🔍 Key Concepts

• How superheated steam behaves differently from saturated steam and how that affects temperature-sensitive components. • The internal operating principle of thermostatic traps versus mechanical and thermodynamic traps. • Which trap designs contain delicate elements (bellows, capsules, volatile fluids, bimetal strips) that can be overstressed by excessive temperature.

💭 Think About

• Which of these trap types depends on precise temperature changes of a fluid or metals to open and close, and what happens if the steam temperature is much higher than design? • Think about which trap type actually uses the kinetic energy and pressure drop of the steam/condensate mixture, and whether higher steam temperature alone is likely to damage it. • Among the thermostatic traps listed, which internal element would be most vulnerable to over‑expansion, rupture, or loss of calibration when exposed to superheat?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which traps contain sealed elements or capsules that can be over-pressurized or ruptured by excess temperature from superheat. • Confirm which trap type is normally placed where superheat is not expected, and manufacturers often warn about superheated service. • Eliminate the trap types whose operation is mainly based on density/buoyancy or disc movement from pressure/velocity, since they are generally more tolerant of superheat.