Steam and Black Iron

steve_29

I've recently seen many steam boilers all piped in copper.

My question is do manufacturer allow the use of copper to be used in headers or does it void warranties?

I was glancing at an install manual for a Burnham and could not find anything to the contrary.

I've been taught and have read on this board that this practice is NOT acceptable.

Are there any reps out there that could comment on their product?

thanks

Steamhead (in transit)

It's wrong

because the soldered joints can break under the unequal expansion of iron and copper. But the average hack doesn't care.

Which Burnham manual are you looking at?

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steve_29

It was for a V73 .

I've never used copper myself and having been told that it says not to in the installation manual, I decided to see for myself.

I didn't have alot of time but I glanced through the manual and could not find anything in regards to it.

I've never seen so many steam systems piped completely in copper as I have this year.

I was wondering if this was something actually addressed in different manufacturers literature and whether it voided their warrenty if not piped correctly?

Thanks Steamhead for your response

Steamhead (in transit)

Here's a quote

from the Burnham MegaSteam and Independence I&O manuals which are available on Burnham's site:

"Before using copper for steam piping, consider the following characteristics of copper piping:


1) high coefficient of thermal expansion can induce mechanical stresses and cause expansion/contraction noises if not accounted for in the piping system design and installation,


2) high heat transfer rate (heat loss) of uninsulated copper piping must be included in the normal piping and pickup factors used to size the boiler,


3) soldering or brazing pastes and fluxes that end up in the system can cause poor heat transfer, surging, an unsteady water line and wet steam if not thoroughly removed during the boil out procedure and,


4) galvanic corrosion of the adjoining metal may occur due to dissimilar metals in certain water chemistries if dielectric unions are not used."

So they do caution you against it. I would add that the mechanical stresses can cause the soldered joints to fail, causing steam leaks. Ron Beck, one of Burnham's (and the industry's) finest, actually was in a boiler room when this happened. It wasn't a pretty sight. Ron, if you're reading this, go ahead and tell the story- you were there so you can do it better than me.

I would think anyone who pipes a boiler in copper either has not read this, or read it and ignored it.

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