one steam pipe building cant get steam coil for HVAC

indirestriats

I have a 4ton vertical York HVAC system with a compatible steam coil. the problem is that the steam coil requires a return with a pump to the bldgs boiler since it is a one pipe system. The bldg will not allow me to connect to their boiler. How do I find a steam coil that is compatible with a one pipe bldg? I can not attach the return to the same steam pipe because it will cause banging in the pipes. I was recommended to buy a cast iron radiator and mount it on a stand in the location where the steam coil would have been and use that as the source of heat. I was offered to buy an electric coil but so not ant to pay electric charge for heat since I pay for the steam heat in the bldg. this si a 850 square feet office space with 6 rooms. ANY ADVICE?? PLease!!

JStar

Specs

Do you have a model number of the existing steam coil? How is/was it connected?

Techman

System

Besides a heating problem I think you also might have an AC problem. 850 sq.ft. is awful small for a 4t ac unit, unless you have a LOT of heat producing equipment. Then if you do have two problems -heat& AC - then you might have a third ,which is the 4t duct work.Check out the whole system before you invest any money.

indirestriats

one steam pipe building cant get steam coil for HVAC

I could not connect the steam coil because it is in a one pipe bldg. Do you know what kind of steam coil would work in a one pipe bldg? Why would a 4 ton unit not work in 850 sq feet if there are 6 rooms in it? it is on a thermostat. How many btu of heat do you need for 850 sq feet divided into 6 rooms?

indirestriats

one steam pipe building cant get steam coil for HVAC

I could not connect the steam coil because it is in a one pipe bldg. Do you know what kind of steam coil would work in a one pipe bldg? Why would a 4 ton unit not work in 850 sq feet if there are 6 rooms in it? it is on a thermostat. How many btu of heat do you need for 850 sq feet divided into 6 rooms?

Techman

AC size

Typically w/ an oversized AC the bldg is more humid than desired.You could have 20 rooms and it wouldn't matter.A load estimate is required to know how many BTU's are needed.BUT, 850sq.ft. under "normal" conditions would be about a 2t load ,maybe a  2 1/2 t load.

JStar

Piping

Where is the steam coil in relation to the steam main? Above, below, by how much much?

Rod

Steam Coil to 1 Pipe System

Hi- Just because the building has a 1 pipe steam system, it doesn't mean that the coil has to be 1 pipe too.   (a 1 pipe system means that the radiators on that system are connected to the system with a single pipe. The single pipe does double duty, it supplies steam to the radiator and returns condensate from the radiator.)  

     Most coils are setup to operate on a 2 pipe system, meaning there are 2 pipes that run to each radiator (coil). One pipe supplys steam and the other pipe returns condensate to the system.  It is quite common to have a 2 pipe radiator (coil)  installed on 1 pipe system.  It's just a matter of configuring the piping so the two pipe radiator (coil) will  work properly.  Also you don't necessarily need to have a pumped return.

      To advise you how to hook it up we would need a lot more information on the proposed steam coil and on the 1 pipe steam system to which you propose to connect it.  Your best bet would be to get a steam pro to look at the system for you.  Try the Find a Contractor section at the top of this page or tell us where you are located. There maybe a pro reading this that is located near you.

- Rod

JStar

Picture

If the coil is above the main, you can pipe it like this. Assuming the boiler pressure is 2psi. You'll need 30" in the drip trap for every pound of steam pressure in the system.

Steamhead

This would also work

on a riser- you just connect the return thru the water seal into the riser, at a point below where the steam connection to the coil is.



BUT..................



If the steam connection from the riser in question was sized for a single radiator, or the riser feeds a group of radiators one above the other, and there were radiators elsewhere in the office, the coil won't work. The riser will not have enough capacity to operate the coil. Then you'll have to put the radiators back in, which will give better comfort in the winter anyway.

indirestriats

request for coil specialist in manhattan

Hello Rod, can you please recommend a coil specialist who can solve this problem for me. Ie build a coil that would supply heat to 850 square feet from a one pipe steam pipe bldg with having to connect back the condensate to the boiler. the office is in manhattan on the upperwest side.



Any one have a solution. Thanks for all the HELP to everyone who responded

indirestriats

request for coil specialist in manhattan

I meant in the post above WITHOUT having to connect back to the bldg boiler since the bldg will not allow me to run a pipe back to the boiler one floor below the office. the office is street level and the boiler is one flight down

Techman

Heat

What is/was supplying heat into this area?