SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MEDIA FOR MONITORING STEAM TRAPS FOR FAILURE

1 . A system for monitoring a steam trap for failure, comprising:

an energy sensor; and

a hardware processor that is coupled to the energy sensor and that is configured to:

set a waiting period of time to an initial value;

sample first energy output by the steam trap based upon a first signal from the energy sensor;

wait the waiting period of time;

sample second energy output by the steam trap after waiting the waiting period of time based upon a second signal from the energy sensor;

determine whether the second energy output by the steam trap indicates a problem in the steam trap;

in response to determining that the second energy output by the steam trap does not indicate a problem in the steam trap, increase the waiting period of time to an increased period of time; and

sample third energy output by the steam trap after waiting the increased period of time based upon a third signal from the energy sensor.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to:

determine whether the third energy output by the steam trap indicates a problem in the steam trap;

in response to determining that the third energy output by the steam trap does indicate a problem in the steam trap, set the waiting period of time to the initial value; and

sample fourth energy output by the steam trap after waiting the waiting period of time based upon a fourth signal from the energy sensor.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein determining whether the third energy output by the steam trap indicates a problem in the steam trap comprise determining whether the third energy output is within a threshold amplitude range from the second energy output.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein sampling the first energy output by the steam trap includes measuring at least one of ultrasonic energy and audible energy output by the steam trap.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the initial value is between 20 minutes and 40 minutes.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the increased period of time is between 40 minutes and 80 minutes.

7 . A method of monitoring a steam trap for failure, comprising:

setting a waiting period of time to an initial value;

sampling first energy output by the steam trap;

waiting the waiting period of time;

sampling second energy output by the steam trap after waiting the waiting period of time;

determining whether the second energy output by the steam trap indicates a problem in the steam trap;

in response to determining that the second energy output by the steam trap does not indicate a problem in the steam trap, increasing the waiting period of time to an increased period of time; and

sampling third energy output by the steam trap after waiting the increased period of time.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

determining whether the third energy output by the steam trap indicates a problem in the steam trap;

in response to determining that the third energy output by the steam trap does indicate a problem in the steam trap, setting the waiting period of time to the initial value; and

sampling fourth energy output by the steam trap after waiting the waiting period of time.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining whether the third energy output by the steam trap indicates a problem in the steam trap comprise determining whether the third energy output is within a threshold amplitude range from the second energy output.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein sampling the first energy output by the steam trap includes measuring at least one of ultrasonic energy and audible energy output by the steam trap.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the initial value is between 20 minutes and 40 minutes.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the increased period of time is between 40 minutes and 80 minutes.

13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for monitoring a steam trap for failure, the method comprising:

setting a waiting period of time to an initial value;

sampling first energy output by the steam trap;

waiting the waiting period of time;

sampling second energy output by the steam trap after waiting the waiting period of time;

determining whether the second energy output by the steam trap indicates a problem in the steam trap;

in response to determining that the second energy output by the steam trap does not indicate a problem in the steam trap, increasing the waiting period of time to an increased period of time; and

sampling third energy output by the steam trap after waiting the increased period of time.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , the method further comprising:

determining whether the third energy output by the steam trap indicates a problem in the steam trap;

in response to determining that the third energy output by the steam trap does indicate a problem in the steam trap, setting the waiting period of time to the initial value; and

sampling fourth energy output by the steam trap after waiting the waiting period of time.

15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein determining whether the third energy output by the steam trap indicates a problem in the steam trap comprise determining whether the third energy output is within a threshold amplitude range from the second energy output.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein sampling the first energy output by the steam trap includes measuring at least one of ultrasonic energy and audible energy output by the steam trap.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the initial value is between 20 minutes and 40 minutes.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the increased period of time is between 40 minutes and 80 minutes.