Latest Power Gas Steamer

Steamhead

First, a few pics which show what happens when you build a non-offset header. This W-M EG atmospheric was literally pried apart and leaked at the seals. Oh, and the usual low-bidder's copper steam piping was in there too.



Pic 4 shows that I had worked on this system before, long before Gordon and I started All Steamed Up. Those Gorton #2 vents are a dead giveaway ;-) This job was like seeing an old friend again.

Steamhead

The New Gas-Fired Slant/Fin Intrepid

with the Carlin EZ-Gas burner this time. The owners are tightening up the house and as far as I know, the EZ-Gas is the only small gas gun that has an air boot available from the factory, for an outside combustion air duct. We will likely add the boot later. 

Unknown

As usual Frank,,,,

another beautiful job!



Just curious though,,, is that an old existing gate valve on the gas supply piping? Leave that in my locale, and it`s automatic reject.



BTW- Where`s the vaporstat? :-)

Steamhead

No, it's a globe valve

and there's an AGA-approved shutoff on the horizontal. The inspector looked for that.



This is a one-pipe system so we didn't push a Vaporstat.

Gordo

Shipping Crew

We would be remiss if we did not mention the fine shipping department of our local Ferguson's Supply House.



On the day that this boiler was to be delivered, Ferguson called us to tell us the bad news: a hot water boiler had been shipped instead of a steamer.  They had caught it at their end, instead of us finding out at the job site.  Good on them.



Slant-Fin shipped out the correct boiler and burner and less than 65 hrs later it was at the job site.



In the pouring down rain.



No problem.



The professional delivery crew got that boiler down those 18 narrow basement stairs with that nasty  6" 1:1 tread to riser ratio with no one getting hurt and the customer's property intact.



Did I mention there was a steady downpour?



And they refused a tip.



Thank you!

MacPHJr

Curious

Looks good. Just curious how come you used a power gas burner instead of a steam boiler set up for natural gas?? Any benefits?

Steamhead

Better efficiency

First, the power burner is better at mixing gas and air prior to the combustion zone than the usual atmospheric type. It can burn clean with less excess air.



Second, a wet-base boiler like the Intrepid surrounds the flame almost completely with water-backed cast iron. This results in better heat absorption. All atmospheric boilers that I know of are dry-base, i.e. the burners are completely underneath the cast-iron sections. This results in a lot of heat leaking out of the base- which isn't bad for warming your feet while working on one, but that heat isn't going to the radiators.



These enhancements result in a thermal efficiency (BTUs in to BTUs out) 6-7% better than the usual atmospheric gas steamer. Interestingly enough, the AFUE rating procedure doesn't consider heat leaking from the base as a loss. They say it's being released inside the building, but we all know what happens to this heat in the usual drafty basement.



There's a reason power burners rule in larger commercial applications. They're just more efficient, and there's no reason we can't take advantage of this on residential jobs.



Currently, the only residential steam boiler manufacturer besides Slant/Fin that approves the use of power gas burners in their wet-base units is Smith, with their 8 series (called the G-8 when equipped with the EZ-Gas burner).

Steamhead

And a shout-out to Bruce Graham

ace Carlin rep. This EZ-Gas had a pronounced rumble, and he helped us get rid of it. The fix involved going to a different air tube and diffuser than that specified for the firing rate. This kind of support is one reason we like these burners.

David Sutton_6

Great job Frank !!

As always Frank it looks great, why no drop header? did your membership card exspire ? LOL.



David

Steamhead

Only one riser to the header

and it's 3-inch and about 30 inches above the waterline- plenty of height and no extra swing joint needed. 

Charlie from wmass

Frank the other thread about noise got me thinking

Due you find the slantfin and smith about equal in noise. Having only installed Smith for power gas up to this point I was curious how the Slant fins were. I had assumed the heavier block on the Smith would be quieter but since you install both I figured you would be the one to ask. I bet the owners are already in love with their new heating system .

Steamhead

They seem to be about the same

once you get them properly set up. 

the carlin guy

nice job steamhead

Always a pleasure to hang with you.

don_9

pretty work

Hello Frank..Are you seeing any issue when using a power burner and a atmospheric water heater sharing the same chimney?

I looked pass the find job briefly and said to myself, I see no draft diverter or baro damper on the water heater.

I'm also wondering why is just part of the duct work insulated..i sure you guys see some high humidity in those basement in the summer.

Sorry for being some what off topic.You know it happens to all of us..you have to look at all the hvac stuff.Its a fever i'll tell ya.LOL. 

Charlie from wmass

Don check the third picture

The draft divirter is there. It is the oval hanging off the bottom of the breeching from the water heater. Frank would not miss something like that I am sure.

don_9

Thanks

I know he would have not missed it, but I did.

Steamhead

That water heater

was too tall for a standard draft hood, so the installer used an in-line type.



There is no problem venting an atmospheric water heater and a boiler with a power gas burner into the same flue, as long as there is negative draft in both chimney connectors (smoke pipes). This is not to be confused with a boiler that has a fan blowing combustion products directly into the chimney connector- if that produces positive draft into the chimney, I don't think the two can share a flue.



Whenever I have a question in this area I always ask Tim McElwain. If anyone would know, he would.