Inverted Bucket Traps, as their name suggests, operate like an upside down bucket in water. The upside down bucket is linked to the valve mechanism and either floats or sinks depending on whether it's filled with liquid or vapor. This motion opens and closes the valve. A small orifice is drilled into the closed side (top) of the bucket to allow air to pass.
On some buckets, an additional vent hole is controlled by a bimetallic strip which is kept closed by the steam. Therefore, the vent only operates in the presence of cooler air, enhancing the traps air handling capacity. During normal operation, steam enters the bottom of the bucket and causes it to float and close the valve. Any condensate entering the trap also enters the bottom of the bucket. The bucket loses buoyancy and sinks, reopening the valve and discharging the condensate. Bucket traps are rugged and reliable, but rely on a fixed force (the weight of the bucket). Therefore, discharge orifices must be sized by pressure. For example, a trap sized to operate at 50 PSIG will not open at 150 PSIG, even if the body is rated to 250psig.
The Spence Duraflo line of inverted bucket is available in cast iron(repairable) and stainless steel(sealed).
Download the complete technical specifications for Inverted Bucket.
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