Patent ID: 7664610

Claim:
An electronic steam trap monitor comprising: a power storage device configured to power the electronic steam trap monitor; an electrical generator coupled to the power storage device; a first temperature sensor disposed to measure a first temperature of a fluid released from the stream trap; a second temperature sensor configured to measure an external temperature of the steam trap; first measurement circuitry coupled to the first and second temperature sensors to provide a first representation of the temperature of the fluid released from the trap and an external temperature of the steam trap; signal processing circuitry operably coupled to the measurement circuitry to receive the first representation of the process variable; and wherein the signal processing circuitry is configured to store reference information relative to the first representation obtained during known non-leaking operation, and wherein the signal processing circuitry compares subsequently obtained temperature information with the reference information to selectively generate a steam trap leakage indication; and wherein the electronic steam trap monitor is mounted proximate an outlet of the steam trap.