I am pondering the consequence of oversizing a steam trap. I can understand why an undersized steam trap would be problematic, i.e. backing condensate into your steam header. But what would an oversized trap do? Release steam?Other pumps

The inverted bucket traps could operate on higher pressures with the smaller orifices.  The IB mechanism has weight to pull the valve open away from the orifice seat.  Larger sized orifices of IB traps have less ability to open the valve against the steam pressure.Gate Valves  So it would be better to select the smallest orifice size of IB trap to get required capacity for condensate flow, and avoid IB trap lockup due to overpressure on the valve to orifice seat.Check Valves

If it were a thermodynamic type steam trap like small disc traps used on tracing lines, the oversized capacity traps would cycle more frequently resulting on wear and premature failure.Ball Valves The disc traps typically fail open, so there would be steam blowing through and consequently wasted steam.  One manufacturer offers an insulation cap for their disc trap to shield it from cold wind, which would also cause it to cycle excessively.Butterfly Valves    

The losses through a trap are more-or-less independent of the flow rate, but are larger for large traps than for small traps. So if you use an oversized trap your losses will be more than if you had a correctly sized trap.  Your trap supplier will be able to advise you on hard numbers, depending on the style and size of the traps.Plug Valves

Also, large traps cost more than small traps so it will impact on your capital cost, especially if you use larger piping and valves to match the larger traps.

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