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Exploding the Myths
Abstract
Few industries have perpetuated as many engineering
misconceptions as have the purveyors of
mechanical steam traps. The motivation behind the
development of the prevailing mythology is as old
as time itself. It has a great deal to do with
profit and very little to do with engineering.
Competition has become so stiff between manufacturers
offering virtually identical equipment
that throat-cutting practices have become commonplace.
The professionalism of steam trap representatives,
as viewed by the engineering community,
is probably at a level somewhere between used car
salesmen and itinerant peddlers. In such an environment,
honor among thieves is the first principle
to be abandoned. Truth in advertising becomes
a certified oxymoron. Controversy, misconception
and the propagation of misinformation
is the end result.
In this text some of the principal misconceptions
will be dragged into the open, kicking
and screaming if necessary, to be examined in the
light of common sense and current technical reality.
Let's take a look at the mythology to determine
whether logic and actual user experience can dispel
some of the mists ... of steam.
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Citation
Dickman, F. (1986). Exploding the Myths. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /93093.