu New flash-steam velocity, fle the Flash-steam specific volume at P, fb Wr Condensate formed at P,, Ibhh Wy Flash steam formed at Ps, Ibyh iy Flash steam, wt % methods. 2. With minimal training, maintenance personnel can use it. 8, Not only is it applicable to new construction but, more ‘importantly, it ean be used to check existing line sizes when trap performance is questionable. 4, It builds on the concept in Ref. [2] to provide a com- plete caleulation procedure. field Example An evaporator is condensing 5,500 lbh of steam at 150-psig supply pressure. During normal operation, a control valve maintains a pressure of 8 psig upstream of the steam trap. The condensate is retumed toa vented tank. What lin size is recommended downstream of the trapt On the chart, connect upstream pressure of 85 psig through vented ‘tank pressure (0 psig) to the pivot line. From pivot line, connect through condensate flowrate of 6,500 Ibfh to find 4 in, as the closest size. References 1, “Condo Maral oa 2," Oasra AO, Branen, Wost Germany, el, 185, p. 2. Pte VA, How Muh Coden WH Fat, hem, May, 8, 7