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8. Operational Check
A visual inspection can be carried out to aid in determining the necessity for immediate
maintenance or repair, if the trap is open to atmosphere. If the trap does not discharge to
atmosphere, use diagnostic equipment such as TLV TrapMan or TLV
PocketTrapman
.
Normal:
Blocked:
Blowing:
Steam
Leakage:
Flash Steam
Live Steam Leakage
Clear, slightly
bluish jet
White jet
containing
water droplets
Condensate is discharged intermittently with flash steam and the sound
of flow can be heard. If there is very little condensate, there is almost no
sound of flow.
No condensate is discharged. The trap is quiet and makes no noise,
and the surface temperature of the trap is low.
Live steam continually flows form the outlet and there is a continuous
metallic sound.
Live steam is discharged through the trap outlet together with the
condensate and there is a high-pitched sound.
(When conducting a visual inspection, flash steam is sometimes mistaken for steam leakage. For
this reason, the use of a steam trap diagnostic instrument such as TLV TrapMan is highly
recommended.)
