Jargon Buster - T

TD steam trap
Thermodynamic steam trap. A type of steam trap that traps steam and discharges condensed water (condensate). A TD trap would typically consist of a disc which lifts and opens when condensate is formed but which is shut when steam leaks round the top of it. Typically applications for this type of steam trap would be steam mains drainage. This type of steam trap will have a blast type discharge of the condensate from it.
TDS
An acronym for ‘total dissolved solids’. These are solids that are chemically dissolved in water. The TDS level is typically measured using a conductivity meter or probe. The higher the TDS the higher the conductivity.
Tee
A type of pipe fitting which is used to either combine or split a flow of steam or fluid.
Temperature compensation
The correction for the influence of temperature on a measurement.
Temperature sensor
Temperature sensors and thermal protection devices are designed to control and or protect industrial and commercial equipment. They are commonly electronic or mechanical ‘self-acting’ in type.
Therm
A unit of measurement used by gas companies for billing purposes. 1 Therm is equal to 29.3 kWh.
Thermal efficiency
A dimensionless performance measure of the thermodynamic performance of a device that uses thermal energy.
Thermocouple
This is used commonly for temperature control and is used for many different applications. This due to the fact that it is rugged, cheap, has a wide temperature range and can be designed from materials for a specific function.
Thermodynamic steam trap (TD trap)
A type of steam trap that traps steam and discharges condensed water (condensate).A TD trap would typically consist of a disc which lifts and opens when condensate is formed but which is shut when steam leaks round the top of it. Typically applications for this type of steam trap would be steam mains drainage. This type of steam trap will have a blast type discharge of the condensate from it.
Thermodynamics
A ways of expressing energy conversion between heat and mechanical work.
Three pass boiler
A type of steam boiler which contains a main combustion chamber and two sets of smoke tubes.
Three port control valve
A type of control valve which has three ports on it. This type of valve is normally used to mix or divert liquid passing through its body.
TLV
A company which manufactures a range of steam products (steam traps and valves etc.). The name TLV originates from the acronym ‘Trouble Less Valve’. The company was founded in 1950 in Japan.
Total dissolved solids (TDS)
These are solids that are chemically dissolved in water. The TDS level is typically measured using a conductivity meter or probe. The higher the TDS the higher the conductivity.
Transducer
Any device that generates an electrical signal from physical measurements.
Transmitter
A device that translates the low level output of a sensor or transducer to a high level signal suitable for transmission to a place where it can be further processed.
Trap
A trap or steam trap is a device which discharges condensate and non-condensable gases when they form and closes and traps when there is none. On a steam system it is important that steam does not leak through a steam trap and that the trap closes properly where there is only steam present. It is however also important that when condensate or gases are present that they are removed from the system. If condensate is not removed it can be a safety issue as well as causing possible process issues. Steam traps come in lots of different types and sizes according to the application.
Trap set
A steam trap with additional items mounted before and after it to ensure that it works correctly, reliably, and can be maintained. It would typically consists of; upstream isolating valves, strainer, steam trap itself, check valve, and downstream isolating valve.
Turbine
A device which turns energy from a flow of fluid into energy. A typically example would be a steam turbine which uses the flow of steam from a higher to lower pressure to turn the turbine. The turbine could then be used to turn a range of equipment including a generator for electricity.
TUV
German safety monitoring agency (Technischer Uberwachungsverein).
Two pass boiler
A type of steam boiler which contains a main combustion chamber and one set of smoke tubes.
Two phase flow
On a steam system where a condensate pipe has a mixture of both condensate and flash steam in it, this is called two phase flow.
Two port control valve
A type of control valve which has two ports (inlet and outlet). This type of valve modulates the flow through it by throttling’ the fluid passing through the valve. This can be done in different ways depending on the valve design and type.