Condensate Neutralizers .....Boilerpro

Boilerpro_3

I am just begining to use condensing boilers regularly and want to make sure that I don't rot out the floor drain lines with the acidic condensate. I've heard of pre fab neutralizers out there, but can't locate them. I also understand that it is against some of the major plumbing codes to drain directly into the sanitary sewer without buffeirng the condensate.

I've already put in one Prestige this week and should have another one in a couple of weeks. These high gas costs are finally getting people thinking about thier energy usage around here.

Thanks all

Boilerpro

db_3

BP...

Good Morning,

Stopped to take a breath huh? Happy to hear you got
some Prestige's in, try a search on "crushed limestone"
and read the one that mentions copper sulfate.

Looks like the easiest / most economic route.

That ACV line of product is Most impressive.

Have a good day, db

Paul Rohrs_4

Neutralizer

Here is a link to a past thread about building your own neutralizer.

http://forums.invision.net/Thread.cfm?CFApp=2&&Message_ID=132289&_#Message132289

Dave Stroman posted a picture of one he had built. I have used that as a model to build one as well. That pic is attached below.

A few dollars in PVC fittings and a inexpensive bag of crushed marble are working well in our condensing boiler applications. At the boiler, we remove the insert coupling and attach an insert 90° (with the hole drilled) and direct that into the reducer coupling and standpipe. The whole unit is filled with the crushed marble so that there is sufficient contact time.

As a side note, in the background is one of Hotrod's "Pump-Daddy's" that graces my office, and on this Veterans Day, it is appropriately soluting the flag.

Regards,

PR

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Dr Pepper

It's the maintenance

because the limestone is reduced by the acid, in time it goes away like the salt in a water softner. So, it needs to be checked and refilled each.....year, month ??? Does the home owner do the checking? Do you offer a pre-heating season service call and fill the bucket?

So many questions.....Hi, BP..!!!

Guy_6

Neutralizer

A piece of 2 inch PVC, about a foot long, full of crushed limestone or marble, and tapered down on each end to accomodate barbed fittings will do it. If you want to monitor it, put a 2" cleanout tee in the middle. As long as it doesn't back any condensate up into the appliance, it will be fine.

Constantin

Speaking of which...

... I wonder to what extent flue gas issues could be ameliorated in some installations by sending the flue gases through a honeycomb impregnated with calcium carbonate before they enter the flue. Sort of like modern catalytic converters...

Too much trouble, I presume, but it could be an interesting solution for those who have a need to get their flue gases pH-neutral.

Or create a safe secondary condensing HX the FCX way and have the condensate rain down a chamber into the flue gases while recriculating water from a buffer tank with marble chips on the inside. At the very least, I would worry about the draft after reducing the flue gas temperatures that much.

Aidan (UK)

Speaking of which......

Some information on condensate treatment & neutralisers in this Viessmann document, P22. The current recommendation here seems to be that domestic boilers' condensate is Ok to go into CI drains if it is diluted by other waste water.


http://www.viessmann.de/web/germany/com_publish.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/ts-condensing-technology.pdf/$FILE/ts-condensing-technology.pdf

" flue gas issues could be ameliorated in some installations by sending the flue gases through a honeycomb impregnated with calcium carbonate before they enter the flue."

Someone's already thought of it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flue_gas_desulfurization

hr

Just how bad

is the condenstae from theses units? Has anyone stuck a ph tester into a container of the condensate? Mildly acidic? Battery acid ph range?

Would 5 gallons of condensate a day compromise a septic tank? Seems with 20 gallons per day of DHW use per person it will be fairly diluted. Same with a public sewer system I imagine.

It does etch concrete, I've seen that happen. And will attack cast iron traps after some time.

hot rod

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Dave Stroman

Here is the photo mentioned above. I do not like to use barbed fittings. Also, make sure there is no way for the condensate to back up into the heat exchanger.

Dave in Denver

Al_20

Crushed marble

I use "Calcite" media for treating low ph residential domestic water. It is crushed marble. It is about the consistency of sugar. Is the stuff you guys are using that fine, or is it larger particles, like gravel?

The calcite is available at supply houses(well pump supplies) that sell water treatment equipment in buckets or bags. It may be a different grade/price since it is used in domestic water.

We use it in upflow or backwashing applications because it is very prone to hardening in the tank. If you are using similar stuff at low flow rates (I assume the condensate trickles through?) then I think the standpipe unit pictured would let the condensate spill over the standpipe if the media hardened. The one described with barbed fittings at both ends sounds like an "inline" setup. If the media in that hardened, then wouldn't it back the condensate up into the appliance?

Al

Constantin

Thanks for the links Aidan!

I didn't see any consumer-sized or consumer-replaceable desulferization packages for home heating flues, but that's probably just because I'm half-blind after a day of work. Anyone you know of that makes cartridges that pop in and out like filter elements in ACs?