Anti-Freeeze question

hr

to calculate the system volume? Check out Siggy's HDS program it has a module to figure capacity based on pipe size and lengths, etc.

Seems odd a mis-sized circ would cause no flow what so ever? Possibly air locked?

I've found radiant systems hold a lot more fluid than one would think.

Also if the volume guesstimate is off, possibly the expansion tank is also? Hate to see you pop a relief and blow all that glycol down the drain :)

hot rod

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John L.

Anti-Freeeze question

I recently anti-freezed a heating system. I must have grossly undersized system volume. Initially I put in 25 gallons of Hercules cryo-teck -100. I let the system circulate and used the Hercules test strips only to find that the test strips do not give a accurate interpetation of freeze protection. While waiting for my hand refractometer to arive, a branch circuit froze and burst due to a component pump not being sized properly. Tested system fluid with a refractometer and found to be at 18*F. Replaced pump and added 10 more gallons of cryo-teck -100. After allowing time to circulate, tested and found fluid at 9*F. I don't want to leave the system like this. I would like to have burst protection to -20*F. Any estimate on how much more anti-freeze I should add would be appreciated.
Thank in advance,
John L.

Empire_2

Here is their websight.

Gives you all the measures/specs you are looking for.
www.herchem.com/specs/cryoteck.pdf Check it out.
Mike T

Empire_2

Hey hot hod

You can calculate by total pipe and its given volume per linear foot. Very much a pain in the A**, but it will get ya close....

John L.

System Sizing

I orrigional measured all exposed piping and radiation to estamate system volume. Added boiler volume and exp. tank. It turns out that this is a Mono-flow T system. The main piping is in inaccessible crawlspace. The 2nd floor branch never got realy hot with origional Taco 0010. Now installed Taco 0011 and works fine. My remaining question is with system fluid testing at +9*F, what is the burst protection? The table on the pail only goes up to +2*F. Same info on website. They want to be able to shut off heat to building. The lowest outside temp. we see is -10*F typically.
Thanks,
John L.

Brad White_9

System volume

My system fill point has a 5/8" Neptune meter. Short money ($65?) and saves a lot of time estimating lengths. This may not help you on this job but maybe the next. My next investment will be an Axiom feeder pump and tank set. You may want to get one. Good to store pre-mixed solution and give you a place to put it during drain down and to re-introduce it.

If you do that, you can use the water meter method to get an accurate volume (in gallons or cubic feet x7.49 by the way) and get a fresh start.

Empire_2

John, Give them a call

Since 1 to 1 ratio will give you +2 freeze and -50 burst @ 35% concentration, I would only Guess,..and I stress guess a 30 to 31 % glycol mix would give you your asking protection. Phone 800-221-9330. Give them a call Let me know what you find out. I guess my remaining question is why cant you go with the +2 rating, which will give you added protection and burst to -50*f?
Mike T.

John L.

A Hercules answer

I called Hercules and talked to the technical dept.
As it turns out the refractometer doesn't give a accurate reading of "cryo-tek" anti-freeze. I was told that a +10*F refractometer reading of "cryo-teck" is actuality a freeze point of +3.2*F and a burst of -20*F. This I was told was based on studies of solutions in freezers at H.C.C. .
Thanks to all who commented.

John L.

hr

Sooooo

where does that leave the technician in the field who NEEDS to know protection rates?

Those test strips aren't a very good option. Short shelf life and hard to read accurately.

A bunch of freezers at different temperatures??

Seems other glycol manufactures either sell or recomend refractometers.

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Terry

RV?

Is Hercules a RV antifreeze?

I understand that automotive antifreeze will give similar results if using refract.