Condensate and heat recovery systems > Mechanical pumps
APT14 automatic pump-trap
APT14 is a Spirax Sarco automatic pump-trap that drains continuously when pressure is available and switches to pressure-powered pumping when backpressure or vacuum prevent ordinary trap discharge.
Quick facts
Where APT14 fits
APT14 automatic pump-trap is a model-specific route for users already looking for APT14, a pump trap or a pressure powered condensate pump for stalled heat exchangers and closed return systems. It sits under the wider mechanical condensate pumps family but narrows the journey down to one verified model.
Documented product boundary
The verified technical and installation material confirms APT14 as a PN16 automatic pump-trap that changes between trap mode and powered pumping mode according to system conditions. For APT14 itself, the documented connection routes are:
DN40 x DN25flanged1 1/2" x 1"screwedDN15 (1/2")motive steam / exhaust connection
The same documentation set also covers APT14HC and APT14SHC, but the specification selector on this page intentionally keeps only standard APT14 complete-unit options.
At the documented reference duty of 1 m installation height, 5 bar g motive steam and 1 bar g backpressure, APT14 is listed with:
5 Lpumped per cycle4000 kg/hmaximum trapping-mode capacity1100 kg/hmaximum pumping-mode capacity
Selection and installation points
APT14 is usually reviewed where ordinary trap drainage fails because differential pressure falls away, backpressure rises or vacuum develops. That commonly means temperature-controlled heat exchangers, closed condensate return systems, low-level installations and hot condensate duties where electric pumps would add cavitation or hazardous-area complications.
Before final selection, confirm available motive steam pressure, total backpressure, installation height, required condensate load and whether the duty should move up to APT14HC. The verified installation guide also points to standard system checks such as draining the motive steam line properly, fitting a Y strainer at the condensate inlet and reviewing outlet line sizing against flash steam and shared return conditions.
Related routes
- Return to mechanical condensate pumps to compare APT14 with wider pressure powered pumping routes.
- Compare electrical condensate pumps when the application is a receiver-led pumped return rather than a pump-trap duty.
- Review practical methods of preventing stall when the project starts from heat exchanger stall, not from a model number.
Continue the APT14 selection path
APT14 selection usually sits between condensate recovery, stalled heat exchanger drainage and wider pumped-return decisions.
Compare the wider mechanical pumping range
Return to the mechanical condensate pump family to compare automatic pump traps, pressure powered pumps and wider condensate recovery duties.
Confirm where APT14 fits
Review stalled heat exchanger guidance when the real issue is condensate back-up caused by low differential pressure or rising backpressure.
Check the electrical pumping route
Compare electrical condensate pumps when the return package is more conventional and does not need trap-and-pump operation in one body.