CONDENSATE TRAPS for Cooling Coils Ensuring easy Inspection and maintenance of these often-overlooked and commonly misunderstood devices he condensate trap perhaps is the most overlooked item in the design and installa- tion ofan coils and air handlers with cool- ing coils. Often, condensate traps are inadequately described in contract documents accumulating condensate to drain off while preventing air fom entering a draw-theu unit oF ‘escaping a blow-thru unit. A cooling coils drain- pan opening is located atthe poine in an airflow system where the air pressure— and, sometimes, are not described ByRONALDF.BRUSHA either postive or negative—is the atall, whichleavesimportantderils Mechanical Enginoor_greates. Ir makes sense to prevent to be determined by the installing ‘londal, Calf. an air “leak” at this location, contractor. Ie isthe designe, how= cever, whois in the best position ro make these decisions because of his or her knowledge of especially in view of the effort we typically expend to seal and pressure-tes system ducework. However, even if we were not concerned the presures inthe about leaking aie, draw-thru units would allow air-distribution lite or no condensate drainage if not equipped Condensate dain pan em, ‘with a properly designed wap. There are wide- Tn shore, the fundamental purpose of one ‘AAGURE 1itap fordaw-thru unig fant Ed ccoer2 - uPAe Engine spread misconcep- tions about how Hi faninit pressure condensate traps (in. WG) + 1, inexpensive details that can make them much easier to inspect and REVIEW ‘The purpose of one of these traps is to allow Ronald F Brusha obtained a degre in mechanical cengincering from California State University at Las Angeles in 1962. Most of is profesional experience ‘has been asacviian employe ofthe U.S. Army Ce of Engincers. In 1992, he retired as chief of the Construction Technical Support Section of the Los Angle District Office ofthe Corps. of these taps is to use a column of condensate in such a way a8 to prevent air movement into or out ‘of the equipment casing, while sill allowing the work and how to condensite to drain away propel size them, and often, lice or POTENTIAL PROBLEMS no thought is de- An impropedy constructed or missing tap can voted to simple, cause the following problems. No trap o trap outlet too low. For draw-theu units in either ofthese scuations, condensate accumulac- ing in the pan will be subjected toa “jet” ofincom- ing air, which often resus in spray being carried over into the fan-inlet area, This sometimes is referred to as “geysering.” For blow-thru units, cscaping air may be the most serious consequence, but in the presence of copious condensation, « turbulene aifwater mix in the pan also may cause some spillage or praying of water downstream of thecoil ‘Trap outlot too high. In deaw-thru units with this problem, an air eal will be maintained; however, if the condensates net “column” height in the trap CCH? in the accompanying figures) is less chan the equipments negative ai presse in inches of water column, the condensate will be unable to drainCONDENSATE TRAPS away. This will cause the accumulating ticipate that it does should specify cither ance between the need ¢o account condensate to overflow the pan into a means of priming or trap features that for unanticipated increases in that the surrounding parts ofthe equipment will allow priming to be easily added (negative) pressure and the practical need casing Ie A eye ono beep herr tap depeh (Los somes a-draw-thra unit minimum, especially on pad-mounte. times re. Condensate dain pan an be the vource equipment. Many aps are impeopediy ferred to of objectionable insalled because dimension “L” was not as “flood: e dors and noxious taken into account in mounting the air back’). In (nWe)et ne” fumesinabuilding. handler high enough to xccommodate a blow: : (Ata milicary air the tap. thru unit i Faninetpressure ase inthe desert, Figure 2 shows the position ofthe an outlet (negative) draw-chru air han- condensate columas when the fan sears, as high a der was located while Figure 3 shows the water levels the falet nara fight line, when enough condensate has accumu will work While the unies lated in the wap to begin draining away. during minimum fesh-air intake was fan operse located well away BLOW-THRUTRAPS sion as ‘nal sea eels from any source of Figure 4 shows the required dimen- long aa Whenan stars contaminated ait, sions of eaps on blow-dhru unis andthe the rest of the floor the tap it fordaw-tra anit jist sarod drain for Sapa ere eee the wrap Condensate dan pan dimensioned. However, one school of was not, and building occu- eee thought holds that itis best o specify pants were sickened by \ theoutletalite lower atleastin,) than the fumes of burned jet fuel eeommendaion theinlee Providing thislinleexa head” inducted chrough the dry —2sn-mmumn acthe trap inlet will assis in draining the trap. Priming the trap solved ppan of residual condensate afer the fan the problem.) Priming water [stopped. To discourage microbial should be applied to the ‘Mazimum sea lvl IS growth, itis best co keep the pan as dry dowastream side of the trap, 8 posible during fan-of periods. and care should be taken to ‘One trap sharod by two or more fan-coll assure adherence to plumbing unite, Fone ofthe fan-coil units sharing codes regarding air gaps for HFA il poesia trap is shutdown, the other) willblow protecting potable-water fneeitn air into or draw air from the inactive sources. Caine} system, depending on whether the units are ofthe draw-thru orblow-shru variety. ORAW-THRU TRAPS AGURE Ap forKow-sthu unin oft For thisreason, each fan-coil unitshould Figure 1 shows the necessary have is own trap. dimensions ofa tap on adraw-thru unit maximum level of condensate that can Dry trap. A and the exist in such taps with the fan off Here ‘common prob- ‘maximum again, the I-in, safety factor is a practical lem in very arid Condensate drain pan level of recommendation for accounting for conden: anne cing pram cc by -Faninitpressure S8€© that situation beyond the designers control (uw) etn can exist (c.g., filter loading, higher installed in such a ductlossessete).In mostsystems,1in.of {eH cooling coils are inactive, such as winter, is evapora- F Faninit pressure trap with water gauge ia signifcant percentage of jon of the water (negative) the fan the casing air pressure. Of course, the in wraps. A liquid off The designer can increase the calculated seal can be main- tained by either sea evel when continuous drip Songereyte 5 mended Figure 5 shows the condensate- sey fie-calarn vels when the fn sar, Aer for intermittent in dra torof Lin, the fan starts, additional condensate trap priming” ue Snnot added to coming fom the pan drains away. Again, Designers uncer- the casing itis important ro take into account the tain whether or pressures total trap depth—dimension “Leo rot evaporation AGURE Xap fordaw-the anit condensate 4 reason- ensure an adequate mounting height for ‘occurs orwho an- beginning torain away able bal- theairhandeCONDENSATE TRAPS priming. Although the plugs Condensate drain pan can be wrench-tight, a hand- \ tight condition usually prevents \ air leakage on the inlet side, and one does not sree wa teste Vein. minimum inspect ie et The fest Send ese di, small animals, and insects out of the trap. ‘Sea level” ‘Traps commonly are con- with fan on structed of ether copper Fan ute prseure of pls pipe. Although (in. WC.) + 1/2 in. Figure 6 shows a draw- {rin} thr tap, recs and plugs can, of course, also be ‘AGURE 5:Fap forMow-thra wni¢én runing and used for traps on blow simple, standard drawings ina designer's CAD repertoire, with fill-in-the-blanke dimensions, wil go along way toward. Hand-tight plug condensate bephoing tain away, thru units. ‘Under the pressure of RECOMMENDATION design deadlines, it often is diff AGURE GRocommended usod toes andplogs. ‘A trap with two tees and plugs, as cule to pay the atention co derail shown in Figure 6, allows easy access for that al projects deserve. In the matter of inspection, cleaning, and, ifnecessary, condensate uaps, however, a couple of [Gd ccor2 » HPA Engineering demonstrating completeness of design and preventing problems.