The University of Notre Dame Celebrates Implementation of Steam Trap Program

Representatives from Affiliated Steam and Hot Water and Armstrong International sponsored a hospitality tent during a recent football game at the University of Notre Dame to help University Officials celebrate the implementation of a steam trap program that reduced the University’s fuel costs by 21 percent.

Working together with officials from the University’s Utility Department, Affiliated Steam and Hot Water of Alsip, Ill., helped implement the innovative steam trap program that is responsible for the testing, replacing and repairing of malfunctioning steam traps.

Steam generation is an important component of the university’s energy system. It’s used to provide heating and to operate their central chilled water plant that keeps most of campus cool. Steam is also distributed to campus for other process loads such the University’s laundry and dining halls. Over 87 percent of the heating need of campus is served by steam.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy a steam system that goes three to five years without proper maintenance that includes inspecting, repairing and replacing malfunctioning steam traps can result in between 15 to 30 percent of the installed steam traps to fail. This allows live steam to escape into the condensate return system increasing costs to produce steam while increasing CO2 levels due to fuel sources used to produce steam.

Joe Herman, maintenance supervisor at The University of Notre Dame Power Plant knew he needed a steam trap program and gained further understanding about the subject during steam trap seminars conducted at Armstrong International located in Three Rivers, Michigan. Working with local representative Chad Harris, a sales engineer with Affiliated Steam and Hot Water located in Alsip, Ill., Herman learned about being “trap active,” which simply means having a program in place that involves locating, identifying, and accurately testing the entire steam trap population.

“The class was very informative with regards to techniques of inspecting traps and the dollar values associated with steam losses,” says Herman.

Harris recommended a sophisticated device known as Dr. Trap, manufactured by Armstrong International, which is the latest tool for testing steam traps that uses ultrasonic and infrared technology to analyze and display trap information. Dr Trap integrates with SteamStar, a web-based platform also developed by Armstrong International that is used for recording, monitoring and managing steam trap information allowing users access to detailed reports that include steam and monetary loss, defective trap insight, trap evaluations, trending, emissions output and manufacturers summaries. These two products working in tandem can virtually reduce steam trap failure rates to nil with proper implementation.

After three rounds of steam trap testing, the university went from a 31.4 percent failure rate to an impressive 10.7 percent failure rate in less than one year. That saved the university $70,000 in annual steam loss!

Steam traps are the low hanging fruit of efficiency and monetary savings because many gas companies now offer rebates of up to $300 to replace your steam traps included Nicor Gas of Ill. With rebates, monetary and efficiency incentives, every institution should look into being more, “trap active,” and reduce or repair their steam traps. For more information about becoming “trap active,” call 800-424-5392 today.

11/17/2011 | 224 Views