Nozzle Steam Trap Sealing for Pressure Fluctuation and Clog Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nozzle-type steam traps face issues with steam wastage due to pressure fluctuations, compatibility with various usage environments, and clogging from rust and dust, leading to increased maintenance and inspection loads.
Innovation Solution
A nozzle-type steam trap design featuring a venturi, orifice, or tunnel structure resistance nozzle with a drain-water storage portion and extra-drain system drainage port to seal the nozzle, allowing for adjustable steam and drain-water passages and incorporating a swirl flow formation means to prevent clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a small-diameter tube-shaped bore is used in nozzle-type steam traps to minimize steam leakage, then steam waste is reduced, but the nozzle becomes clogged with rust and dust, increasing maintenance and inspection loads
Solution Approach 1:
The steam trap is divided into multiple nozzles (first nozzle and second nozzle) with different functions. The first nozzle handles steam drainage while the second nozzle handles drain water drainage, separating the functions to prevent clogging of the steam-draining nozzle and reduce maintenance needs.
Solution Approach 2:
A drain water storage portion is introduced as an intermediary component that accumulates drain water before it reaches the nozzle. This storage portion prevents rust and dust from directly clogging the nozzle by allowing particles to settle separately, maintaining nozzle functionality while preserving energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If a fixed bore diameter is used in the nozzle to maintain stable operation, then reliability is improved, but the steam trap cannot adapt to fluctuating pressure differences, causing steam wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a fixed bore diameter to a dynamic configuration where the effective bore area changes based on operating conditions. The drain water storage portion modulates the flow dynamically, allowing the nozzle to adapt to fluctuating pressure differences while maintaining stable operation and preventing steam waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the nozzle system are changed by introducing variable flow resistance through the drain water storage portion. This allows the system to adjust its effective bore characteristics in response to pressure fluctuations, maintaining both reliability and energy efficiency under varying operating conditions.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical engineering-based steam traps with movable portions are used to control drainage, then drainage functionality is achieved, but repeated operations cause damage to movable portions and delay in operations, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical system with movable portions (valves, floats, buckets) is replaced with a hydraulic system based on nozzle flow characteristics and drain water storage. This substitution eliminates mechanical wear and operational delays while maintaining effective drainage control through fluid dynamics principles.
Solution Approach 2:
The steam trap utilizes hydraulic principles where drain water flow and pressure differentials control the drainage process automatically. The system relies on fluid dynamics rather than mechanical actuation, eliminating movable parts and their associated reliability issues while achieving precise drainage control.
4Reliability
If hydraulic engineering-based steam traps with no movable portions are used to eliminate mechanical wear, then reliability is improved, but adaptability to various usage environments is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The steam trap design incorporates multiple nozzles with different functions (steam drainage and drain water drainage) and a drain water storage portion that can accommodate various operating conditions. This multi-functional configuration provides universal adaptability to different usage environments while maintaining the reliability benefits of having no movable portions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design ensures efficient steam drainage, compatibility with diverse environments, and reduced maintenance by minimizing steam wastage and clogging, thereby enhancing productivity and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a venturi nozzle 9 includes a venturi tube 10 disposed between a drain-water inlet passage 11 and a drain-water outlet passage 12. When the venturi tube 10 having an ideal bore diameter that is adjusted such that 50% or more of a drain water, which is liquid, is drained with a certain pressure difference applied to the venturi tube 10 is selected, the venturi tube 10 is sealed by the drain water
Implementation Method 2
a drain-water storage portion that includes the nozzle and an intra-drain system drainage port connected to an extra-drain system drainage port through which the drain water is drained to an outside of a system of the steam trap is disposed as the nozzle sealing means
Implementation Method 3
incorporating a swirl flow formation means to prevent clogging
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle-type steam trap including a venturi nozzle, an orifice nozzle, or a tunnel structure resistance nozzle minimizes the outflow of steam even when a pressure difference between a drain-water inlet and a drain-water outlet of each nozzle fluctuates, the steam trap being compatible with any usage environments and enabling maintenance and inspection to be easily performed. The nozzle-type steam trap including the venturi nozzle, the orifice nozzle, or the tunnel structure resistance nozzle includes a means for sealing the nozzle by using a drain water. The nozzle-type steam trap further includes a plurality of steam inflow ports and drain-water outflow ports and includes a closure means for determining, for a selected one of the steam inflow ports and a selected one of the drain-water outflow ports, passages of steam and drain water. More preferably, the steam trap includes a swirl flow formation means in the vicinity of the nozzle.