Trent Technologies, PRODUCT OVERVIEW: Manufacture of The CostGard Condensate Drain Seal

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

CostGard^TM Condensate Drain Seal

Descriptive Brochure - Download and Print

Contact Trent Technologies for a free 17 minute PowerPoint Presentation.

BACKGROUND

The CostGard™ Condensate Drain Seal was developed specifically to replace the always troublesome condensate P-trap on draw-through HVAC systems. This development was initiated because the P-trap is simply unsuitable as a condensate drain seal. A trap cannot prevent the ingestion of outside air, nor can it ensure adequate drainage from the condensate pan under all operating conditions. In order to provide an effective drain seal, a trap must be full of water at all times and must not become blocked to condensate flow. Evaporation empties the trap during non-cooling periods (winter and/or extended shut-down periods). Freeze damage often prevents the trap from holding water and forming a seal. The debris trapped plus the growth of algae inside is certain to cause flow blockage every year or two. These conditions and the problems they cause are well known to qualified members of the industry. See excerpt from: ASHRAE Standard 62-1989R .

The CostGard™ Condensate Drain Seal eliminates all condensate trap problems. Thus, it relieves the building owners/users of excessive and unnecessary operating costs, by reducing (1) service calls, (2) maintenance, (3) damage to equipment, (4) damage to surrounding property, and (5) health threatening indoor air pollution. Article- Cost Savings.

The CostGard™ Condensate Drain Seal is the result of more than six years of engineering research and development.

OPERATION

The CostGard™ Condensate Drain Seal makes use of the hydraulic and pneumatic forces available in air handler equipment to form an air seal—instead of a water seal. Thus, it eliminates the expensive maintenance, property damage, and health problems caused by the water-dependent condensate P-trap.

It is simple, effective and reliable. It has no moving parts. How it operates is illustrated and explained in Figure 1.

CAUSES OF COSTLY CONDENSATE P-TRAP PROBLEMS

Missing P-traps

Failure to install (designer or contractor)

Removal by unmindful service personnel

Destruction by freezing

Dysfunctional and Empty P-traps

Evaporation of condensate from the trap (e.g. wintertime and summer shut-down)

Unsuitable geometry (e.g. poor design and open top)

Flow blockage (e.g. debris, algae, freeze-up)

ELIMINATION OF CONDENSATE P-TRAP PROBLEMS

When used in place of a condensate trap, the CostGard™ Condensate Drain Seal improves the system operation by:

Eliminating trap blockage and condensate overflow;

Problem: Video - P-Trap Blocked - Condensate Overflow

Solution: Video - Self Cleaning Drain Seal - Flow Blockage Prevention

Preventing seal (P-trap) freeze-up and destruction in outside locations;

Problem: Video - P-Trap Damaged by Freezing

Solution: Video - Freeze Damage - Protection

Permitting complete pan drainage,

Precluding internal flooding during cooling start-up

Preventing aerosol mist formation, and

Eliminating causes of biological contamination;

Problem: Video - P-Trap Missin g (blowing)

                           P-Trap Empty (blowing)

                           P-Trap with Open Top (blowing)

Solution: Video - Effective Air Seal (no blowing)

                           Condensate Drainage (smooth flow)

Preventing odorous and toxic gases from being drawn in through the condensate drain system; and

Problem: Video - P-Trap Missing (ingestion)

P-Trap Empty (ingestion)

P-Trap with Open Top (ingestion)

Solution: Video - Effective Air Seal (no ingestion)

Prolonging the life of HVAC systems.

Problem: Photo - Drain Pan and other Components

Damaged and Contaminated

Solution: Video - CostGard^TM Condensate Drain Seal Description

The CostGard™ Condensate Drain Seal virtually eliminates all the cost associated with the above problems. It has been estimated that the cost savings over a period of twenty years, will exceed those realized from an aggressive energy management program, at about 5% of the investment. Article- Cost Savings

DRAIN SEAL APPLICABILITY

The CostGard™ Condensate Drain Seal is applicable to draw-through HVAC systems with cooling capacities up to 100 tons and can operate with internal negative pressures in the drain pan to 5 inches of water column.

To view a photograph and schematic drawing of the CostGard™ Condensate Drain Seal Model 1525-71-56, and a photograph of a typical installation on a rooftop HVAC unit, click on the thumb nails below.

Descriptive Brochure - Download and Print

[Top] [Home]