Mike,
Do me a favor. Add future questions by clicking "add new topic". I think it might be easier for people to follow when they are reading the posts later and it might also be easier for me tokeep things organized when answering the questions.
We are mixing steam trap types somewhat here, for example, there is more than one type of mechanical trap. I'll just give you the common types:
In an industrial system or in the main lines of a heating system (or coming off a unit heater) you will largely see a float and thermostatic (mechanical and thermostatic) trap or an inverted bucket trap.
In small applications, such as at the outlet of a radiator you will typically see a thermostatic trap.
Thermodynamic traps are not used nearly as much as the others.
A description of when some of the more basic traps are used can be found at the following link. There are actually dozens of types of steam traps, but this describes the basic ones.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/steam-traps-d_282.html |