The customer’s Maintenance and Investment Manager began an energy saving project with GEM™ Steam Traps following a positive experience at a competitor site.
After a steam trap survey, funding was approved to convert all 80 steam traps to GEM Traps. These were then installed on applications throughout the site including drip legs, humidification drainages, PHE, sterilization devices, shell and tube heat exchangers and heater batteries.
Inverted Bucket & Thermostatic Trap Problems
The site previously operated with inverted bucket and thermostatic traps that would often fail in areas that were not easily accessible. Thermal Energy replaced these traps with inline Emerald GEM Traps which contain a magnetic cap for extra protection and are easy to maintain.
A servicing kit was also provided, which reduces trap maintenance time to a maximum of two minutes per trap.
Previously the site had to clean and maintain their steam traps frequently. GEM Traps significantly reduced their maintenance requirements as well as the time taken to carry out the maintenance.
Immediate GEM™ Confidence
After seeing an immediate reduction of steam plume from its condensate vessel, the customer was confident that the project would have the short payback of 24 months, as was projected.
Thermal Energy International worked with contractors and installers to ensure there was an easy transition to GEM. Thermal Energy International organized an introductory meeting and provided maintenance presentations to educate personnel on the advantages of GEM Traps compared to conventional mechanical traps.
The Engineering & Technical Services Specialist said,
We are very satisfied with the service and support provided by TEI to this project. The installation of GEM Traps significantly reduced all the problems on site which has been verified during our annual survey
