Steam Trap and Vacuum Repairs using thermal imagery testing.   Many facilities produce steam for heating or manufacturing processes. The steam is typically piped from a central boiler(s) to various locations on-site where the steam is used. “Steam traps” are mechanical devices installed on the pipes to remove condensate from the steam flow; they are needed to maintain the proper operation of the steam distribution system.
 
A typical industrial plant or university site may have several hundred or even thousands of steam traps.  Unfortunately, steam traps have a tendency to leak, which can add up to thousands of dollars per year of wasted steam for a single steam trap. This was probably less important when the original steam system was built years ago, but with today’s energy prices, it is critical to detect and correct failures quickly.
 
On average 15-25% of steam traps are leaking at existing installations, which means hundreds of thousands of dollars of wasted energy per year per site.  At National Grid we will provide a technician (surveyor) to conduct an assessment of the steam traps. Our trained surveyor uses the latest thermal imagery equipment to tag and locate, identify the working conditions and submit a repair log sheet.  
 
Most utilities will provide the customer a rebate for the repair of the steam trap to encourage energy savings.  Below is a sample of the potential savings that may be realized from leaking steam traps.