Ancient F&T trap?

heatineer

Is this an old F&T trap just before the receiver tank?

Pumpguy

Maybe yes, maybe no.......

but more importantly, why is it there.? Does this trap discharge into the condensate pump's receiver?  If yes, that's a definite no-no and shouldn't be there.  When that trap closes, the pressure on the return side becomes equal with the steam side, and with no pressure differential, there's no flow, so there's no heating. 



Remember, all fluids, steam, air, water, flow from high pressure to low pressure.  Always!.  No pressure differential, no flow.



This is called "master trapping" the system, and is supposed to compensate for leaking traps out in the system.  For reasons stated above, this should never be done.   The only proper solution to steam blowing out the condensate pump's receiver tank vent is to fix the bad steam traps out in the system.

ttekushan_3

float trap

Sure looks like a float trap to me. It doesn't have a venting thermostatic element. So it provides little if any venting. If that return's supposed to be dry and vent system air into that vented receiver, you may have some interesting steam distribution issues.

Steamhead

That's an F&T

the cap in the top has a thermostatic element under it. It might be a Webster but I'm not 100% sure.



is this a one-pipe or two-pipe system?