Identifying steam system

Steam_Question

Hello all,

I've attached two photos, the first is a steam radiator with inlet and outlet piping. There is no thermostaic steam trap on the outlet. There are F&T steam traps in the basement. I've also attached a photo with an air vent on the same radiator.

What type of system is this and can it operate without a thermostaic steam trap on the outlet pipe.

Thanks,

BL   

ttekushan_3

Very early steam

Its a two pipe with air vent system. 1890's I presume? On that radiator, the inlet will be somewhat higher than the outlet. It should not have a steam trap on the return. It also should not be vented through the return. The vent on the radiator takes care of that.



There should be NO float and thermostatic traps at the end of the mains or returns and no vents on the return system at all. The returns should drop into a wet return near the floor to act as a water seal. I'm presuming at some point someone replaced the boiler and installed a condensate pump with a vented receiver on the floor, and installed F&T traps "the way you're supposed to" to keep steam out of the vented receiver. Trouble is, by venting the return system, the steam flies through the bottom of the radiator and back in to the return. Its very difficult to control the system this way and can result in vexing problems of some cold radiators with hot air valves, or piping that goes CLANK in the night.



There's a way to provide a false water line before the receiver so the returns have a water seal and the receiver is protected from steam.



Also pressures should be kept very low, like ounces of steam, not lbs.



Take a few photos of the boiler room and how return routing, etc may have changed. We may be able to advise you on how to proceed.



Terry

Steamhead

What Terry said

and while you're at it, take a better pic or two of that radiator- if the rest of your radiators are similar, you have a Heating Museum there!



Where is this system located?

Steam_Question

Thanks for input

I still need to get more information on this installation. There are several large buildings served by one central heating plant. They are utilizing condensate pumps in each building so I don't think it's operating very efficiently right now. There are F&T traps in the basement. Will get more info. soon. Thanks again. 

Steamhead

Pay close attention

to where those F&T traps are located. If they're at the inlets to the condensate tanks, that's wrong. This would let steam fill the return lines up to the traps, which is wrong on this type of system.  A False Water Line would be a much better solution.



What pressure does the central steam distribution run at?  If it's more than a couple of pounds, are there reducing valves on the service entrances to each building?