Abstract: A system and method for continually and automatically measuring the quality of steam includes a steam dryness/superheat meter and a non-condensable gases (NCG) meter. The steam dryness meter includes a throttling calorimeter through which a steam sample enters at atmospheric pressure, sensors for sensing the pressure and temperature of the stream before and after it enters the calorimeter, a controllable heat input for supplying any additional energy necessary to superheat the steam sample, and logic for deriving the dryness from the collected data. The NCG meter includes a cooler for condensing the steam sample reservoirs into which the liquid and non-condensable gases are entrapped and measured, and logic for continuously deriving the NCG ratio from the collected data.

Abstract: A system and method for continually and automatically measuring the quality of steam includes a steam dryness/superheat meter and a non-condensable gases (NCG) meter. The steam dryness meter includes a throttling calorimeter through which a steam sample enters at atmospheric pressure, sensors for sensing the pressure and temperature of the stream before and after it enters the calorimeter, a controllable heat input for supplying any additional energy necessary to superheat the steam sample, and logic for deriving the dryness from the collected data. The NCG meter includes a cooler for condensing the steam sample reservoirs into which the liquid and non-condensable gases are entrapped and measured, and logic for continuously deriving the NCG ratio from the collected data.

Abstract: A system for remotely monitoring multiple steam traps includes a plurality of steam traps, each including a monitor comprising one or more sensors for sensing selected operating conditions of the steam trap, and a programmable controller operatively connected to receive the outputs of each of the sensors, convert the sensor outputs into one or more data signals corresponding to the sensed conditions, and transmit the data signals, directly or indirectly, to a central computer. The central computer includes a receiver and logic for evaluating the data received from the monitors to thereby monitor the condition of the steam traps. At least some of the steam trap monitors also include a local receiver adapted to receive data signals transmitted from other steam trap monitors and re-transmit the received data so that remote monitors otherwise outside the direct receiving range of the central computer are received by the central computer.