SDT Case: Ultrasound Saved CIP at a Food Plant — 2 of 2 Traps Failed Open

Source. Case published by SDT Ultrasound Solutions: contractor Adam De Gioia (Final Drive Engineering Services) at a well-known food manufacturing site. Photos from the survey.

Situation

About 30 steam traps of different types — all critical for pasteurization and CIP. One failed trap can stop multiple lines and tanks. Maintenance was reactive: out of sight, out of mind.

What they did

After a short briefing with distributor GVS, the contractor bought an SDT ULTRAChecker and started the night shift.

First trap: cloudy sight glass — already suspicious; ultrasound confirmed the failure.

Contact sensor + histogram and headphones: continuous roar = failed open.

Night-one results

1. Trap #1 — cloudy glass + continuous ultrasound → blow-through.
2. Trap #2 — no sight glass, same continuous sound → also failed.
3. Score: 2 of 2 priority traps failed.

Site engineers: “We can catch steam issues early now.”

Next steps on site

The same tool moved to condensate return pump, boiler blow-down, hydraulics and air leaks. For a full trap programme, upgrade to TrapChecker or SDT340 with automatic verdicts and routes — see the survey method.

Takeaway

On food and pharma sites steam is invisible, and CIP downtime costs more than the instrument. SDT contact ultrasound separates a healthy cycle from blow-through in minutes. KEG TRK supplies ULTRAChecker / TrapChecker / SDT340 — contact us.