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Why does this set up "work"?

kcopp
kcopp Member Posts: 4,419
Did a service call for a steam boiler this week... It is a 4 sec. Weil SGO w/ a Carlin EZ gas burner. Added a Field MG1 and a spill switch that was missing.  Nat gas. About 1 and 1/2 yrs old. It was piped in 1/2 CSST about 35 feet from the meter. Looking at the gas charts the pipe capacity is about 50K BTU. Burner is about 150k input. I clocked the meter and I get 148k. How can that be?

Comments

  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    gas pressure

    where was it on/off fire?
  • Zman
    Zman Member Posts: 7,561
    The chart

    The chart gives allowable sizing given a certain pressure drop.The system you describe "works" because the boiler is either very forgiving on it's minimum or the system pressure is set too high. As SWEI suggested. what were the pressures at the boiler with the boiler on and off?

    Carl 
    "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
    Albert Einstein
  • kcopp
    kcopp Member Posts: 4,419
    I did not....

    get that far. The install was done by a company that is now out of business. The system has been  fine for a year and a half until that last cold snap where it locked out 2 times. I offered to do a complete system check w/ combustion tool and all but he just wanted to do the spill switch and double baro. I clocked it just to see if was over-fired
  • VictoriaEnergy
    VictoriaEnergy Member Posts: 126
    Pressure drop

    The capacity in the sizing tables is based on a 1/2" drop in pressure, so if you have a 35' length of pipe with 7" pressure going in you will have 6 1/2" pressure when 50 MBTUs are flowing through it.  If you allow greater flow of gas, the pressure drop will be greater too.  So when under 150 MBTUs load the pressure drop might be 2" or 2 1/2" so the appliance is getting 5~5 1/2"  Since most appliances use a manifold pressure of 3 1/2", the little reg that's built into the gas valve will likely be running wide open.



    I think you made the right call by adding the baro, the spill switch and clocking it.  The only additional thing I may have checked was the manifold pressure (as stated on the appliance rating plate) and confirm the spuds are seeing the correct pressure and are original size.  It the manifold pressure is low, then the installer would have had to drill them out to get full BTUs (a game misconduct). 



    I can imagine all kinds of ongoing reliability issues with the undersized gas line, so the owner should definitely upgrade it, but I don't see it as an unsafe operating condition.  So I don't see a problem leaving it running assuming the manifold pressure is within spec.
    Home Owners Please Note:





    You are receiving advice from some very skilled pros completely free of charge. One of the reasons I participate is to sharpen my own troubleshooting skills. So; did we get it right? I would be grateful if you extend this courtesy back by posting the final outcome of the issue you are inquiring about. Thanks
  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
    I don't think I could put my name on it

    without checking at least gas pressure and CO.
This discussion has been closed.