Near Boiler Piping Help

joe lambert_2

On page 46 of the Lost Art of Steam Heating Dan explains how you can figure out how fast the steam goes through the pipes in feet per second. If you can figure that out and get the flow of steam to as low as 15 feet per a second than you'll have good dry steam and know what size pipe you'll actually need instead of guessing. If you want just post the amount EDR your boiler is rated for and I'll figure it out for you. One three inch pipe flows more steam at a lower velocity than two, two inch pipes for your reference.

warren_4

Near Boiler Piping Help

Based on reading Dan's books and some previous help on this board, I am getting my near boiler piping corrected to fix a couple of issues. The problem is I am getting a couple of different recommendations from steam contracters. Some are saying to replace all near boiler piping to 3", and others are following the attached specs from manufactureer for 2" piping with a 3" header. I'd love to get your thoughts as it is about $700 difference in pricing between the quotes. I've attached the manufacture specs for my boiler. We have the largest size unit. Thanks!

Brad White_185

Some thoughts

The manufacturer's recommendations are a minimum, that is for certain. Go less = trouble which may show up, even in remote places within the system.

Going larger is generally a good thing but for, perhaps, the cost as you noted. (I cannot comment on the delta but will say the range going to 3" seems rational to me on an incremental basis.)

Going larger and even (or especially) putting in a dropped header can compensate for other factors such as a less than satisfactory A dimension, previously experienced wet steam (lower steam velocities and less entrainment).

Ask yourself for your sake and to the contractors if the prior operation had some flaws that this might correct- Maybe it was fine, but worth asking.

Many practitioners I know favor, if budget allows, increasing the sizes to do just this- the initial risers going up a couple of sizes does wonders sometimes. Using all of the tappings is another technique.

I think that the practitioners who recommended the 3-inch approach have your interests in mind; even if the cost is higher, they are probably not making an exorbitant increase but one proportional to their parts and labor. You do get that benefit.

The practitioners going by the manual- the same can be said for them too- they are doing right by you as well and both seem to have explained their approach to you well enough for you to explain it here.

If you can afford the larger piping, I would do so.

Steam will be quieter, dryer and the piping cost difference over the lifetime of the system will be dollars per year.

My $0.02

Brad

Boonierat

Piping

This one's strait-forward; follow the manufacturers instructions. This particular manufacturer actually goes the xtra mile to indicate what pipe size is REQUIRED. Good luck sir.
Nels

bob young

3 \" header

GO with man. diagram & add drop header