Trapless 2 pipe (ME)

[Deleted User]

I came across a interesting 2 pipe steam system. It uses Trane convectors to convey the heat to the rooms. THe supply main runs parallel to the condensate returns. The end of the steam main, and the condensate mains have air vents on them, and the all combine into the gravity return to carry condensate back to the boiler, through a conventional Hartford loop on the boilers equalizer piping. I've looked as hard as I can, short of removing asbestos insulation, and I can not see any kind of trap on the return sides of these things at all. Could they have orifi' in the returns to give the differential needed to keep the supply side from seeing the return side?

The ends of the mains and condensate returns were buried in the wall, and I could not see all I needed to see. May have to go back with a SeeSnake to see more of the end.

Ideas?

TIA

PS, System was put together in the mid 40's.

ME

Rich L.

Orifice

Mark, I've heard that some Tranes used an orifice right at the radiator. Unfortunately that's about all the experience I've had with these.

Good luck, Rich

MikeyB

trane

Mark check out Dans "Hot Tech Topics" page 13 Title Trane Whistles, this might help you out

[Deleted User]

BINGO!!

Thanks Mikey, you and Dan just saved me a WHOLE lot of heart ache...

Gonna have to purchase some Bricks for that stint.

ME

MikeyB

Trane

No worries Mark, I love that Hot Tech topic... lots of good stuff Dan's got in that section

[Deleted User]

As Dan says...

it PAYS to wander off the Wall.

ME

Steamhead (in transit)

Lots of those Tranes around Baltimore

I've even added radiation to them. They work great. You MUST equip them with Vaporstats to keep steam out of the dry returns.

The original vents on these systems were vacuum-type, and should be replaced. With oil or gas firing those vac vents can hold water up in the system, causing flooding when it finally comes back.

Also, the steam main vent should be sized for a lower ounce pressure then the dry return vent. In the typical small house around here with this system, we would use a Gorton #2 on the steam main and a Gorton #1 on the dry return. This helps the steam distribute thru the main first.

Oh, and unless you want some MAJOR aggravation and a PO'd customer, don't try to convert this system to hot-water.

"Steamhead"

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Harvey_2

Cold rads

I have a job where some rads don't get hot at all. The riser to the rad is hot but not the rad. I took off both the supply and return ells, no orifice. Could these be clogged internally? Thanks for the response

Jack_44

Harvey's post

Harvey -

With this response, I'll bump your question up to the top of the heap, but you'd really be better off starting a new thread.

Peace.

Charlie from wmass

Steam traps, do you have them?