Venturi Nozzle Systems - HydroProducts Company

1 Venturi Nozzle SystemsWhat is a Steam Trap? Power Magazine, in a May 1984 Special Report "Steam Traps defines a steam trap by its three functions. By these functions, a steam trap is a device to: Allow condensate resulting from yield of latent heat in steam to flow from the steam system to a system at lower pressure or to atmosphere. Vent air and other gases from the steam system , to maintain steam temperature and reduce corrosion. Prevent escape of the steam, forcing it to give up its latent also state "the steam trap is small, inexpensive, and short-lived' in comparison with the major components of the steam-plant equipment.

2 " Venturi Nozzle Systems meet the above definition for a steam trap however Nozzle devices differ from the conventional mechanical steam trap technology in that they are small, inexpensive, and long-lived. Their useful lives will, in most instances, meet and exceed the usefu1lives of the equipment they are installed on. Limited Useful Life - Mechanical Steam Traps Steam traps work within very harsh environments. They are subject to mechanical shock, corrosive compounds, flashing and/or cavitating condensate, thermal cycling and both solid and liquid contaminants.

3 Certain steam trap designs are better suited for different conditions as Table 1 indicates. Failure over time of a mechanism is inevitable. Before a mechanical steam trap fails, it will usually begin to leak slightly at the valve/orifice contact area. The Power Magazine Special Report states "All traps loose some energy, if only through radiation and convection from the body. Leakage through an imperfectly made or slightly wire drawn seat/plug interface and slight delay in closing on live steam are two other sources of small loss. Bleeding of steam in a steam/air mixture is another minor and unavoidable loss.

4 Any battle-scarred steam-trapping veteran would gladly settle for these losses - if the trap were proof against large-scale convert failure. Unfortunately, losses through internal leaks constantly increase, eventually becoming intolerable, if unnoticed. "The Power Magazine Special Report further states "Because nearly all traps have a valve, the problems of valves in hot-water service are important for trap life. Flashing, cavitation, and wire drawing are some reasons for shortness of trap life. Even trap manufacturers rarely claim over five years, and disillusioned users often complain of less than a year.

5 " The most measurable result of steam trap failures is higher than necessary fuel consumption. The fuel used to generate steam which blows through failed-open steam traps is generally wasted. The boiler must fire longer and on more frequent intervals to maintain pressure within the steam system . Conversion to the Venturi Nozzle system generally reduces fuel consumption from 5% to 30%. Condensate receiver tank pumps will no longer fail prematurely due to high condensate temperatures. The damaging effects of water hammer are eliminated from the steam system .

6 Using a best case scenario of five year useful life for a population of 200 mechanical steam traps, we infer that 200 traps/5 years, or 40 traps/ year, will fail. Given that most mechanical steam traps will fail in the open position, potential steam losses are quite high. Table 2 shows conservative annual costs of steam losses through various orifice sizes at 10 PSIG and 100 PSIG. Such losses justify investment in a steam trapping device which eliminates the steam trap failure/ replacement cycle. The Venturi Nozzle system replaces the complex mechanical trap group with a simple continuous controlled bleed-off of condensate.

7 The secret to the Venturi Nozzle system is an understanding of the phase of change between steam and condensate. The coupling of a simple device with a thorough understanding of a complex subject produces the most efficient, reliable and long-lived steam trapping technology available. What is the Venturi Nozzle system ? The Nozzle system is a continuous flow Venturi Nozzle steam trapping device. The Venturi Nozzle system has no moving parts to wear out and fail open, resulting in blow through live steam, or to fail closed, causing flooded or air- locked heating equipment The Nozzle system employs continuous-flow Venturi Nozzle technology to completely remove condensate as it forms.

8 Each Nozzle is sized such that the condensate passing through the throat of the Nozzle effectively " chokes " the flow of live steam from the condensate return system . The Venturi Nozzle system is a four part solution to tile steam trap failure/replacement cycle. The four parts include: Stainless Steel Continuous-Flow Venturi Nozzle Y -Strainer with SS Wire Mesh Basket Blow-Down Valve for Y-Strainer Applications Engineering Expertise HydroProducts Company LLC Engineering Services 7185 Dennis Circle C-204 Naples, Florida 34104 (239) 455-8351 Fax (239) 455-3627 HydroProducts Company LLC Business Development 690 SW 1st Court Suite 2124 Miami, Florida 33130 (305) 968-1523 Fax (305)

9 418-7587 Conversion to the Venturi Nozzle system results in a most efficient steam system with the added benefit of greatly reduced maintenance requirements normally required for such an efficient system . Water hammer problems are eliminated by removing the causes, live steam blowing through failed-open steam traps and condensate carried along in steam lines past failed-closed steam traps. The formation of carbonic acid in steam and condensate lines and its resulting corrosive damage are greatly reduced by continuously and completely removing condensate from the steam system without allowing it to sub-cool.

10 Damage to condensate receiver pumps caused by high condensate temperatures is also eliminated, thereby greatly increasing their useful lives. Overview of Two-Phase FlowThe Venturi Nozzle system is the combination of a long understood device, the Venturi Nozzle , and the knowledge of physics, thermodynamics and two-phase flow. We do not perform magic nor do we boast of new scientific discoveries. We simply apply proven laws of science to the separation of two of the phases of water within a steam system . These two phases are steam, a compressible gas, and condensate, a non-compressible liquid.