Steam readiator control?

will smith_4

You betcha! Danfoss makes 'em, as does Honeywell. You can get them for just about any configuration, and unless it's a real tight fit, they're simple to install.

mrichard

Steam radiator control?

Hi All

Wondering if anyone knows anything about a steam radiator control,not a vent rite adjustable vent but an actual control valve which can be installed at he radiator? Thanks for any info

Brad White_185

If you mean for one-pipe steam

the controls I believe being discussed are called (among other similar terms), "Thermostatic Radiator Vent Valves". These valves are screwed into the 1/8" FPT vent boss and a straight-pattern vent is then screwed into the valve body.

A thermostatic head completes the picture and works by closing off the air port to the vent if the room temperature is satisfied. No air out, no steam in, simple as that.

Now, a key feature to look for is an integral vacuum breaker. When the vent is denied air, it is also denied the ability to break the vacuum caused by the last round of condensing steam. Residual vacuum can cause overheating (it is a low pressure area all of a sudden, good enough for steam to fill it anyway). Vacuum also retards the return of condensate to an extent. The only thing the vacuum does not do for you is clean your carpet.

The vacuum breaker solves these problems. Except the carpet, you need a Hoover for that.

The only manufacturers I know of that have this vacuum breaker are Macon Controls (OPSK), Danfoss and Amaark, if I have that spelling correctly. Maybe the others do too now, but not last time I checked.

Phil_17

steam radiator controls

brad white, are these ever used in a two-pipe, air vent system?
or is the 1-A dole air valve good enough??

mike m.

mrichard

2 pipe system

deffinetly a 2 pipe system(older system),customer is complaining of over heating and wants to regulate the radiator heat,I installed vent rites but they did not last long from abuse from customer and now want something better,thanks for any help guys

BRIANJ

How about tunstall?

Would one of the Tunstall orifice valves lower the amount of steam and therefore the temperature?

Steamhead (in transit)

Do the radiators in this system

have hand shutoff valves on both the supply AND return connections?

If not, there should not be vents on the radiators at all.

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Phil_17

over heating

i had this on my old boiler.when replaced with new boiler ----and pressure down where it should have been 12oz--and all new main vents no local over heated rads.the dead men sized their rads perfectly!!--nbc

mrichard

yes there are shutoffs on both supply and return piping to radiators..is there any radiator control which is made just for a 2 pipe steam system?

thanks guys for all you help

Steamhead (in transit)

Yes

on this type of system, called "2-pipe air-vent", you would use the same type of TRV as you would in a one-pipe system- the one that screws into the air vent opening as described above.

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Brad White_185

Ah, different cat..

I read Steamhead's post below about the "2-pipe air vent" system and would in any case defer to him. He has seen more systems than any single or even number of Dead Men, I can wager.


In most two-pipe systems, generally, no vents are used (the trap is the vent if this is a trapped versus a loop-seal return system).

The valve can still be a thermostatic radiator valve at the steam inlet. The Tunstall orifices (orifi? plural I have not used but do like their products in general, in response to another post below.

But again, I would defer to Steamhead for the particulars of your own system. Can you post photos to share?

mrichard

any danger in shutting off both radiator valves on a 2 pipe system? customer informed me today she shut down the radiator by closing the valves

Steamhead (in transit)

As long as

the valves close tightly, it shouldn't be a problem.

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