Steam System circa 1896 no traps

Vic Plank

Doing final install of new Burnham Steam Boiler today (
V9-11) in a Catholic School. Original system was installed in 1896. Two pipe steam. No traps anywhere.
Massive wall mounted radiators. Valve on inlet and valve on outlet. Three peices of bare fin tube in basement in girls and boys rest rooms' and the third peice in a non occupied space. The bare fin tube also had valves on inlet and outlet.

I know enough about steam to be dangerous but I have never seen a sytem without traps of any kind.

Long story short ...how do this work?

Darn them dead guys

and yes Dan I am trying to get my employer to let me attend one of your seminars... you should schedule one in Lancaster PA. Tons of steam abortions in this area

Thanks

Vic Plank

Lancaster PA

Steamhead (in transit)

That's \"Two-Pipe, Air-Vent\"

You have to keep the pressure very low on this system, especially if it has dry returns. Steam can work its way thru dry returns from one radiator into the wrong end of other radiators, banging all the way.

The main operational difference here is the way the air is handled. Steam mains and radiators need vents to get rid of the air. But the dry return, if used, handles no air and is not vented.

The Two-Pipe, Air-Vent system was the first attempt to separate the returning condensate from the incoming steam. If all the radiators were individually dripped into a wet return, it worked fairly well. But if dry returns were used, it could be a very difficult system to operate properly. This system was essentially transitional, being rendered obsolete by the Vapor systems we all love.

How about some pics?

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Boilerpro_3

You could add

some orifice plates to the supply valves if the system acts up. That would deep the steam out of those returns.

Boilerpro

Vic Plank

Thanks


System is two pipe with return lines from each piece of radiation to return main which is piped downhill to boiler and thru a hartford loop.

I just didnt understand how a steam system could work without traps; but after a conversation with one of the companies VP's (age 72 and still at work everyday)he explained to me that traps are not needed as long as the system is closed and plumbed correctly.

This all started when the head of facilities asked me why a couple of rooms on the 2nd floor never get warm. I assumed bad traps. Imagine my surprise when I got to the rooms in question and there were no traps.

Thanks again for your help

Vic