Is it possible to use steam traps in compressed air installation as drain traps?
Steam traps are designed to pass condensate at high temperatures from steam systems, and we would not recommend them to be used on compressed air systems. However, there are two types of compressed air traps that operate on similar principles and look the same to the casual observer. One type works on thermodynamic principles and allows the water to pass at low velocity through the valve seat, the other type utilises the principle of buoyancy by using a float to sense the difference in density between water and air. Thermodynamic traps for compressed air are recommended when the quality of the air is poor, i.e. dirty or oily. A compressed air float trap is usually designed to take a balance pipe to equalise pressure between the system being drained and the trap itself. This stops the trap from air binding.
