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In plumbing, a trap is a U-shaped portion of pipe designed to trap liquid or gas to prevent unwanted flow; most notably sewer gases from entering buildings while allowing waste materials to pass through. In oil refineries, traps are used to prevent hydrocarbons and other dangerous gases and chemical fumes from escaping through drains.
Heat traps are valves or loops of pipe on the cold water inlet and hot water outlet of water heaters. The heat traps allow cold water to flow into the water heater tank, but prevent unwanted natural convection and heated water to flow out of the tank. [1] [2] Newer water heaters have built-in heat traps.
All plumbing fixtures have traps in their drains; these traps are either internal or external to the fixtures. Traps are pipes which curve down then back up; they "trap" a small amount of water to create a water seal between the ambient air space and the inside of the drain system. This prevents sewer gas from entering buildings.
In the U.S., every plumbing fixture must also be coupled to the system's vent piping. [1] Without a vent, negative pressure can slow the flow of water leaving the system, resulting in clogs, or cause siphonage to empty a trap. The high point of the vent system (the top of its "soil stack") must be open to the exterior at atmospheric pressure.
Any material permitted by the plumbing, health, or building code (as applicable) may be used, but it must be compatible with the other materials in the system, the fluids being transported, and the temperature and pressure inside (and outside) the system. Brass or bronze fittings are common in copper piping and plumbing systems.
'S' trap inlet to drain [further explanation needed]. The air lock phenomenon can be used in a number of useful ways. An 'S' trap (a pipe that descends from a reservoir, then curves back up, then down again) allows liquid to flow from top to bottom unhindered, and gas cannot flow through the trap unless it has enough extra pressure to overcome the liquid head of the trap.
Plumbing systems also service air distribution/control, and therefore contribute to the mechanical part of MEP. Plumbing for HVAC systems involves the transfer of coolant, pressurized air, water, and occasionally other substances. Ducting for air transfer may also be consider plumbing, but is generally installed by different tradespeople. [11]
The first commercial heat pipe product was the "Thermal Magic Cooking Pin" developed by Energy Conversion Systems, Inc. and first sold in 1966. [55] The cooking pins used water as the working fluid. The envelope was stainless steel, with an inner copper layer for compatibility. During operation, one end of the heat pipe is poked through the roast.