Tall buildings and Hydronics

Mark Eatherton

Those are either some hellacious boilers, or there are heat exchangers in the picture...

43 X 10 = 430'

430 X .434 = 186 PSI, no? Add 5 psi to this for purging and you are at 191 PSI at the bottom of the system.

ME

Unknown

when you have basement mechanical rooms, and taller buildings, what are you guys doing to handle high pressure at the bottom of the system and relatively low pressure at the top to prevent air issues? Are you just using heavy pressure relief valves with jacked up pressure?

Josh M.

As an ex tall building guy I can answer you question. Generally there are multiple mechanical rooms spaced between a series of floors to prevent pressure.

Unknown

wow, that is a tall building. Thanks Josh

what about more moderate "tall buildings" like 4 to 6 floors in height?

Josh_10

I'm used to mechanical rooms being in the penthouse in most of those applications.

Unknown

I would definitely agree that would be best!

mtfallsmikey

Similar situation

I run 2 /6-story office buildings, no hydronic heat, but cooling towers,open system, self-contained A.C. units on each floor, etc. Pumps, towers on roof, so the head pressure is low. Supply/return pressures 50-60 psi on 1st floor. Using 2 B&G 865 gpm. pumps in each building.

Timco

10 stories, 75 psi relief, 60 psi running press, 2 boilers in basement, 2 cornell pumps moving the water. Bleeder valves in attic room to get air from mains after fill. Constant circ, works well...

Tim

oil-2-4-6-gas

tall buildings run higher pressure --what do you consider a "tall" building --they have boilers rated for high pressure and a relief valve for that rating --there is no "jacking up" the relief -its made for the higher pressure -- i work on 1 building in Westchester that is 43 floors --2 boilers in the basement --pumps are rated for the pressure and volume of that buildings requirements ---- air seperators at the boilers supply pumping away --large vents on the top of the risers etc. bleeders at the individual units same as anywhere else

oil-2-4-6-gas

Cleaver Brooks Water-tube boilers with Pro-fire burners i think the pressure ratings on them can go up to 500 psi

Mark Eatherton

Wow....

That is something I've never seen.

Adds REAL meaning to A.S.M.E. eh... (A Substantial Monetary Exchange :-0))

ME

Josh_10

I can honestly say, after working in at least 40% of the tallest buildings in Seattle, that I have never seen a boiler operate over 100PSI. They always split up the mechanical rooms between floors or the boilers are in the penthouse.

bob young

could be a difference

but seattle is seattle & new york is well.....new york.

Rich Kontny_3

Milwaukee

Has quite a few buildings with steam as the primary heat source and convertors on every floor to hot water. Elevation is not an issue and the steam provides a very quick heat source.

Our tallest is only about 40 stories though. And the power plant provides the steam for quite a bit of the downtown.

Josh_10

Touche