UCSF replaced steam traps at Rock Hall, Helen Diller and Smith Cardiovascular buildings, at Mission Bay Campus, completed in June of 2023. The purpose of this project was to renew old mechanical steam traps and replace them with improved GEM traps. The GEM traps offer a ten-year guarantee of efficiency while reducing energy consumption for steam and condensate distribution. UCSF partnered with Thermal Energy International Inc. to complete an evaluation and replace the necessary traps, resulting in significant natural gas and water savings.
Background
The UCSF Mission Bay campus depends on steam for heat circulation and autoclave use in research buildings. However, mechanical steam traps, which are used to dispel of condensate after the heat has been used from the steam, cause both mechanical issues and severe energy losses. The evaluation determined that 64 of these mechanical traps were blocked with residue or worn down and therefore were not draining condensate properly and were letting live steam through. The GEM traps provide easier access to clean the filter, a shorter trap, a customizable pipeline diameter, and the guarantee to prevent live steam from passing, which all help to improve energy efficiency and reduce water loss.
Results
Upon completion of installation, the Mission Bay campus has reported a calculated savings of 25,870 therms, 270,757 gallons of water, and significant maintenance savings, which equates to a total of $52,048 in annual savings and 136.85 metric tons of carbon emissions.
We renewed steam traps with improved GEM traps that offer a ten-year guarantee of efficiency while reducing energy.
