Steam traps at Boots Group's Energy Centre are being systematically replaced with GEM traps, bringing energy savings and reduced maintenance
Following successful installation of GEM steam traps on the Beeston, Nottingham, centre's hot water calorifiers, around 30 GEM traps have subsequently been installed onto other applications including boilers, super heaters and the steam distribution systems.
Prior to installing the GEM traps, Energy Centre Manager, Paul Egner found that the mechanical traps failed on a regular basis necessitating their overhaul or replacement. Approached by GEM to install the Venturi Orifice GEM trap, he was at first sceptical but agreed to trial the trap.
“We first installed a GEM trap onto one of our pressured hot water calorifiers which was sized to allow the calorifiers to operate from cold start-up all through its range," says Egner. “The trap worked well and we soon installed GEM on all four calorifiers."
Instead of utilising a valve mechanism to close off steam for maximum energy and water conservation, the GEM steam traps use a venturi orifice design to drain condensate from the steam system effectively. As a GEM trap has no moving parts to wedge open or fail, it can provides the ultimate in reliability, requiring only minimal maintenance and requiring no spares, testing or monitoring equipment.
“There is always a problem when attempting to quantifying energy savings precisely but there is overwhelming evidence that GEM traps save energy and therefore reduce carbon emissions over thermodynamic and float type traps," adds Egner. “Since we have been retrofitting GEM, not a single trap has required maintenance except filter cleaning.
"We have now standardised GEM on all our applications both within the Energy Centre and on the steam distribution systems across the site. In lots of places traps are located in difficult to access areas and in underground ductings. Any reduction in labour and having to reach traps in difficult areas is both a cost saving and a health and safety advantage."
Manufactured from corrosion-resistant stainless steel, the Gem steam traps are available in a wide range of sizes for a full cross section of applications.
