The condensate is too hot for the pump!

ross swazy

Dan Holohan says that as steam traps fail, the returning condensate gets hotter. If it gets too hot (near 190 F), the pump might cavitate with consequent erosion of the impeller and the ultimate failure of the pump.
in such case, would the installation of thermometers on the condensate return lines in proximity of the pump not be a good idea? How else can the system operator keep a close eye on the temperature of the returning condensate and schedule an inspection of the steam traps if such temperature starts getting too high for confort?
Which kind of thermometers would work and how should they be installed to ensure maximum duration and reliability?

Tony Conner

Watch...

... the vent on the condensate receiver. If you get a sense of how much steam normally is coming out of the vent under different loads, you can see when things are starting to go wrong.

In one large plant where I worked, there were 8 or 10 condensate tank & pump sets scattered around. You could go up on the roof, and just look at how much was discharging from the tank vents. It was easy to spot a tank that was venting more than normal, and then check the traps in that area to find the failed one.

John@Reliable

To hot for pump

A really good tool to use for both tank temp. and finding which trap is bad , hand held noncontact thermometer. Just point and shoot will tell you temp.I use a Raytek Raynger ST-2 great tool to have Hope this helps