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.

A pressure vessel apparatus according to exemplary aspects includes: a branched tube comprising a tube main body and three branches, wherein a side branch of the branches comprises a flared out portion connected to the tube main body; a liquid inlet opening disposed at a first branch of the branched tube; a liquid outlet opening disposed at a second branch of the branched tube; a gas inlet opening disposed at a third branch of the branched tube, wherein the third branch is the side branch; and a cover plate configured to mount a valve actuating mechanism in the branched tube, the cover plate configured to be joined to the branched tube at the third branch.

A pressure vessel apparatus according to exemplary aspects includes: a branched tube comprising a tube main body and three branches, wherein a side branch of the branches comprises a flared out portion connected to the tube main body; a liquid inlet opening disposed at a first branch of the branched tube; a liquid outlet opening disposed at a second branch of the branched tube; a gas inlet opening disposed at a third branch of the branched tube, wherein the third branch is the side branch; and a cover plate configured to mount a valve actuating mechanism in the branched tube, the cover plate configured to be joined to the branched tube at the third branch.

Suitability of an operational state of a steam-using equipment is accurately estimated to allow for early detection of a sign of abnormality in the steam-using equipment. A steam-using facility monitoring system (M) comprised of a steam-using equipment (4) includes a control state detector (D1) that detects a state of a steam controller (1) provided in a steam pipe (2) accompanying the steam-using equipment (4), and an operational state estimating means (5) having a signal input unit (S1) that inputs a detection signal (i) from the control state detector (D1) and an operational state estimation unit (S2) that estimates the operational state of the steam-using equipment (4) based on one inputted detection signal (i) or a preset particular combination of detection signals (i).

Suitability of an operational state of a steam-using equipment is accurately estimated to allow for early detection of a sign of abnormality in the steam-using equipment. A steam-using facility monitoring system (M) comprised of a steam-using equipment (4) includes a control state detector (D1) that detects a state of a steam controller (1) provided in a steam pipe (2) accompanying the steam-using equipment (4), and an operational state estimating means (5) having a signal input unit (S1) that inputs a detection signal (i) from the control state detector (D1) and an operational state estimation unit (S2) that estimates the operational state of the steam-using equipment (4) based on one inputted detection signal (i) or a preset particular combination of detection signals (i).

Disclosed is a state determination device for a liquid pumping apparatus including: a casing that forms a reservoir space for storing liquid flowed thereto; a feed valve that introduces working gas into the reservoir space; an exhaust valve that releases the working gas from the reservoir space; and a valve operating mechanism having a float arranged in the reservoir space, and performing a pumping stroke in which the liquid is pumped from the reservoir space under a pressure of the working gas by opening the feed valve and closing the exhaust valve when the float moves up to a predetermined high level, and an inflow stroke in which the liquid flows into the reservoir space and the working gas is released from the reservoir space by closing the feed valve and opening the exhaust valve when the float moves down to a predetermined low level. The state determination device includes a pressure sensor that detects a pressure of the reservoir space, and a determination unit that determines whether the liquid pumping apparatus is in an operating state of performing the pumping stroke or the inflow stroke based on the pressure detected by the pressure sensor.

Disclosed is a deterioration determination device for a liquid pumping apparatus including: a casing that forms a reservoir space for storing liquid flowed thereto; a feed valve that introduces working gas into the reservoir space; an exhaust valve that releases the working gas from the reservoir space; and a valve operating mechanism having a float arranged in the reservoir space, and performing a pumping stroke in which the liquid is pumped from the reservoir space under a pressure of the working gas by opening the feed valve and closing the exhaust valve when the float moves up to a predetermined high level, and an inflow stroke in which the liquid flows into the reservoir space and the working gas is released from the reservoir space by closing the feed valve and opening the exhaust valve when the float moves down to a predetermined low level. The deterioration determination device includes a first pressure sensor arranged to communicate with a lower portion of the reservoir space to detect a pressure of a liquid layer in the reservoir space, and a deterioration determination unit that determines a degree of deterioration of the valve operating mechanism based on a change in the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor.

A risk assessment device includes a diagnosis result storage unit that accumulatively stores diagnosis results of a plurality of diagnoses regarding each process device in association with installation sites of the process devices, a calculation model storage unit that stores a calculation model for calculating a probability of malfunction of a process device, a malfunction ratio calculation unit that calculates, based on diagnosis results regarding process devices that are and have been provided at a target installation site, a malfunction ratio that is a ratio of process devices that had malfunctioned by the time a reference period had elapsed from when the process devices were installed at the target installation site, a malfunction probability calculation unit that calculates, based on the calculation model, a probability of malfunction that is a probability that a process device provided at the target installation site will malfunction within the reference period, and a risk index value calculation unit that calculates a risk index value of a process device provided at the target installation site, through comparison between the calculated malfunction ratio and the calculated probability of malfunction.

Process measurement technology sensor, comprising a sensor housing having a sensor head, wherein the sensor head has at least one sensor element for determining a measurand of a measured medium which is arranged inside the sensor housing, and wherein the sensor has electronic measuring equipment which is arranged inside the sensor housing, wherein the sensor housing has, at a distance from the electronic measuring equipment and from the sensor element, a condensation trap in the form of a local region of a wall of the sensor housing with reduced wall thickness.

Process measurement technology sensor, comprising a sensor housing having a sensor head, wherein the sensor head has at least one sensor element for determining a measurand of a measured medium which is arranged inside the sensor housing, and wherein the sensor has electronic measuring equipment which is arranged inside the sensor housing, wherein the sensor housing has, at a distance from the electronic measuring equipment and from the sensor element, a condensation trap in the form of a local region of a wall of the sensor housing with reduced wall thickness.