Steam traps are small components with an outsized impact on plant efficiency. The right trap removes condensate quickly while holding back live steam; the wrong one wastes energy, causes water hammer, or leaks steam continuously.
The three main types
Thermodynamic (TD) traps, like the ARI-CONA TD, are compact, robust, and handle high pressures and superheat well. They are ideal for steam mains and tracer lines where reliability matters more than perfect efficiency.
Float & thermostatic traps, such as the ARI-CONA S/B, give continuous condensate discharge with minimal steam loss, making them the best choice for process equipment where flooding cannot be tolerated.
Bimetallic / thermostatic traps handle large startup loads and are forgiving of back-pressure, suited to tracing and freeze-protection lines.
Quick selection checklist
- Pressure & temperature of the line (including superheat)
- Condensate load, startup vs running
- Back-pressure in the condensate return
- Orientation and available space
- Failure mode you can tolerate (fail-open vs fail-closed)
Talk to an engineer
Sizing a trap wrong is expensive. Our team will match the correct ARI-CONA model to your line conditions, request a quote and we’ll recommend the right trap with a datasheet.