What is the primary function of a steam trap?

The primary function of a steam trap is to allow condensate to flow while preventing steam escape. In a steam system, steam is used to transfer heat, but as it travels through pipes and other equipment, it can condense back into water (condensate). The steam trap plays a crucial role in this process by efficiently draining the condensate from the system without allowing steam to be released into the atmosphere. This helps maintain the efficiency of the steam system, ensuring that steam is conserved and that the system operates effectively.

In contrast, regulating steam pressure is a function typically managed by pressure control devices, not steam traps. Measuring temperature is performed using thermometers or temperature sensors, which are separate instruments designed for that purpose. Converting water into steam is a function of a boiler or steam generator, which heats water to produce steam, while the steam trap's role occurs after this transformation in managing the condensate within the steam distribution system.