Automatic start-up condensate drain valves

What is an automatic start-up condensate drain valve?

Initially, processes are designed so that they do not have low points or rising condensate lines. In reality, however, this is often impossible, and the pipelines have to be run both downward and upward. Especially during the start-up phase, this can cause disturbances in the process, such as water hammer, when hot and cold water masses meet in the pipeline.

As an example, a very common situation can be mentioned where there is a condensate drain after the steam separator, but the condensate line is rising. The condensate drain operates flawlessly as long as there is pressure in the system. When the steam separator’s shut-off valve is closed, the pressure in the separator drops, the condensate drain stops functioning, and the remaining condensate stays in the separator. In such a case, there is a risk that when the separator is pumped up again, hot steam and cold condensate will meet, causing severe thermal water hammer in the separator.

Selection of a automatic start-up condensate drain valve

To reduce disturbances, GESTRA has developed its own self-powered, pressure-operated GESTRA AK automatic start-up condensate drain valve. It is a spring-operated valve for draining pipelines without pressure.

The AK valve can be adjusted to open, for example, at 1 bar. When the pressure in the pipeline rises above the set pressure, the AK valve remains closed, but when the pressure drops and the condensate drain stops functioning, the AK valve opens and drains the remaining condensate into the channel. Similarly, during the pumping-up situation, the AK valve closes automatically when the set pressure is reached.

AK start-up condensate drain valves are ideally suited as automatic drainers for pipelines if there is a risk that the pipeline could freeze in winter due to the lack of flow caused by the absence of pressure in the pipeline.

We assist in the sizing and selection of the appropriate start-up condensate drain valve for your application.