Mechanism, which can include systems, methods, and media, for generating an alert of a water hammer event in a steam pipe are provided, the mechanisms comprising: sampling an accelerometer coupled to a steam pipe to provide accelerometer data; determining that the accelerometer data meets or exceeds a threshold; and generating an alert that a water hammer event has occurred based at least in part on the accelerometer data. In some of the mechanisms, the sampling of the accelerometer is performed for a given period of time, and the mechanisms further comprise sampling an ultrasonic sensor for the given period of time to provide ultrasonic sensor data, and wherein the generating the alert is based at least in part on the accelerometer data and the ultrasonic sensor data.

Devices, systems, and techniques relating to steam trap monitoring are described. These include battery-less steam trap monitors that run on power harvested from their environments, systems for acquiring steam trap monitor data for the traps in a facility or across multiple facilities, and techniques for processing steam trap monitor data to reliably determine the status of individual steam traps and potentially other system parameters.

Devices, systems, and techniques relating to steam trap monitoring are described. These include battery-less steam trap monitors that run on power harvested from their environments, systems for acquiring steam trap monitor data for the traps in a facility or across multiple facilities, and techniques for processing steam trap monitor data to reliably determine the status of individual steam traps and potentially other system parameters.

According to one aspect of the disclosure a steam trap system and a method of operation is provided. The steam trap system includes a steam trap body and a disk operably coupled to the steam trap body, the disk being made from a magnetic material. A cap is coupled to the steam trap body adjacent the disk, the cap being made from a nonmagnetic material. A hall effect sensor operably coupled to the cap, the hall effect sensor being configured to generate a signal in response to movement of the disk.

According to one aspect of the disclosure a steam trap system and a method of operation is provided. The steam trap system includes a steam trap body and a disk operably coupled to the steam trap body, the disk being made from a magnetic material. A cap is coupled to the steam trap body adjacent the disk, the cap being made from a nonmagnetic material. A hall effect sensor operably coupled to the cap, the hall effect sensor being configured to generate a signal in response to movement of the disk.

A condensate trap for a furnace system includes a trap inlet configured to receive combusted gases, a condensate chamber coupled to the trap inlet and configured to trap condensate, a trap outlet coupled to the condensate chamber and configured to exhaust the combusted gases, a header box inlet configured to receive condensate from a header box, and a condensate outlet configured to drain condensate from the condensate chamber. Combusted gas that passes through the condensate trap provides heat to condensate within the condensate trap to thaw frozen condensate or to prevent condensate from freezing.

A condensate trap for a furnace system includes a trap inlet configured to receive combusted gases, a condensate chamber coupled to the trap inlet and configured to trap condensate, a trap outlet coupled to the condensate chamber and configured to exhaust the combusted gases, a header box inlet configured to receive condensate from a header box, and a condensate outlet configured to drain condensate from the condensate chamber. Combusted gas that passes through the condensate trap provides heat to condensate within the condensate trap to thaw frozen condensate or to prevent condensate from freezing.

A condensate drain apparatus including a valve for controlling discharge of condensate from the condensate drain apparatus; a collection chamber configured to receive a multiphase fluid flow upstream of the valve including gaseous and condensate phases, the collection chamber defining a collection volume for collecting the condensate to be discharged through the valve; sensor equipment for monitoring a parameter relating to a thermodynamic property of the fluid upstream of the valve; a controller configured to monitor the condensate collected in the collection chamber based on the monitored parameter, and to control the opening and closing of the valve to regulate the condensate collected in the collection chamber upstream of the valve; wherein the controller is further configured to determine the quantity of condensate discharged from the collection volume using a flow rate calculation for a choked flow of vaporizing liquid.

A condensate drain apparatus including a valve for controlling discharge of condensate from the condensate drain apparatus; a collection chamber configured to receive a multiphase fluid flow upstream of the valve including gaseous and condensate phases, the collection chamber defining a collection volume for collecting the condensate to be discharged through the valve; sensor equipment for monitoring a parameter relating to a thermodynamic property of the fluid upstream of the valve; a controller configured to monitor the condensate collected in the collection chamber based on the monitored parameter, and to control the opening and closing of the valve to regulate the condensate collected in the collection chamber upstream of the valve; wherein the controller is further configured to determine the quantity of condensate discharged from the collection volume using a flow rate calculation for a choked flow of vaporizing liquid.

Mechanisms for monitoring steam traps for failure are provided, the mechanisms comprising: setting a waiting period of time to an initial value; sampling first energy output by the steam trap; waiting the waiting period of time; sampling second energy output by the steam trap after waiting the waiting period of time; determining whether the second energy output by the steam trap indicates a problem in the steam trap; in response to determining that the second energy output by the steam trap does not indicate a problem in the steam trap, increasing the waiting period of time to an increased period of time; and sampling third energy output by the steam trap after waiting the increased period of time.