Cold traps are used to condense and freeze or "trap" water vapor. They are often used in a drying process for substation electrical transformer oil. A vacuum pumping system  is used to lower the pressure in the transformer case and allow the water to vaporize. The water vapor travels into the vacuum chamber where it condenses and freezes onto the surface of the cold plates. When the drying process is complete, the cold plates are heated and the trapped water can be collected from a drain located at the bottom of the chamber.

Cold Trap System General Specifications:

• cascade mechanical refrigeration
• two cold plates mounted in vacuum chamber
•  bolted pipe flanges on chamber inlet and outlet
• electric resistance defrost
• maximum physical size: 84" long X 48" deep X 72" tall
• system mounted in painted steel frame with skids and anchor points.

 
Refrigeration System:

•  -85° F to +110° F evaporator temp range
• 5000 BTU/H @ -85° F SST heat removal capacity
• 240 or 480 VAC, 1 or 3 Ph, 50 or 60 Hz main power supply
• electrical circuit breaker for each compressor
• R404A and R508B (SUVA 95) refrigerant
• operating ambient temp range of +30° F to +110° F with 30% to 80% RH
• scroll compressors
• hot gas bypass capacity control
• suction line sensors and refrigerant gauges
• evap temp display and evap set point adjustment via front panel mounted digital controller
• vibration isolated compressors and cascade refrigeration machine section
• full insulation of "cold" components
• low/high pressure and high temperature compressor cut-out switches

 
Cold Trap Vacuum Chamber:

• defrost mode vacuum by-pass circuit
• three 4" manually operated flanged vacuum isolation valves
• clear polycarbonate cover for full cold trap chamber viewing
• 120 ounce cold trap liquid volume capacity
• 4" nominal flanged vacuum inlet and outlet cold trap connections
• chamber and piping made from carbon steel, primed and painted with corrosion resistant powder-coating
• chamber vacuum leak tested to 25 microns
• vacuum break port with manual 1/2" ball valve
• drain port equipped with a manual full port 1/2" ball valve.