wet returns

Luv'nsteam

I am replacing all of the wet returns.  Use black or galvanized pipe?  Advantage of one over the other? 



Thank you,



Mike

Charlie from wmass

black

galvanized flakes

Luv'nsteam

Black pipe

Noted, Charlie.



Thank you,



Mike

nicholas bonham-carter

feed water connection

while you are re-piping, why not leave provision for flushing out with well-placed full-port ball valves, usually placed at the lowest points in the wet returns.

in addition, the feed water connection is best connected into the return, with as much distance as possible between it and the boiler [so as to mix the cooler fresh with the warm return water].--nbc

Luv'nsteam

feed water

Nick, if my chicken-scratch diagram of near-boiler piping is legible, you can see the feed water is supplied between the wet return and the Hartford loop.  There is also a water meter with bypass valves, as well.  The water in my town is excessively hard with calcium & magnesium, so I will be feeding water to the boiler from my water heater.  This way, most of the hard minerals will fall out of suspension in the water heater and not the boiler & of course, the water will already be hot.  I already drain my water heater every eight months or so and a water heater is far less expensive and easier to replace then the boiler.  Your thoughts?



Thank you,



Mike

Polycarp

Copper?

I've seen quite a few recommendations for copper .. but only below the water line, nowhere that will be in contact with steam.  Any thoughts from a pro on this?

Luv'nsteam

Copper returns,

I'm fairly sure, are not the best choice for steam applications.  I have seen them used many times, but somewhere in TLAOSH, Dan points out that the copper can leach (correct word?) off of the inside of the copper pipe, get into the boiler with the water and corrode or cause corrosion when in contact with the boiler metal.  My feed water supply will be copper but I will use a transition adapter to bring it into the wet return via a cast iron tee.  From there it will likely all be black pipe.



Any pro's want to comment on using copper in a steam plant?



Thank you,



Mike

jpf321

way back in Nov

i asked the same questions ... regarding returns .. you maybe able to find the thread if you search both cooper and galvanized perhaps .. copper was the strong contender. and I have seen many "pro" pictures where copper is used for returns I think. 

Polycarp

wet returns

That's what I remember too.  I thought a couple of the pros said that copper is actually good for wet returns, but wet returns and water supplies were the only place that there should be copper in a steam system .. no steam-copper contact.

Luv'nsteam

wet returns

I believe I am going to stick with black pipe.  To all who responded,



Thank you,



Mike

The Steam Whisperer (Formerly Boilerpro)

If steel.....

you may want to go to Schedule 80.  The walls are alot thicker so it sould have a much longer life.

Luv'nsteam

schedule 80

is thicker than schedule 40?  What is the typical pipe at say, Depot or Lowe's?  How much of a difference between the two?  Thanks for the recommendation, information and suggestion.





All the best,



Mike

Brian_74

More than you'd ever want to know…

about schedule 40 and 80 steel pipe at:



http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ansi-steel-pipes-d_305.html

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ansi-steel-pipes-d_306.html

Luv'nsteam

Scheduled pipe thickness

Brian, thanks for the links.  I see schedule 80 is, on average, about 25% thicker than schedule 40 pipe.  I will definitely aim for schedule 80 in black.  I will also save those links for further reference



Thank you,



Mike