air eliminator on 2 pipe steam system

Jnash

I just installed a replacement steam boiler in a mansion . It has 2 pipes surrounding the perimeter of the house,and has 2 stories. I can find no steam traps except a 1/2 " connecting to a 4" square can on top of a dogleg off the condensate. It is identified as an air eliminator,and has a 2" copper ball inside connected to a valve.I cleaned it because when ever i generate over a 1/2 lb of steam the steam is released through the vent. This eveidently occured with the old boiler as there is a significant spray pattern around the vent.Does this allow air back into the condensate? The radiators have no vents ,so I assume this is designed to break the vacuum and allow the condensate to return to the boiler. All condensate and supply lines remained similiar to original. I replaced the steam trap above this can, but it seemed to have little improvement.Should the dogleg be below water level?

Steamhead (in transit)

This may be an Orifice system

maybe an Arco Model K?

In an Orifice system, low pressure is key. Raising pressure will cause steam to escape as you describe.

Can you post some pics?

"Steamhead"

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Jim Blum

Arco Model K Steam

I am looking for help from someone with knowledge of Arco Model K orifice steam systems. I looked at a high rise apartment building yesterday that was built in 1938 and appears to have the remnants of the Model K system, a 2-pipe steam with no steam traps on the condensate returns in the convector cabinets. Unfortunately, it appears that all the original steam valves, presumably ones that had orifices, were replaced with regular valves and F&T traps were installed on the base of the condensate return risers in the basement, but traps were not added to the convectors due to a lack of space. I can't tell yet if this was done out of ignorance or because the original installation never worked satisfactorily.

Does anyone know of other high-rise (20 stories) apartment buildings from the 1930s still using the Arco Model K trap-less 2-pipe system as originally designed?

As it now is, the boiler has to run 25 minutes at 3 pounds just to get steam to the top floor.

I am looking for someone with knowledge of ARCO Model K systems in high-rise apartment buildings help me recommend whether to convince the owner to re-install orifice valves or to install steam traps. He wants to know that it will be worth the expense, given that somehow the system works well enough for most of the residents and surprisingly the oil bills are not out of line, probably because so many heaters are turned off.