Mechanical Steam Traps Vs. GEM Steam Traps

Industry innovators are making the switch to our patented Venturi orifice technology, here's why.

Mechanical Steam Traps

Cost of failed traps estimated at £173,200 per year 
*Based on 20 failed traps wasting 53 kg/hr each calculated below
  • 10% to 30% average annual failure rate
  • Higher fuel usage as live steam is lost
  • Maintenance costs incurred through personnel time and the purchase replacement traps
  • Unpredictable lifecycle with increased downtime due to planned and unplanned maintenance
  • Low priority and often ignored until process is affected​ ​

GEM™ Steam Traps 

The most efficient and reliable steam traps on the market with permanent energy savings
  • ​​10+ year no-fail performance guarantee 
  • Decreases fuel required by avoiding waste heat
  • Reduce maintenance costs to improve profitability
  • Prevents shutdown due to planned or unplanned maintenance
  • Helps ensure processes are consistent so product isn’t wasted or production needs to be stopped​​

The cost of failed traps

Trap Size
​Orifice diameter
​6 barg
​steam loss
14 barg 
steam loss
32 barg ​​Steam loss
DN15
3 mm
8 kg/hr
19​ kg/hr
43 kg/hr
DN20
8 mm
24​ kg/hr
53​ kg/hr
119 kg/hr
DN25
7.5 mm
55​ kg/hr
121​ kg/hr
270 kg/hr
DN40
10 mm
98 kg/hr
214​ kg/hr
478 kg/hr
DN50
12 mm
152 kg/hr​
335​ kg/hr
747 kg/hr
Example:
  • Steam pressure of 14 bar(g)
    = steam loss of 53 kg/hr
  • 200 Traps site, average size of DN20
  • 10% failure = 20 failed traps
​Estimate calculated as:
  • Site steam loss = 20 x 53 = 1060 kg/hr
  • Annual steam loss = 1060 x 8400 = 8904 tonnes per year
  • Steam cost = £19.45 /tonne (2.37p/kWh gas)
  • Cost of failed traps = 8,904 x 19.45 = £173,200 per year
*Table Reference: Spirax Sarco
​​This figure does not include the cost of increased maintenance, downtime caused by failed traps or make up water to replace lost steam permanent curriculum.