Condensate rectifier

Abstract

To provide a condensate rectifier with a simpler configuration. [Solution] The steam trap 10 as a condensate rectifier according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is provided in a steam flow path P in a steam piping system S and comprises a nozzle member 20 having a first hole 32 and a second hole 34 that is continuous with the first hole 32 and wider than the first hole 32, and a partition wall 36 separating the inlet 10i and the outlet 10o, to which the nozzle member 20 is detachably attached. In the steam flow path P, the first hole 32 is positioned upstream of the second hole 34 and vertically below the second hole 34.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to condensate rectifiers such as steam traps.

Background Art

[0002] In various facilities such as factories and offices that use steam as a heating source through a heat exchanger, steam traps are used to automatically discharge the drain (the condensate formed by the condensation of steam, i.e., condensate water) generated in the steam-using equipment and the steam transportation piping system between these equipment to the outside of the system. This is to ensure appropriate temperature conditions in the heating machines, dryers, heaters, etc. that use steam in the heat exchanger section, as well as in the steam transportation piping system that connects the boiler and the steam-using equipment. This is to prevent, for example, the occurrence of the steam hammer phenomenon.

[0003] There are various types of steam traps. For example, mechanical steam traps (bucket type and float type), thermostatic steam traps (bimetal type and bellows type), and thermodynamic steam traps (disk type) can be mentioned as steam traps having movable parts. Also, as steam traps that do not particularly have movable parts, there are nozzle-type steam traps represented by the orifice nozzle type, venturi nozzle type, and tunnel structure resistance tube type (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This nozzle-type steam trap is called a fluid engineering steam trap and utilizes the property that the kinematic viscosity of water (liquid water) when passing through a finer passage is lower than that of steam, and water is about 30 times easier to flow than steam.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] Incidentally, conventional nozzle-type steam traps, when installed in a piping system through which drain water flows, have, in order from downstream, a drain inlet, a strainer, a venturi nozzle, a drain reservoir, and an outlet for draining the system outside (outlet), requiring the combination of approximately the same number of parts. Therefore, in order to adequately respond to pressure fluctuations upstream and downstream of the nozzle, adjustments to the diameter and length of the entire piping system were often necessary. In other words, conventional nozzle-type steam traps have a large number of parts, and proper condensate discharge management at the point of use is difficult unless sufficient information such as steam flow rate and pressure fluctuations before and after the steam trap is obtained. Furthermore, even with such information, there were limitations to suppressing steam leakage unless the structure of the steam trap itself or the volume of each part of the steam trap was modified. Thus, there is a need for a new condensate rectifier with a configuration that is less affected by the conditions of the point of use, such as a nozzle-type steam trap.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above problems, and aims to provide a condensate rectifier with a simpler configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is, A condensate rectifier provided in a steam flow path and configured to allow condensate to flow from an inlet to an outlet, A nozzle member having a first hole and a second hole that is continuous with the first hole and is wider than the first hole, A partition wall provided to separate the inlet and the outlet, to which the nozzle member is detachably attached, and Equipped with, In the steam flow path, the first hole is located upstream of the second hole and vertically below the second hole. Condensate rectifier To provide.

[0008] Preferably, the nozzle member is screwed to the partition wall.

[0009] Preferably, if the radius of the first hole is r1, the length of the first hole is L1, the radius of the second hole is r2, and the length of the second hole is L2, then the following relationship should hold. 4r1 ≤ L1 1.5r1 ≤ r2 L1 / 3 ≤ L2 Furthermore, the relationship "L1 ≤ 20r1" may also hold.

[0010] Preferably, at least one of the first hole and the second hole is formed with a recess or protrusion to generate a rotational flow in the fluid passing through it.

[0011] Preferably, at least one of the inner surfaces of the first hole and the second hole is formed of a plastic-based material.

[0012] Preferably, the inner diameter of the first hole is sized to suppress the passage of steam while allowing condensed water to pass through.

[0013] Preferably, the outlet or the downstream portion of the outlet is configured to bend in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the nozzle member.

[0014] Preferably, the fluid outflow initiation portion of the second hole in the nozzle member is positioned vertically above the vertical lowest point of the outlet in the section where the second hole is located.

[0015] Preferably, the fluid outflow initiation portion of the second hole in the nozzle member is positioned vertically above the lowest vertical point of the outlet in the section where the second hole is located, and the following relationship holds true, where r1 is the radius of the first hole, L1 is the length of the first hole, r2 is the radius of the second hole, and L2 is the length of the second hole. 4r1 ≦ L1 1.5r1 ≦ r2 L1 / 3 ≦ L2

Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the above aspect of the present invention, since it has the above configuration, a condensate rectifier having a simpler configuration can be provided compared to a conventional steam trap, and thereby, for example, application to various usage locations can be expected.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a steam piping system in which a steam trap according to a first embodiment of the present invention is arranged. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the steam trap of FIG. 1 and its surroundings. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of a nozzle member in the steam trap of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view of a nipple member in the steam trap of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a front view of a strainer member in the steam trap of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a modification of the steam trap according to the first embodiment, (a) is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle member among them, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of a part of a partition wall of the nipple member. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a steam trap according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing the relationship between a nozzle member and an outlet in the steam trap of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining an experimental method.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the condensate rectifier of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a nozzle-type steam trap 10 as a condensate rectifier according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0019] Figure 1 shows a piping system (hereinafter referred to as the steam piping system) S that partitions a steam flow path (hereinafter referred to as the steam flow path) P and in which a steam trap 10 is located. Figure 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the steam trap 10 and the areas before and after it in the steam piping system S of Figure 1. In Figures 1 and 2, the bottom of the paper is the bottom in the vertical direction (arrow VD in the figures), and the top of the paper is the top in the vertical direction.

[0020] The steam piping system S has four joints 12, 14, 16, and 18. These joints 12, 14, 16, and 18 are each L-shaped joints and are arranged in order from upstream to downstream in the steam flow direction A of the steam flow path P of the steam piping system S. In Figure 1, the connections of these joints 12, 14, 16, and 18 are shown in a simplified manner, and here they are connected by nipples (including nipple members 22, which will be described later). However, the connections of the joints 12, 14, 16, and 18 are not limited to this.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1, the fluid, which may contain steam and condensate, flows in flow direction A. Upon reaching joint 12, the fluid flows upward vertically because joint 12 bends vertically upwards, and then towards joint 14. The fluid then changes course to flow approximately horizontally because joint 14 bends approximately horizontally, and further changes course to flow downward vertically because joint 16 bends vertically downwards, and reaches joint 18. Since joint 18 bends approximately horizontally, the fluid that reaches joint 18 flows approximately horizontally away from joint 12. Therefore, joints 12, 14, 16, and 18 form an approximately inverted U-shape in the steam flow path P of the steam piping system S.

[0022] The steam trap 10 is installed at the connection point between the joint 12 and the joint 14 in the roughly inverted U-shaped section of the steam flow path P of the steam piping system S. The steam trap 10 is installed between the upstream joint 12 and the joint 14 connected to its downstream side, where the fluid flows from the lower vertical side to the upper vertical side. Note that in Figures 1 and 2, the lower side of the paper is the lower vertical side and the upper side of the paper is the upper vertical side, so the downstream end 12d of the joint 12 faces upward in the vertical direction, and the upstream end 14u of the joint 14 faces downward in the vertical direction.

[0023] The steam trap 10 includes a nozzle member 20, a nipple member 22, and a strainer member 24. Figure 3 shows the nozzle member 20, Figure 4 shows the nipple member 22, and Figure 5 shows the strainer member 24.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the nozzle member 20 has a male threaded portion 26 and an expansion portion 28 that is continuous with the male threaded portion 26, and these are arranged in a straight line. Therefore, the axis 20A of the nozzle member 20 is the axis of the male threaded portion 26 and the axis of the expansion portion 28. The nozzle member 20 has nozzle holes 30 that open at both ends of the nozzle member 20 along its axis 20A. The nozzle hole 30 has a first hole portion 32 and a second hole portion 34 that is wider than the first hole portion 32. These first hole portion 32 and second hole portion 34 are directly continuous. In other words, the axis 20A of the nozzle member 20 is the axis of both the first hole 32 and the second hole 34. In the direction of axis 20A, the first hole 32 opens at one end of the nozzle member 20 on the side of the male threaded portion 26, extends beyond the entire length of the male threaded portion 26 to the middle of the expansion portion 28, and the second hole 34 opens at the other end of the nozzle member 20 on the side of the expansion portion 28, extends to the middle of the expansion portion and merges with the first hole 32. The design of the first hole 32 and the second hole 34 along this axis 20A is based on the viewpoint of airflow straightening. The first hole 32 does not have a further enlarged diameter portion and opens at the attachment portion 37 to the partition wall 36 of the nozzle member 20, which will be described later.

[0025] The inner diameter of the first hole 32 of the nozzle member 20 is sized to suppress the passage of steam and allow the passage of drain, that is, liquid water, in other words, condensed water. In order to ensure the flow of condensed water in the nozzle hole 30 of the nozzle member 20 while suppressing steam leakage from the upstream side to the downstream side of the nozzle member 20 through the nozzle hole 30, it is desirable that the following relationships from equations (1) to (3) hold true, given that the radius of the first hole 32 is r1, the length of the first hole 32 is L1, the radius of the second hole 34 is r2, and the length of the second hole 34 is L2. 4r1 ≤ L1 (1) 1.5r1 ≤ r2 (2) L1 / 3 ≤ L2 (3) Regarding the first hole 32, the length L1 is preferably, but not limited to, satisfying the relationship "L1 ≤ 20r1" with respect to the radius r1.

[0026] The inner surface 20i that demarcates the nozzle hole 30 of the nozzle member 20 is made of a plastic-based material. Here, the nozzle member 20 is made of metal, and the nozzle hole 30 made of the plastic-based material is formed by coating it with the plastic-based material. However, the entire nozzle member 20 may also be made of the plastic-based material. The inner surface 20i made of the plastic-based material that demarcates the nozzle hole 30 may be formed by various coating techniques or thin-film formation techniques, or it may be formed by fitting the plastic-based material that demarcates the nozzle hole 30 onto the nozzle member 20. For example, when an amine-based fabrication agent (oil-based) is used to protect the steam piping system S itself, it may be contained in the fluid flowing through the steam passage P. In such cases, forming the nozzle hole 30 with a plastic-based material can improve the fluid flowability.

[0027] The nipple member 22 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 4. The nipple member 22 is a joint member that connects the joint 12 and the joint 14. The nipple member 22 is a tubular threaded member having an axis 22A extending in its longitudinal direction, and has a first male threaded portion 22b that is screwed into the female thread 12a of the downstream end 12d of the joint 12, and a second male threaded portion 22c that is screwed into the female thread 14a of the upstream end 14u of the joint 14. The nipple member 22 has a partition wall 36 inside it that is substantially perpendicular to the axis 22A. The partition wall 36 is provided between the first male threaded portion 22b and the second male threaded portion 22c in the direction of the axis 22A. A female threaded hole 38 is formed in the partition wall 36. The female threaded hole 38 extends along the axis 22A and is configured so that the male threaded portion 26 of the nozzle member 20 can be screwed into it. The partition wall 36 divides the nipple member 22 into a first recess 22s1 opening at one end in the axial direction 22A on the side of the first male thread portion 22b, and a second recess 22s2 opening at the other end in the axial direction 22A on the side of the second male thread portion 22c. These recesses 22s1 and 22s2 are connected by a female threaded hole 38. The nozzle member 20 is inserted into the second recess 22s2 and can be detachably screwed into the female threaded hole 38 of the partition wall 36 of the nipple member 22 using its male thread portion 26. As shown in Figure 2, when the nozzle member 20 is attached to the nipple member 22, the nozzle member 20 fits completely inside the nipple member 22. In the steam trap 10, the open end of the first recess 22s1 defines the inlet 10i for a fluid such as steam, and the open end of the second recess 22s2 defines the outlet (or discharge port) 10o for a fluid. In other words, the nipple member 22 forms the inlet 10i and outlet 10o of the steam trap 10. Furthermore, a female threaded portion 44 is formed on the inner surface of the first recess 22s1, particularly on its cylindrical inner surface.

[0028] The strainer member 24 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 5. The strainer member 24 is configured to have a net 40. The strainer member 24 has a frame portion 42, and the net 40 is stretched over the frame portion 42. As shown in Figure 2, the frame portion 42 of the strainer member 24 is configured to fit precisely into the first recess 22s1 of the nipple member 22. A cylindrical male threaded member 46 is used to fix the strainer member 24 to the nipple member 22, and is screwed into the aforementioned female threaded portion 44 formed on the inner surface of the nipple member 22.

[0029] The installation of the steam trap 10 will be explained based on Figures 2 to 5.

[0030] First, the nozzle member 20 and the strainer member 24 are attached to the nipple member 22. The nozzle member 20 is attached to the nipple member 22 by screwing the male threaded portion 26 of the nozzle member 20 into the female threaded hole 38 of the partition wall 36 of the nipple member 22. With the nozzle member 20 attached to the nipple member 22 in this way, the first recess 22s1 of the nipple member 22 is connected to the second recess 22s2 only through the nozzle hole 30 of the nozzle member 20, that is, the first hole portion 32 and the second hole portion 34. The strainer member 24 is then inserted into the nipple member 22 on the female threaded portion 44 side, passing through the female threaded portion 44 and making contact with the partition wall 36. Then, the cylindrical male threaded member 46 is screwed into the female threaded portion 44, so that it is sandwiched between the partition wall 36 and the cylindrical male threaded member 46. As a result, the fluid that enters the first recess 22s1 cannot reach the first hole 32 of the nozzle hole 30 without passing through the net 40 of the strainer member 24. The nipple member 22, to which the nozzle member 20 and the strainer member 24 are attached, is connected to the joint 12 and the joint 14 by screwing. At this time, the steam trap 10 is installed such that the first hole 32 is positioned upstream of the second hole 34 and vertically below the second hole 34.

[0031] In the steam trap 10 thus provided, the nipple member 22 forms the outlet 10o of the steam trap 10, which is positioned vertically above the second hole 34 in the steam flow path P (see Figure 2).

[0032] Furthermore, since the joint 14 immediately downstream of the steam trap 10 is an L-shaped joint, the downstream portion of the outlet 10o is configured to bend in a direction intersecting the axis 20A of the nozzle member 20. However, the outlet 10o itself may be bent in a direction intersecting the axis 20A of the nozzle member 20. Alternatively, a lateral hole extending in a direction intersecting the axis 20A of the nozzle member 20 may be provided in the second hole 34 of the nozzle member 20, and this lateral hole may serve as the outlet. Thus, the outlet 10o is not limited to being positioned vertically above the second hole 34, but may be positioned at approximately the same vertical position as the second hole 34 or vertically below the second hole 34. In these cases, the outlet 10o may extend in a direction intersecting the axis 20A of the nozzle member 20, for example, at a right angle.

[0033] The following describes the effects of the steam trap 10 having the above configuration and being provided as described above.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a steam trap 10, configured to allow drain, or condensed water, to flow from an inlet 10i to an outlet 10o, is installed in a steam flow path P within a steam piping system S. The steam trap 10 comprises a nozzle member 20 having a first hole 32 and a second hole 34 that is continuous with the first hole 32 and wider than the first hole 32, and a partition wall 36 provided to separate the inlet 10i and the outlet 10o. When the nozzle member is attached to the partition wall 36, the inlet 10i and the outlet 10o communicate with each other through the first hole 32 and the second hole 34. In the steam flow path P, the first hole 32 is located upstream of the second hole 34 and vertically below the second hole 34. Therefore, since steam has a greater difficulty passing through the first hole 32 than condensate, condensate can pass through the first hole 32 more favorably, thus allowing for more favorable accumulation of condensate in the second hole 34, and thereby effectively suppressing steam discharge. Furthermore, this steam trap 10 is composed of the nozzle member 20 and the partition wall 36 with the above configuration, and has an extremely simple structure. Therefore, the steam trap 10 is less susceptible to the conditions of the place of use compared to conventional steam traps.

[0035] Furthermore, since the nozzle member is detachably attached to the partition wall 36, multiple types of nozzle members 20 can be prepared in advance, and the appropriate nozzle member 20 can be selected and attached according to the application. Examples of multiple types of nozzle members 20 include nozzle members 20 with different capacities of the second hole portion 34.

[0036] Furthermore, in the steam trap 10, the inner diameter of the first hole is sized to suppress the passage of steam while allowing drain, or condensed water, to pass through. Therefore, the passage of steam through the first hole 32 can be more effectively suppressed, and the drain can be more effectively discharged.

[0037] Furthermore, the inner surface 20i that demarcates the nozzle hole 30, including the first hole 32 and the second hole 34, is made of a plastic-based material. Therefore, the flow of fluid, such as drain, in the nozzle hole 30 can be made smoother. In this example, the entire inner surface 20i of the nozzle hole 30 is made of a plastic material, but the present invention is not limited to this. At least one of the inner surface of the first hole 32 and the inner surface of the second hole 34 may be made of a plastic-based material.

[0038] Furthermore, in order to more favorably generate fluid flow, such as drain flow, in the nozzle hole 30 including the first hole 32 and the second hole 34, a recess or protrusion may be formed in at least one of the first hole 32 and the second hole 34 to generate a rotational flow in the fluid passing through it. For example, the recess or protrusion may be formed in a helical shape. As a result, the fluid, such as drain, flows as if being pressed against the helical recess or protrusion, and the flow can be more favorably regulated and generated smoothly.

[0039] In the steam trap 10 described above, a female screw hole 38 is provided in the partition wall 36, and the male screw portion 26 of the nozzle member 20 is screwed into it, thereby screwing the nozzle member 20 to the partition wall 36. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0040] Figure 6 shows a modified example of a steam trap, including the nozzle member 120 (Figure 6(a)) and the partition wall 136 portion of the nipple member (Figure 6(b)). The nozzle member 120 has a first hole 32 and a second hole 34, similar to the nozzle member 20, and further has a female threaded hole 122 with a larger diameter than the first hole 32, which is continuous with the first hole 32. The partition wall 136 is provided with a male threaded projection, i.e., a male threaded portion 138. A hole 140 is formed in this male threaded portion 138, and this hole 140 penetrates the partition wall 136. The nozzle member 120 may be attached to the partition wall 136 by screwing the male threaded portion 138 of the partition wall 136 into the female threaded portion 122 of the nozzle member 120.

[0041] Next, the nozzle-type steam trap 210 as a condensate rectifier according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Below, the differences between the steam trap 210 according to the second embodiment and the steam trap 10 according to the first embodiment will be mainly described. The steam trap 210 also employs the nozzle member 20 described above and is used to have the same positional relationship between the first hole 32 and the second hole 34 as described in the first embodiment. However, the steam trap 210 can also be modified or changed in the same way as the steam trap 10, for example, as described with reference to Figure 6.

[0042] The steam trap 210 includes a housing 212 to which the nozzle member 20 is attached. The housing 212 is a substantially cylindrical member and has a linearly extending axis 212A. At both ends of the housing 212 along the axis 212A, female threaded holes (hereinafter referred to as end threaded holes) 212B and 212C are formed, opening to the end faces of the corresponding ends. The end threaded holes 212B and 212C each define a recess with the axis 212A as the central axis. One end threaded hole 212B is configured to be screwed with upstream piping (not shown) of the steam piping system S, and the other end threaded hole 212C is configured to be screwed with downstream piping (not shown) of the steam piping system S. Thus, the piping mounting structure in the housing 212 employs end threaded holes 212B and 212C, i.e., female threads, but is not limited to this, and various structures can be used, for example, it may be configured with male threads or flanges. Although the end threaded holes 212B and 212C have the same shape and dimensions, they may differ depending on the piping being connected.

[0043] In the direction of axis 212A, between the end screw holes 212B and 212C, female screw holes (hereinafter referred to as radial screw holes) 212D and 212E are formed, extending in a direction perpendicular to axis 212A and facing each other across the partition wall 214. Therefore, radial screw holes 212D and 212E each open into the circumferential surface 212F of the housing 212. Although radial screw holes 212D and 212E have the same shape and dimensions, at least one of them may be different.

[0044] The partition wall 214 is a flat plate-shaped portion extending along the axis 212A. A female screw hole (hereinafter referred to as the nozzle screw hole) 216 is formed approximately in the center of the partition wall 214. The axis 216A of the nozzle screw hole 216 is perpendicular to the axis 212A of the housing 212, but the present invention does not rule out the possibility of inclination. The radial screw holes 212D and 212E communicate with each other via the nozzle screw hole 216.

[0045] The nozzle screw hole 216 and the radial screw holes 212D and 212E are formed such that the axis 216A of the nozzle screw hole 216 is the axis of the radial screw holes 212D and 212E, respectively. Furthermore, the radial screw holes 212D and 212E, the partition wall 214, and the nozzle screw hole 216 are formed such that the axis 216A of the nozzle screw hole 216 directly intersects the axis 212A of the housing 212.

[0046] The two through holes 218 and 220 are formed to connect their threaded holes 212B, 212C, 212D, and 212E to each other. One through hole (hereinafter referred to as the upstream through hole) 218 ​​is formed to connect the end threaded hole 212B to the radial threaded hole 212D. The other through hole (hereinafter referred to as the downstream through hole) 220 is formed to connect the end threaded hole 212C to the radial threaded hole 212E.

[0047] The upstream through-hole 218 extends approximately parallel to the axis 212A, but is formed at a position offset from the axis 212A, particularly at a position offset to the extent that it does not interfere with the partition wall 214. Similarly, the downstream through-hole 220 extends approximately parallel to the axis 212A, but is formed at a position offset from the axis 212A, particularly at a position offset to the extent that it does not interfere with the partition wall 214. Here, the upstream through-hole 218 and the downstream through-hole 220 are formed in a symmetrical relationship with respect to the partition wall 214.

[0048] As shown in Figure 7, the steam trap 210 is positioned in the steam piping system S such that the axis 216A of the nozzle threaded hole 216 extends approximately in the vertical direction VD, and the radial threaded hole 212E is located vertically above the radial threaded hole 212D. In this case, the upstream through-hole 218 is located vertically below the partition wall 214, and the downstream through-hole 220 is located vertically above the partition wall 214. Therefore, if the nozzle member 20 is not attached to the partition wall 214, the fluid flowing from the upstream side can enter the housing 212 through the end threaded hole 212B, enter the radial threaded hole 212D via the upstream through-hole 218, enter the radial threaded hole 212E via the nozzle threaded hole 216 vertically above the radial threaded hole 212D, and flow out to the end threaded hole 212C via the downstream through-hole 220.

[0049] The nozzle member 20 is screwed into and attached to the nozzle screw hole 216 of the partition wall 214. As a result, the male threaded portion 26 of the nozzle member 20 is screwed into the nozzle screw hole 216, and the expansion portion 28 continuous with the male threaded portion 26 can be located in the radial screw hole 212E. In the steam trap 210 shown in Figure 7, the first hole 32 of the nozzle member 20 is located upstream of the second hole 34 and vertically below the second hole 34.

[0050] The openings of the radial threaded holes 212D and 212E are closed by plug members 222. The plug member 222 has an axis 222A and is configured to have a male threaded portion 222b that is screwed into the radial threaded holes 212D and 212E, and a gripping portion 222c that is continuous with the male threaded portion 222b. In the plug member 222, the axis 222A is the axis of the male threaded portion 222b and the axis of the gripping portion 222c.

[0051] In the steam trap 210, the radial threaded hole 212D is located upstream of the radial threaded hole 212E and vertically downward. In this radial threaded hole 212D, a strainer member 224 is positioned between the partition wall 214 and the plug member 222. Here, the strainer member 224 is configured as a net itself, but it may have the same configuration as the strainer member 24.

[0052] The strainer member 224 is positioned to directly face the first hole 32 of the nozzle hole 30 of the nozzle member 20, which is attached to the nozzle screw hole 216. An elastic spring member 226 is positioned between the strainer member 224 and the plug member 222. The spring member 226 comes into contact with the plug member 222 and receives a pressing force when the radial screw hole 212D is closed by the plug member 222. As a result, the spring member 226 undergoes compressive elastic deformation, pressing the strainer member 224 against the partition wall 214, thereby covering the first hole 32 of the nozzle hole 30 of the nozzle member 20 attached to the nozzle screw hole 216. Consequently, the fluid that reaches the radial screw hole 212D passes through the strainer member 224 to the first hole 32.

[0053] In the steam trap 210 having the above configuration, the section where the first hole 32 in the nozzle member 20 is located, i.e., the open section, is substantially a radially threaded hole 212D, and the inlet 210i to it becomes an upstream through-hole 218. The section where the second hole 34 in the nozzle member 20 is located, i.e., the open section, is a radially threaded hole 212E, and the outlet 210o from there becomes a downstream through-hole 220. This steam trap 210 is characterized in that the fluid outflow initiation section 34s of the second hole 34 in the nozzle member 20 is located vertically above the lowest vertical part of the downstream through-hole 220, which is the outlet 210o of the radially threaded hole 212E where the second hole 34 is located.

[0054] Here, we refer to Figure 8, which shows the nozzle member 20 and the downstream through-hole 220 extracted from the steam trap 210 in Figure 7. The fluid outflow initiation portion 34s of the second hole 34 in the nozzle member 20 refers to the part in the nozzle member 20 where the fluid that has flowed from the first hole 32 to the second hole 34 in the nozzle hole 30 begins to flow out of the second hole 34. Specifically, here the fluid outflow initiation portion 34s is the end face 20f of the nozzle member 20 on the second hole 34 side, and its position in the vertical direction VD corresponds to line VD1 in Figure 8.

[0055] On the other hand, the outlet 210o of the section where the second hole 34 is located, that is, the lowest vertical part of the downstream through-hole 220, refers to the lowest vertical part of the region in the downstream through-hole 220 where fluid can flow, and its position in the vertical direction VD corresponds to line VD2 in Figure 8. As is clear from Figure 8, in the vertical direction VD, line VD1 is located above line VD2.

[0056] Therefore, the fluid that passes through the nozzle hole 30 of the nozzle member 20 from the first hole 32 to the second hole 34 and flows out from the second hole 34 does not accumulate vertically above the second hole 34, but flows out from the downstream through-hole 220, which is the outlet 210o. In other words, the amount of fluid that accumulates in the first hole 32 to seal it is limited to the volume of the second hole 34. This makes it possible to further enhance the flow straightening effect when the fluid passes through the nozzle hole 30.

[0057] The housing 212 of the steam trap 210 is manufactured by machining a roughly cylindrical member. However, the housing 212 may also be manufactured by combining multiple members.

[0058] (Example of experiment) Here, the relationship between the dimensions of the first hole 32 (radius: r1, length: L1) and the dimensions of the second hole 34 (radius: r2, length: L2) in the nozzle hole 30 of the nozzle member 20 was evaluated experimentally. The results are explained based on Figure 9 and Table 1.

[0059] Figure 9 schematically shows the evaluation device 300. In this experiment, a pipe 304 with a closed end was connected to a pump 302 with variable water pressure (flow rate), and an experimental nozzle N was attached in the middle of the pipe 304. The discharge water flow WF from the experimental nozzle N was observed and evaluated. Of the experimental nozzles N, the comparison nozzle NC was a single-stage nozzle having only the nozzle hole corresponding to the first hole portion 32 described above. Of the experimental nozzles N, the nozzle PN in this case was a two-stage nozzle having the first hole portion 32 and the second hole portion 34, and was manufactured in various dimensions.

[0060] Table 1 shows the dimensions of nozzles PN for nozzle numbers 1 to 28, the degree of satisfaction of each of the above equations (1) to (3), and the evaluation results. For the degree of satisfaction of equations (1) to (3), "○" indicates satisfaction and "×" indicates non-satisfaction. In Table 1, nozzles PN that showed less spread and turbulence of the discharged water flow WF than the comparative nozzle NC were evaluated as having a superior rectification effect and were evaluated as "○". In Table 1, nozzles PN that showed approximately the same degree of spread and turbulence of the discharged water flow WF as the comparative nozzle NC were evaluated as "△", and nozzles PN that showed greater spread and turbulence of the discharged water flow WF than the comparative nozzle NC were evaluated as "×".

[0061] As shown in Table 1, nozzles for which all relationships from equation (1) to equation (3) above hold were evaluated as "○" or "△".

[0062] [Table 1]

[0063] Conventional technology makes it difficult to redesign a steam trap to accommodate a clear increase in steam volume or a change in steam volume. On the other hand, in conventional nozzle-type steam traps, in order to avoid situations where condensate accumulates but is not discharged, it is unavoidable to select a nozzle with an appropriate diameter that matches the maximum amount of condensate generated at the trap installation location. In other words, in conventional nozzle-type steam traps, the nozzle diameter is unnecessarily large for most of the time when the amount of condensate generated is less than the maximum, and some are used in a state that should be considered as partial steam leakage. During times when the amount of condensate generated is less than the maximum, some steam may leak from the nozzle tip, but if there is turbulence in the flow at the drain outlet, it becomes necessary to further increase the nozzle diameter for discharge, and the amount of steam leakage increases.

[0064] If steam leakage during drain discharge, which is significantly below the maximum drain volume, cannot be kept to a minimum, the expected steam leakage reduction effect of a nozzle-type steam trap cannot be achieved. Even with steam-mixed drain, if the fluid can be straightened without causing turbulence, the nozzle diameter can be kept small.

[0065] As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the nozzle member 20 provided in the partition walls 36 and 214 has the first hole 32 and the second hole 34. If the radius of the first hole 32 is r1, the length of the first hole 32 is L1, the radius of the second hole 34 is r2, and the length of the second hole 34 is L2, then it is desirable that the dimensional relationships in equations (1) to (3) above hold true. The experimental results in Table 1 suggest that such a nozzle structure and dimensional relationships according to the present invention are very effective in enhancing the flow straightening effect, and therefore make it possible to enhance the leakage steam reduction effect expected of a nozzle-type steam trap.

[0066] Although embodiments and their modifications have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. Various substitutions and modifications are possible as long as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims of this application.

[0067] Furthermore, the second hole 34 of the nozzle member may be a hole into which a tool such as a hex wrench can engage. This makes it possible to attach or detach the nozzle member to the partition wall more conveniently.

[0068] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, one steam trap 10, 210 is provided in the steam piping system S, but multiple steam traps 10, 210 may be provided in series with a certain interval between them. In this case, the diameter of the first hole 32 may be made larger for the steam traps 10, 210 on the upstream side. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0069] 10,210 Steam Trap 20 Nozzle component 22 Nipple component 24 Strainer component 30 nozzle holes 32 1st hole 34 2nd hole 36 Bulkhead 212 Housing 212B, 212C Female threaded holes (end threaded holes) 212D, 212E Female threaded holes (radial threaded holes) 214 Bulkhead 216 Female threaded hole (nozzle threaded hole) 218, 220 through holes

Claims

1. A condensate rectifier provided in a steam flow path and configured to allow condensate to flow from an inlet to an outlet, A nozzle member having a first hole and a second hole that is continuous with the first hole and is wider than the first hole, A partition wall provided to separate the inlet and the outlet, to which the nozzle member is detachably attached, and Equipped with, In the steam flow path, the first hole is located upstream of the second hole and vertically below the second hole. Condensed water rectifier.

2. The fluid outflow initiation portion of the second hole in the nozzle member is positioned vertically above the lowest vertical point of the outlet in the section where the second hole is located. The condensate rectifier according to claim 1.

3. If the radius of the first hole is r1, the length of the first hole is L1, the radius of the second hole is r2, and the length of the second hole is L2, then the following relationship holds: 4r1 ≤ L1 1.5r1 ≤ r2 L1 / 3 ≤ L2 A condensate rectifier according to claim 1 or 2.

Images