Can Large Hartford Loop Elbow Cause EOC Water Hammer?

djthx

I'm getting End of Cycle water hammer on my The GB200 4L steam system.  The IM states that the center line of the HL should be 2" below the Normal Water Line.  However, I installed the HL a little lower to where the top of the HL is 2" below the Normal Water Line.  If I were to drain the return line, the boiler water level will drop to about 1" below the Lowest Permissible Water Line or about 1" high at the sight glass.

The near boiler piping consists of a 2" riser & drop header, 1 1/2" equalizer, boiler return tapping, and HL (close nipple & ell), which is then reduced and connected to the 1" wet return line.  Is it possible that this configuration is causing the EOC water hammer?  Would it help if I go with a 1 1/2" x 1" tee and a 1" HL (close nipple and ell)?  Here are some pictures of my setup:   

djthx

Street Elbow in Equalizer

I wanted to add was that there are two elbows on the 1 1/2" equalizer; one 45 ell and one 45 street ell.  (I'm not sure whether this is relevant to my EOC water hammer issue.)

Steamhead

It could

But have you been able to determine that the banging is definitely coming from that elbow? 

Polycarp

Ditto

I'd be interested in the answer to this as well. 



I'm rebuilding my Hartford Loop and this is one of the potential ways for me to assemble it (although with a reducing elbow instead of an elbow with brushing).  Finding asymmetrical reducing Tee's is a major problem in my area, so I might have to get creative.  But if it's going to cause hammer, I'll want to do it another way.