Patent ID: 8798798

Claim:
A district heating system have a steam source and a distal heat load, the system comprising: a plurality of conduits configured to transfer steam from the steam source to the distal heat load, the plurality of conduits disposed below ground level, the plurality of conduits having a first conduit, the first conduit having a first end and a second end, the second end being vertically lower than the first end, the steam flowing from the first end to the second end; a first sensor measuring at least one first steam parameter associated with the first conduit between the first end and the second end; a steam trap operably coupled to the second end; a controller coupled to the first sensor to receive a first signal indicating the at least one first steam parameter, the controller having a processor that is responsive to executable instructions when executed on the processor for determining a movement of condensate towards the first end and a first condensate location in the first conduit based at least in part on the first signal.