Steam Strainer

Sometimes steam carries along with it some floating or suspended materials. Such materials results from the corrosion of steam pipe lines or the pipe or joint rust. This type of floating or suspended material is ultimately drained out with the steam condensate. The condensate will lead them to the steam trap. The steam trap will get clogged and its working will be hampered. For smooth and continuous working of steam traps such materials must be removed from the steam condensate. Installing a steam strainer, between the steam line and the steam trap inlet, does this.

Steam strainer. The steam condensate enters the strainer at the inlet ‘1’ and passes through the strainer mesh ‘3’ and eventually passes out from the outlet at ‘2’. The solid particles are retained inside the wire mesh and a clear condensate passes out to the out let of the strainer. The mesh is removable type and can be taken out for cleaning. This is periodically done by opening the valve screw at ‘4’. When the valve is opened the grits are blown out with the help of pressure of steam from the inlet. There is no requirement of dismantling the steam line to clear the strainer. The above arrangement eliminates the stoppage of steam to remove the strainer mesh for cleaning. Usually it is desirable to keep the spare strainer mesh in the store so that it could be replaced easily as and when required.