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Re: The main is hot, the radiator is cold, and the heating company can't figure out why.
That 271 square ft of EDR on the ratings plate contains a 30% pickup factor so the output of the boiler is actually 361 square ft of EDR. Unless there is somewhere close to 90 square ft of piping surface there is more capacity available to fill the radiation than the nameplate would imply.
Even with a significantly undersized boiler you will see the radiators all or mostly partially heat, not half of the system not heat at all.
Or as Ed would put it, when someone spends many thousands replacing the boiler and it has the same problem, what will you do next.
Actually,
Even with one sized dead on, if you vent some radiators very fast it can starve others completely for a long time. I had that issue early on. If memory serves, I had 100sqft worth of radiators out of 392 that stayed ice cold under normal conditions. Slowing others down just a little fixed it completely.
ChrisJ
3
Re: PLC steam boiler control
@mattmia2,
No outdoor temperature sensing. I wanted to keep it real simple. Fundamentally, leaving vacuum out of it for now, I stop every new burn a set time after steam arrives at a sensor on the most remote radiator in my system which is in my garage. This gives me a set partial fill of the system no matter the condition of the system at the starting point. Then, if the call is still in progress, the next burn can't start till a set time after that same sensor opens again, signaling that a set amount(not all) of steam in the radiators has condensed and is now in the rooms. That's the extent of the control...real simple. I tweaked the two timers for a while, but haven't changed them in years. 90% of the code in the PLC is just there for data collection and visualization on the touch screen.
Anyone thinking about the above can see how the burn lengths and the wait times in between them will be changed by how fast the steam is condensing which is directly related to the temperature outside. The two timers just need to be such that on design day the total burn time/hour will cover the demand if the call goes on a really long time - that is - continuously cycling as frequently as these two timers will allow. On average days of course the tstat will be satisfied and the calls will be shorter. The burns always stop way before the system is full of steam though so there never is any pressure. The dead men installed lots of extra radiation so there is no reason to ever get anywhere near full of steam - even on design day. The burns have no choice but to be evenly spaced so the heat ends up a lot more even with far less overshoot.
Natural vacuum between cycles improves things even more, but I'll leave that out of the conversation for now. It isn't required for this approach to significantly improve things.
No outdoor temperature sensing. I wanted to keep it real simple. Fundamentally, leaving vacuum out of it for now, I stop every new burn a set time after steam arrives at a sensor on the most remote radiator in my system which is in my garage. This gives me a set partial fill of the system no matter the condition of the system at the starting point. Then, if the call is still in progress, the next burn can't start till a set time after that same sensor opens again, signaling that a set amount(not all) of steam in the radiators has condensed and is now in the rooms. That's the extent of the control...real simple. I tweaked the two timers for a while, but haven't changed them in years. 90% of the code in the PLC is just there for data collection and visualization on the touch screen.
Anyone thinking about the above can see how the burn lengths and the wait times in between them will be changed by how fast the steam is condensing which is directly related to the temperature outside. The two timers just need to be such that on design day the total burn time/hour will cover the demand if the call goes on a really long time - that is - continuously cycling as frequently as these two timers will allow. On average days of course the tstat will be satisfied and the calls will be shorter. The burns always stop way before the system is full of steam though so there never is any pressure. The dead men installed lots of extra radiation so there is no reason to ever get anywhere near full of steam - even on design day. The burns have no choice but to be evenly spaced so the heat ends up a lot more even with far less overshoot.
Natural vacuum between cycles improves things even more, but I'll leave that out of the conversation for now. It isn't required for this approach to significantly improve things.
PMJ
2
Re: Are these heating pipes covered in Asbestos?
True the only fool-proof way is professional sampling & Air monitoring by a Licensed Asbestos Abatement Contractor.That sounds like a conflict of interest. It is much better to have a good asbestos consultant do asbestos surveys. The same people / companies also typically provide lead surveys, mold and indoor air quality surveys, and other environmental services. In California, it is illegal for a common ownership to perform both the asbestos survey and the asbestos removal on a project. The two problems are finding what is not present, and ignoring what is not most profitable to remove.
Re: Radiantec Smartwall tubing
"Because of its thinner wall, this tubing may or may not be accepted by local codes." that comes straight from their website, they made cheap proprietary junk and you got stuck with it. Probably have to use their specific fittings.
GGross
1
Re: Combi boiler to electric water heater
Hi, I’m wondering if a 120 volt heat pump water heater could be a good fit, and meet your needs. 🤔
Yours, Larry
Yours, Larry
Re: Drywall/Fire Protection requirements over Boiler?
Since you state you are in NJ like I am I will tell you that there is no drywall above my boiler, and the inspector didn't blink. My basement joists are lower than yours, like 6'-6"
I'm unaware of what the code in NJ is for that, but in my single family residence, the inspector didn't say peep
I'm unaware of what the code in NJ is for that, but in my single family residence, the inspector didn't say peep
Re: Troubleshoot intermittent lock-out on gas boiler
I really question the validity of what you are saying.
Re: Electric steam boiler
For emergency standby; obvious standby (pun if that intentional) are boilers that can utilize fuel stored onsite. If fire marshal limits LP or LPG or heating kerosene then go coal. Coal storage is least expensive. When we had industry steam boilers were operated 24/7. Critical equipment like ventilators were steam operated although a steam driver is far more expensive than an electric motor. One would suppose that modern hospitals would be required to be equally reliable. Instead laws require standby electric generators even when electricity is generated onsite. After Katrina and Fukishima you'd think somebody somewhere would speak up about emergency measures.
jumper
1
Re: Electric steam boiler
The problem with electric steam boilers, @AlfredRose , isn't the technology for the boilers. That's there, and well understood by engineers. The problem is two fold: first, where is the energy to come from? You mention fusion, and I'm hopeful about that, and there is nuclear, but the green crowd aren't interested in that. So where does it come from -- without it's own terrific environmental damage. The other, as @pecmsg mentioned, is how does it get from the source to the point of use? I can't think of anywhere in the developed world which has an electrical distribution grid which is even remotely adequate -- and making the increases in the capacity of the grid required is not going to be easy or cheap.
Then there are places with really wild eyed regulations to convert all transportation to electric within a decade or so. Again some of the technology is available, but only for one mode (rail) -- but the cost is astronomical and the power sources aren't available.
Then there are places with really wild eyed regulations to convert all transportation to electric within a decade or so. Again some of the technology is available, but only for one mode (rail) -- but the cost is astronomical and the power sources aren't available.
