Flowserve VPK10 User Manual

VAPOPHONE
VKP 10

Operating Instructions 818427-00

Steam Trap Testing Equipment

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Contents

Page

Important Notes

Usage for the intended purpose ......................................................................................5

Safety note ......................................................................................................................5

Danger ............................................................................................................................ 5

Explanatory Notes

Scope of supply ..............................................................................................................6

Description ......................................................................................................................6

Function .......................................................................................................................... 6

Note ................................................................................................................................6

Technical Data ................................................................................................................. 7

Commissioning

Commissioning of display device ....................................................................................8

Operation

Checking steam trap .................................................................................................9, 10

Notice ............................................................................................................................11

Maintenance

Recharging battery ........................................................................................................11

Replacing battery ..........................................................................................................11

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Parts Drawings

A

B

F

E

C

D

1

2

3

Key

Display device

A

B

Name plate

C

Battery charger

D

Cable of battery charger

E

Cable of sound probe

F

Sound probe

1

Knob

2

Indicating meter

4

Important Notes

Usage for the intended purpose

Use VKP 10 only for testing steam traps.

Safety note

The equipment must only be operated by qualified staff.
Qualified staff are those persons who – through adequate training in engineering, the

use and application of equipment in accordance with regulations concerning electrical
safety systems, and first aid & accident prevention – have achieved a recognised level
of competence appropriate to the commissioning and operation of this device.

Danger

Do not use the VKP 10 in areas subject to explosion hazards!
This presents the risk of severe injuries or death!
Do not touch live parts with the sound probe!
This presents the risk of severe cases of electric shock!
The tip of the sound probe has a sharp edge.
This presents a danger of cuts!

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Explanatory Notes

Scope of supply

The VAPOPHONE VKP 10 service case contains:
1 Display device
1 Sound probe
1 Leather bag
1 Storage battery (installed in the display device)
1 Battery charger with connecting cable for display device
1 Operating manual

Description

The steam trap testing equipment VKP 10 consists of a display device and a sound
probe.

The portable ultrasonic detector VKP 10 is designed for evaluating and testing steam
traps of all makes in order to detect steam losses and leaks.

Function

The testing equipment detects and evaluates ultrasonic vibrations caused by the
media flowing through the steam trap. The ultrasonic vibrations are transferred to the
tip of the sensor by pressing the sound probe to the specified point of reference on the
trap body. The ultrasonic vibrations are then converted into electric pulses and
indicated by the display device. The VAPOPHONE VKP 10 signals only vibrations
within 40 – 60 kHz, as these frequencies constitute the usual vibration range
associated with flowing steam. The user will evaluate the sensed ultrasonic vibrations
as part of the comparison measurement carried out for reference purposes.

Attention

■ Do not use the VAPOPHONE VKP 10 in areas subject to explosion

hazards!

■ The 9 V NiCd storage battery of the display device must only be

replaced by the manufacturer!

■ The sound probe VKPS 10 must only be used for sensing ultrasonic

vibrations at the surface of the steam trap bodies.

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Explanatory Notes continued

Technical Data

Display device

Plastic casing with knob and analogue indicator.
Casing with integrated storage battery compartment.
One socket to plug in the connecting cable of the sound probe.
Protection IP 41.
Max. admissible service temperature: 70°C.
Min. admissible service temperature: 0°C.

Power supply

The equipment is powered by the 9 V NiCd storage battery or by the power supply unit
that comes with the VKP 10.

Sound probe

The sound probe is powered by the storage battery of the display device.

Power supply unit

230V/ 50Hz (other PSU available on request)
Output 12 V

Weight

Service case with equipment approx. 2 kg

Dimensions

Leather bag: 200 mm / 190 mm / 90 mm
Display device: 90 mm / 45 mm / 160 mm

(width / height / depth)

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Commissioning

Commissioning of display device

The equipment can be used for testing tasks with or without the leather bag.
When using the leather bag, please open the strap at the bottom of the bag to uncover
the cable entry.

■ Connect the cable of the sound probe to the display device .

■ Check the charging capacity of the storage battery.

Set the knob to the battery-check position .
If the indicator shows a value below “5”, re-charge the storage battery.

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2

E A

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Operation

Steam trap testing

Before carrying out steam trap tests ajust the measuring sensitivity of the VKP 10 by
using the knob . The highest sensitivity is obtained when the knob is set to “10”.

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Note that different steam trap types produce – under identical conditions and with
same loss of steam – different sound levels. For GESTRA steam traps type BK we
recommend the knob setting “8”, and for steam traps type MK the knob setting “7”.

Press the probe tip gently onto the trap surface. When testing traps of the same type
make sure you always apply the probe at the same point of the trap body in order to
be able to compare the results more easily and to discover changes when repeating
the tests.

Steam traps operating continuously and discharging up to about 30 kg/hr (66 lb/hr) of
condensate from steam pressures lower than 20 bar (290 psi) will cause no or only a
slight deflection of the indicating meter. Any steam loss is indicated by a proportional
meter deflection. The relation between steam loss and meter deflection depends on
the steam trap type and the used measuring point on the trap surface. Larger
condensate flowrates and higher service pressures result in louder flow-generated
noises, making it necessary to reduce the sensitivity setting. To obtain meaningful
readings when using the VKP 10, log and use installation-specific survey data and
empirical test values.

In practice an exact quantification of the steam loss is usually only of minor
importance. Normally an approximate value that allows the detection of steam loss
through steam traps at a tolerable effort will suffice.

When checking the steam traps set the knob to “7” or “8”. A continuous indication
between 4 and 5 on the meter scale indicates that the trap requires maintenance or
replacement. Meter deflections between 4 and 5 indicate steam losses of 1 kg/hr up to
4 kg/hr.

When testing conventional steam trap bodies apply the probe at right angles

to the cover of the trap.

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Operation continued

Steam trap testing continued

Float traps: Apply the probe at right angles to the trap body.

GESTRA Steam traps RHOMBUS

Attention

■ If traps of the same type are tested take care that the probe is always

applied at the same point of the trap body in order to be able to
compare the results obtained and also to discover changes when
repeating the test.

10

line

: Apply the tip of the probe laterally to the trap body.

Operation continued

Notice

■ Please take into account that ultrasonic sources, such as pumps or steam reducing

stations, in the proximity of the steam trap to be tested might falsify the result. In
this case “steam loss” might be indicated even though the traps operate correctly.
This can be verified by scanning the adjacent pipelines. If the reflection remains
unchanged or increases, this must be attributed to a foreign ultrasonic source. If
possible switch off sound emitting plant components.

■ Intermittently operating steam traps cause recurrent meter deflections which might

even reach the end of the scale. Thermostatic traps (with bimetallic control or
membrane regulators) may operate within the specified pressure and flowrate
range either continuously or intermittently. In this case steam loss can usually be
excluded. A recurrent meter deflection indicates here correctly operating steam
traps.

■ Thermodynamically controlled steam traps always operate intermittently over the

complete flowrate range and might thereby cause steam loss which rises with
increasing lift frequency. A clear evidence of loss is only given by a constantly large
meter deflection.

■ Basically the same considerations as mentioned for thermodynamic traps also

apply in the case of steam traps with open floats. However, with float-operated traps
inherent steam loss will definitely occur even when the trap operates intermittently.

■ Before performing the tests at least an estimation should be carried out with the aid

of technical plant data (service pressures, differential pressures, flowrates etc.) so
as to ascertain whether the trap flowrate lies within the range that permits testing.

Maintenance

Recharging battery

Plug the battery charger into the display device . The red and the green LED of

C

the battery charger light up: red = charging.
For a full charge leave the charger plugged into the mains supply for approx. 14 hours.

Replacing battery

Under normal operating conditions the integrated battery has a service life of 5 to 7
years. Should the battery be faulty, please return the equipment to GESTRA GmbH in
Bremen for replacement.

Attention

■ Note that the 9 V NiCd battery of the display device must only be

replaced by the manufacturer!

A

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Flowserve Flow Control S.A. S.

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E-28002 Madrid
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E-mail: [e-mail]

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Flowserve S.p. A

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Via Prealpi, 30 – 20032 Cormano (MI)
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

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Flowserve Portuguesa, Lda.

Av. Dr. Antunes Guimarães, 1159
Porto 4100-082
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

®

GESTRA GmbH

P. O. Box 10 54 60, D-28054 Bremen, Münchener Str. 77, D-28215 Bremen
Tel. ++49 (0) 421 35 03 - 0, Fax ++49 (0) 421 35 03- 393
E-Mail [e-mail], Internet www.gestra.de

A Unit of Flowserve Corporation

818427-00/104cm · © 2003 GESTRA GmbH · Bremen · Printed in Germany

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