Which item does steam piping need to be able to drain?

Steam piping must be able to drain effectively to ensure the proper functioning of the steam system and to prevent potential damage or inefficiencies. The correct answer, the steam trap, is specifically designed to facilitate the removal of condensate—the liquid formed when steam cools—while allowing steam to pass through. Steam traps ensure that condensate can freely exit the system, preventing water buildup that could lead to water hammer, reduced efficiency, or even system failure.

Choosing condensate pumps, while they do play a role in transporting condensate, is not as precise as using steam traps. Condensate pumps are often used in scenarios where gravity drainage is not viable, but they do not perform the same continuous function that steam traps accomplish within the steam system.

Boilers and transformers are not directly associated with the drainage of condensate in the same way. Boilers generate steam and require precise water levels; they do not handle the drainage of condensed steam. Transformers, on the other hand, are electrical devices that do not have any direct connection to steam systems or condensate drainage. Therefore, steam traps are crucial components that maintain the efficiency and safety of steam piping by ensuring that condensate is properly managed.