Simplified piping
Bypass valve and steam trap are integrated to simplified the piping arrangement.
Use of a special tight-sealing ball valve as the bypass valve
A 10 mm ball valve ensure immediate response for blowdown operations. Dust and scale in the strainer are blown to the secondary side when the bypass valve is opened.
Features easy confirmation of whether the valve is open or closed.
Employs a three-point free float trap
The highly durable free float continuously discharges condensate, making it ideal for facilities. The three-point support system ensures a reliable seal even for very small amounts of condensate. The bimetal also automatically discharges air during operation.
Automated blowing improves equipment productivity and saves labor.
Models with built-in electrically or pneumatically operated bypass valves can automate blowing in the early stages of operation or when operating conditions change.
Precision Free Float®: The Best for a Variety of Processes
Continuous condensate discharge
The Free Float® moves up and down in response to the amount of condensate inflow, automatically adjusting the amount of valve opening and continuously discharging condensate. This ensures that no condensate accumulates inside the equipment.
Reduced steam losses
The surface of the liquid inside the trap is maintained above a certain level and condensate is continually discharged through the orifice. Even when there is no condensate flowing into the trap, the precision Free Float® securely seals the orifice closed. This minimizes steam losses during operation.
Ideal for condensate recovery
In Free Float® type steam traps, the forces of the inlet pressure and the back pressure act in opposing directions, so Free Float® traps are able to operate normally even under 90% back pressure. This makes them ideally suited for processes with closed condensate recovery systems. In contrast, disc type traps only have a 50% to 80% allowable back pressure because the pressures act in the same direction.
What is an X-element?
The X-element is comprised of a valve and a diaphragm that transmits the force of a thermoliquid (temperature-sensitive fluid). When surrounded by steam, the valve is closed. When condensate, air or other non-condensable gases are present, the valve is open. It can also discharge high temperature non-condensable gases, something bimetal air vents are unable to do. This is made possible due to the special properties of the thermoliquid.
Thermoliquid, like water, is liquid when kept under a certain pressure and temperature, and expands to become a gas when its temperature rises above a certain point. The temperature at which it becomes a gas is approximately 6°C (22°C for air vents) lower than the temperature at which water becomes steam.
So when it is surrounded by steam, the thermoliquid is a gas and the chamber containing the thermoliquid expands and pushes on the diaphragm. This causes the gap between the valve and the valve opening on the diaphragm to close.
In contrast, when the area around the X-element is at a low temperature (when it is either condensate or air), the thermoliquid is in the liquid phase and the valve is not being pushed closed, so condensate and air are discharged from the gap between the valve and the valve opening.
Under Normal Operation
"Fail Open" Safety Feature
Fail safe features are necessary in quality precision instruments. TLV therefore designed the X-element in such a way that the valve remains in the open position ('fail open' safety feature ) in the event the diaphragm ruptures.
If a steam trap fails, the valve may either remain open (blowing) or it may remain closed (blocked). If the valve remains closed, condensate accumulates in any equipment that cannot be shut down in order to replace the failed trap, and this pooling of condensate impairs the equipment's heating performance.
On the other hand, if the valve remains open, the supply of steam continues uninterrupted and the equipment can continue to be productive. Due to this special design, even if the diaphragm ruptures and becomes technically 'closed' (by remaining in contact with the valve opening due to the flow of steam and condensate), condensate, etc. can still flow through the valve opening via the hole in the center of the valve.
As long as the supply of steam continues, the valve is pushed up and remains fully open.