Removing two boiler sections

Keith_8

From the pictures I would agree that new equipment is in your horizon. 2 smaller boilers also makes sense if you have the room.

Pay attention to the near boiler piping and make sure you install F&T traps just above the normal water line on each boiler. If not the boiler that is off will end up flooding.

Keith

Steve Garson_2

Worth the effort?

Our facility is headed with a Smith Model 19 with 6 sections. Based on the radiation load, it only needs 4 sections to heat the 1247 foot load (938 feet radiation x1.33).

I am considering having two sections removed from the boiler, which will take the water content from 57 gallons down to around 41 gallons. While a new 4-section boiler would have only one section with the steam main tapping, since we have two such sections, is there any reason not to use them? I know there will be repiping required, so is this worth the effort? We burned 5400 gallons of oil in 2007, roughly 1 gallon per degree day. So a 10% saving is worth $1900.

The mains and radiators are insulated.

What would the steam pros suggest?

Steve

Unknown

Suggestion Steve,

if you`re sure about your EDR sizing,, venting and such is OK,,and the boilers not too old, I would say go for it.

Dave

Phil_17

boiler too big?

can you downfire the burner to 66% and achieve the same result?--nbc

Steve Garson_2

Here are photos of the boiler sections

Thoughts?

Bob Bona_4

can of worms

Steve. As a pro, I would never undertake a venture like that. All I can think of is what happens if the sections DON'T come apart easily. Something cracks sections you want to save. The push nipples are pitted, etc. The jacket will be too big, the firebox or at least the target wall may break. And on and on. And the liability, etc. I can hear it in court. "And did you, Steve Garson, knowingly modified and deviated from factory spec a used boiler, blah blah..leak/carbon monoxide, blah,blah...

I see a new boiler in your future!

Steve Garson_2

Your point is well taken. So would two Burnham Megasteams make sense? Both fire up from a cold start and when all the piping is up to temp, just one continues to run?

What would you recommend?

[Deleted User]

Steve.

What tells the condensate pump to put water back in the boiler? Is this a 1-pipe steam system?

Steve Garson_2

How are two boilers controlled in such a set-up? When the T-stat calls for heat, I assume that both would go on, but once the mains and risers are hot, how does one boiler know to shut down?