Steam trap

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steam trap installed on a condensate recovery pipe that recovers condensate generated as high-temperature, high-pressure steam exchanges heat in a heat exchanger, and which removes condensate to maintain efficient heat transfer of various equipment, thereby fundamentally resolving the phenomenon of parts corrosion through structural improvements. To this end, the present invention comprises: a metal body (10) having an internal space (11) and a condensate inlet pipe (12) formed on one side; a cover member (20) that closes the opening of the body (10) and is equipped with a condensate discharge pipe (25) and a condensate closing sheet (24) at the center of one side; It includes a float (30) that moves up and down according to the amount of condensate within the space (11) of the body (10) and selectively opens and closes the condensate inlet pipe (12) or the condensate discharge pipe (25); the condensate inlet pipe (12) is provided with a backflow prevention sheet (13) that extends into the interior of the space (11) and is closed by the float (30) when overpressure occurs; the cover member (20) includes a flange portion (22) formed to maintain an annular gap (21) between the inner surface of the body (10); and the flange portion (22) has a plurality of discharge holes (23) formed to discharge steam or condensate for pressure control within the space (11), so that when overpressure occurs, the float (30) is in close contact with the backflow prevention sheet (13) to close the condensate inlet pipe (12), and when the condensate level drops, the float (30) is in close contact with the condensate closing sheet (24) to discharge the condensate It is characterized by being organically interconnected to close the discharge pipe (25).

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a steam trap installed on a condensate recovery pipe that recovers condensate generated as high-temperature, high-pressure steam exchanges heat in a heat exchanger, in order to remove condensate in order to maintain efficient heat transfer of various equipment. More specifically, the invention relates to a steam trap that can fundamentally eliminate the phenomenon of component corrosion through structural improvements. Background Technology

[0003] Generally, high-temperature, high-pressure steam obtained by heating water is widely used in various fields, including indoor heating as well as in laundries, sewing factories, waste incinerators, power generation facilities, and nuclear power; this steam is typically produced by steam boilers.

[0004] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of the conventional device, Patent No. 613397, in which a steam supply pipe (3) is installed at the top of a steam boiler (1), and a heat exchanger (4) is connected to the end of the steam supply pipe (3). A condensate recovery pipe (5) is connected to the other end of the heat exchanger to recover the condensate generated as steam (22) undergoes heat exchange in the heat exchanger. At this time, a steam trap (6) is installed on the condensate recovery pipe to discharge the condensate generated in the heat exchanger (4) to the outside.

[0005] A condensate collection tank (8) equipped with a float switch (7) is connected to the end of the condensate collection pipe (5), and a condensate recovery pump (12) is installed on a connecting pipe (9) connected to one side of the condensate collection tank. When the float switch (7) detects that the water level in the condensate collection tank (8) is above a set water level, the pump operates by driving a motor (10) to pump the condensate in the condensate collection tank (8) toward the supplementary water tank (11). A check valve (14) is installed on the connecting pipe (9) to prevent the condensate (13) in the condensate collection tank (11) from flowing back toward the condensate collection tank (8).

[0006] Additionally, on one side of the steam boiler (1), a supplementary water tank (11) is installed without a difference in water level to supply condensate (13) recovered through a connecting pipe (9) into the interior of the steam boiler (1), and on one side of the steam boiler (1), an automatic water level detection sensor (15) is installed to detect the water level of the condensate (13) located inside the steam boiler.

[0007] A compressed air supply pipe (16) is connected to the upper part of a supplementary water tank (11) installed on one side of the steam boiler (1) without a difference in water level with the steam boiler (1), and a compressor (19) is installed at the other end of the compressed air supply pipe to generate compressed air (18) by driving an automatic pressure control switch (17) installed in the supplementary water tank (11) when it detects that the pressure is below the set pressure.

[0008] Additionally, a spare valve (21) is further provided on the condensate supply pipe (20) that supplies the condensate (13) in the supplementary water tank (11) into the interior of the steam boiler (1) to supply the condensate in the supplementary water tank (11) to another steam boiler (not shown).

[0009] As described above, the steam trap (6), which is installed on the condensate recovery pipe (5) and discharges the condensate generated in the heat exchanger (4) to the outside, is broadly classified into mechanical, temperature-controlled, and thermodynamic types according to its operating principle.

[0010] The aforementioned mechanical steam trap is an important device that effectively discharges condensate and non-condensable gases in a steam system while preventing steam leakage, and plays an essential role in ensuring optimal performance in steam-using facilities and minimizing energy loss.

[0011] These mechanical steam traps are broadly classified into buoyancy-type steam traps and meniscus-type steam traps based on their operating principles.

[0012] The above-mentioned buoyancy-type steam trap operates by utilizing the change in buoyancy of a floating body, namely a ball or cup, installed inside the trap. When the ball is submerged by condensation, the steam trap opens, and when steam is generated, the ball rises and the steam trap closes.

[0013] In addition, meniscus steam traps or constant return traps operate based on the temperature difference between steam and condensate; in a bimetal trap, when steam enters the trap, the bimetal strip bends due to the temperature rise, closing the valve, and when condensate enters and the temperature drops, the bimetal strip returns to its original position, opening the valve to discharge the condensate.

[0015] (Prior Art Literature)

[0016] (Patent Document 0001) Republic of Korea Published Utility Model Publication 20-1998-024986 (Published July 25, 1998)

[0017] (Patent Document 0002) Republic of Korea Published Utility Model Publication 20-1999-0024368 (Published July 5, 1999)

[0018] (Patent Document 0003) Republic of Korea Registered Patent Publication 10-0221493 (Published Sep. 15, 1999)

[0019] (Patent Document 0004) Republic of Korea Registered Patent Publication No. 10-0613397 (Published Aug. 17, 2006) The problem to be solved

[0021] However, these conventional steam traps had several problems, such as the following.

[0022] First, as the steam trap (6) is manufactured using metals (cast iron and stainless steel) with different coefficients of expansion, a gap is created between the body (6a) and the float (6b) which are formed by casting with high-temperature steam. When the operating pressure is higher than the set pressure, the gap widens drastically when high-temperature steam passes through, resulting in a fatal defect where the steam trap (6) is damaged.

[0023] Second, as the water purification agent is added to the water, the expensive steam trap (6), which costs about 1 million won or more, corrodes easily, so there was a disadvantage that its lifespan was short, about 3 to 5 years.

[0024] Third, the operation of the steam boiler had to be temporarily suspended due to the replacement of the steam trap (6) caused by frequent breakdowns.

[0025] The present invention has been devised to solve such conventional problems, and its purpose is to fundamentally eliminate the phenomenon of parts corroding or breaking even after repeated long-term use by improving the structure of a steam trap installed in a condensate recovery pipe to discharge condensate to the outside.

[0026] Another objective of the present invention is to prevent the phenomenon of condensate flowing back into the heat exchanger by installing a float inside the body that rises or falls due to condensate, closing the condensate outlet when the amount of incoming condensate is below a set level, and closing the condensate inlet when a backflow occurs inside the body. means of solving the problem

[0028] According to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above objective, a steam trap is provided comprising: a body made of metal material having a space formed inside and a condensate inlet pipe formed on one side; a cover member that closes the opening of the body and is equipped with a condensate discharge pipe and a condensate closing sheet at the center of one side; and a float that moves up and down according to the amount of condensate within the space of the body and selectively opens or closes the condensate inlet pipe or the condensate discharge pipe; wherein the condensate inlet pipe is provided with a backflow prevention sheet that extends into the space and is closed by the float when overpressure occurs, and the cover member includes a flange portion formed to maintain an annular gap between the inner surface of the body, and the flange portion has a plurality of discharge holes formed to discharge steam or condensate to regulate pressure within the space, so that when overpressure occurs, the float is in close contact with the backflow prevention sheet to close the condensate inlet pipe, and when the condensate level decreases, the float is in close contact with the condensate closing sheet to close the condensate discharge pipe, and is organically interconnected. Effects of the invention

[0030] The present invention has several advantages over the prior art, as follows.

[0031] First, even if the pressure of the recovered condensate changes, steam and condensate are stably discharged into the condensate discharge pipe through the annular gap formed between the body and the flange, thereby preventing damage or corrosion of the steam trap and significantly extending its lifespan.

[0032] Second, when multiple heat exchangers are installed and multiple condensate return pipes are connected to each other, if the pressure inside one or more condensate return pipes increases and overpressure is applied inside the body, the float is connected to the backflow prevention sheet and closes the condensate inlet pipe, thereby fundamentally resolving the phenomenon of condensate flowing back toward the heat exchanger.

[0033] Third, when an inlet flange and an outlet flange are fixed to the condensate inlet pipe and the condensate discharge pipe, respectively, the steam trap of the present invention can be installed more conveniently on the condensate recovery pipe, thereby making maintenance of the system easier. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0035] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section showing the main part of a conventional device, Patent No. 613397. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a conventional steam trap with a portion cut away. FIGS. 3a to 3c are longitudinal cross-sectional views illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3a shows the state in which condensate flows normally into the interior of the body. FIG. 3b is a state in which the amount of condensate flowing into the interior of the body is small, so the float is connected to the condensate closing sheet and the condensate discharge pipe is closed. FIG. 3c shows a state where overpressure is applied inside the body, causing the float to be connected to the backflow prevention sheet and the condensate inlet pipe to be closed. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state in which a discharge hole is formed in the flange portion of a cover member in the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the invention. The present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. It should be noted that the drawings are schematic and not drawn to scale. The relative dimensions and proportions of parts in the drawings are exaggerated or reduced in size for clarity and convenience in the drawings, and any dimensions are merely illustrative and not limiting. Also, the same reference numerals are used to denote similar features for identical structures, elements, or parts appearing in two or more drawings.

[0037] FIGS. 3a to 3c are cross-sectional views showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a discharge hole is formed in the flange portion of a cover member in the present invention. The steam trap (100) of the present invention is composed of a metal body (10), a cover member (20), and a float (30), etc.

[0038] The above body (10) has an opening (not shown) formed on one side and a condensate inlet pipe (12) formed on the opposite side to allow condensate (41) and steam (42) generated from a heat exchanger (not shown) to flow into the space (11). The condensate inlet pipe (12) is provided with a backflow prevention sheet (13) that extends into the interior of the space (11).

[0039] The above cover member (20) is welded and fixed to the opening of the body (10) to serve to close the opening.

[0040] On one side of the cover member (20), an annular flange portion (22) is integrally formed to maintain a predetermined gap (21) between the inner surface of the body (10), and as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of discharge holes (23) are formed in the flange portion (22) to discharge steam (42) or condensate (41) within the space portion (11).

[0041] In FIG. 4, which shows an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned discharge hole (23) is formed to penetrate upward and downward, but it is understandable that a plurality of them may be formed radially as needed.

[0042] In addition, a condensate closing sheet (24) and a condensate discharge pipe (25) are provided in the center of the cover member (20).

[0043] Meanwhile, within the space (11) of the body (10), a float (30) is installed to be able to move up and down, which simultaneously opens or selectively closes the backflow prevention sheet (13) and the condensate closing sheet (24) depending on the amount of condensate (41) flowing in. It is more preferable to use a titanium ball to extend the lifespan of the float (30) as much as possible.

[0044] The steam trap (100) of the present invention configured as described above may be installed by welding it to the condensate recovery pipe (50), but it is configured to be detachable so that not only the installation but also maintenance of the steam trap is easy.

[0045] To this end, in the present invention, an inlet flange (14) is fixed to one side of the condensate inlet pipe (12), and a discharge flange (26) is fixed to one side of the condensate discharge pipe (25), so that the steam trap (100) is fixed to the connecting flanges (51) and (52) fixed to the condensate recovery pipe (50) using fastening members (not shown) such as bolts and nuts.

[0046] The operation of the present invention is described as follows.

[0047] First, when high-temperature, high-pressure steam generated in a steam boiler (city omitted) is supplied to a heat exchanger and heat exchange occurs, condensate is generated, and the generated condensate (41) flows into the space (11) of the body (10) constituting the steam trap (100) through the condensate recovery pipe (50) and the condensate inlet pipe (12), causing the float (30) built into the space (11) to rise.

[0048] As described above, when the condensate (41) generated in the heat exchanger continues to flow into the space (11) of the body (10) and the float (30) rises above the center of the condensate inlet pipe (12) and the condensate discharge pipe (25) as shown in FIG. 3a, the condensate discharge pipe (25) connected to the condensate closing sheet (24) remains in an open state, so the condensate (41) flowing into the space (11) is smoothly recovered to the condensate collection tank (not shown) through the condensate recovery pipe (50), and accordingly, the condensate recovered to the condensate collection tank can be recycled.

[0049] When the above operation is performed, some condensate (41) and steam (42) that have flowed into the space (11) of the body (10) are smoothly discharged through the discharge hole (23) and the condensate discharge pipe (25) through the gap (21) formed between the inner surface of the body (10) and the annular flange (22), thereby maintaining a constant pressure inside the space (11), which has the advantage of making it easier to recover and recycle the condensate generated in the heat exchanger.

[0050] However, when the amount of condensate generated in the heat exchanger becomes less than the amount of condensate recovered in the condensate collection tank and the water level of the condensate (41) in the space (11) of the body (10) is lowered as in FIG. 3B, the float (30) moves toward the condensate closing sheet (24) due to the pressure of the steam (42) to close the condensate discharge pipe (25), and the condensate recovery operation is temporarily stopped until the condensate (41) generated in the heat exchanger is filled as in FIG. 3A. As a result, only the gaseous steam (42) is recovered through the condensate recovery pipe (50), thereby preventing the cavitation phenomenon that occurs in the condensate recovery pipe (50).

[0051] Meanwhile, when the pressure inside one or more condensate recovery pipes (50) is temporarily increased during the process of the condensate (41) generated in the heat exchanger being normally recovered through the steam trap (100) and an overpressure is applied inside the space (11) formed in the body (10), the float (30) is connected to the backflow prevention sheet (13) connected to the condensate inlet pipe (12) as shown in FIG. 3C, thereby closing the condensate inlet pipe (12) and preventing the condensate (41) from flowing back toward the heat exchanger.

[0052] This phenomenon occurs because, as multiple heat exchangers are installed, the condensate (41) and steam (42) generated from each heat exchanger are recovered into the interior of a single condensate collection tank through each condensate recovery pipe (50), and thus multiple condensate recovery pipes (50) are installed to be connected to each other.

[0053] As described above, when the overpressure applied to the body (10) is removed, the float (30) connected to the backflow prevention sheet (13) opens the condensate inlet pipe (12) as shown in FIG. 3a, so that the condensate generated in the heat exchanger can be recovered normally.

[0054] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be implemented in other specific forms without changing the technical concept or essential features.

[0055] Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not limiting, and the scope of the invention as described in the above detailed description is defined by the claims set forth below, and all modifications or variations derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and equivalent concepts thereof should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0057] 10 : Body 11 : Space 12: Condensate inlet pipe 13: Backflow prevention sheet 14 : Inlet flange 20 : Cover member 21 : Gap 22 : Flange 23: Drain port 24: Condensate blocking sheet 25: Condensate discharge pipe 26: Discharge flange 30 : Floating part 41 : Condensate 42 : Steam 50 : Condensate return pipe 100 : Steam Trap

Claims

Claim 1 A metal body (10) having a space (11) formed inside and a condensate inlet pipe (12) formed on one side; and a cover member (20) that closes the opening of the body (10) and is equipped with a condensate discharge pipe (25) and a condensate closing sheet (24) at the center of one side; It includes a float (30) that moves up and down according to the amount of condensate within the space (11) of the body (10) and selectively opens and closes the condensate inlet pipe (12) or the condensate discharge pipe (25); the condensate inlet pipe (12) is provided with a backflow prevention sheet (13) that extends into the interior of the space (11) and is closed by the float (30) when overpressure occurs; the cover member (20) includes a flange portion (22) formed to maintain an annular gap (21) between the inner surface of the body (10); and the flange portion (22) has a plurality of discharge holes (23) formed to discharge steam or condensate for pressure control within the space (11), so that when overpressure occurs, the float (30) is in close contact with the backflow prevention sheet (13) to close the condensate inlet pipe (12), and when the condensate level drops, the float (30) is in close contact with the condensate closing sheet (24) to discharge the condensate A steam trap characterized by being organically interconnected to close the discharge pipe (25). Claim 2 A steam trap according to claim 1, characterized in that an inlet flange (14) is fixed to one side of the condensate inlet pipe (12), and a discharge flange (26) is fixed to one side of the condensate discharge pipe (25) so that the steam trap (100) is fixed to a connecting flange (51)(52) fixed to the condensate recovery pipe (50). Claim 3 A steam trap according to claim 1, characterized in that the float (30) is composed of a titanium ball.

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