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vapor vacuum with reverse tankless coil?

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Eastman
Eastman Member Posts: 927
in Strictly Steam
Has anyone tried using a reverse tankless coil teamed with a modcon?  Boiler sized for EDR, modcon sized for heat loss or domestic water.  The idea being to inject btu's into the system after it's fallen into vacuum.

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  • pipeking
    pipeking Member Posts: 252
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    huh?

    mod/con steam?
  • Eastman
    Eastman Member Posts: 927
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    seams like a possible solution

    Steam boilers can have tankless coils, right? 



    Once a vac is induced in the system, why not continue the residual boil using the tankless coil?  I see a two main benefits leading to improved performance.  First, a hard vacuum is prevented which reduces infiltration and steam disruption from unvented air.  Second, a softer longer cycle is produced.



    These are features that are reminiscent of the coal fueled boilers that vacuum apparently excelled with.
  • ShawnG
    ShawnG Member Posts: 5
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    1900s vapor vacuum system

    Hi. I live in a very old house with a 100 year old vapor vacuum system. It gives beautiful heat but recently the oil company didn't fill my tank and we ran out of oil. After that, the far wing of the house will not heat. No one at the repair company knows what to do. Is there anyone out there that knows someone who understands these old systems?

    Thanks,

    Shawn
  • Eastman
    Eastman Member Posts: 927
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    Shawn, look around on the site...

    There are resources for homeowners in your position.  Dan Holohan has also published several books that discuss these systems.  I can't help you, but if you start a new thread others more capable will see the post and chime in.
  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
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    residual boil

    I must be missing something here - couldn't you just continue firing the main burner?
  • ShawnG
    ShawnG Member Posts: 5
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    Thank you

    Thank you for responding. I posted on the geneal page and a gentleman who has a similar system responded- giving me hope. I am a single mom, so my abilities to read and fix the system are slim. But perhaps Dan might be able to help me locate someone in ct that knows how to work on these old vapor vacuum systems.

    Thank you again.

    Shawn
  • Eastman
    Eastman Member Posts: 927
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    concept is to run closer to equilibrium

    The burner is sized to the system's EDR at 212.  If another smaller heat source can take over once a vacuum has been induced, I feel the system could recover the coal burning characteristics that they originally possessed.
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 15,735
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    Burner

    So install two gas valves set to different pressures.



    Or, install two manifolds and fire one or both.  Just ideas I'm throwing out there.
    Single pipe quasi-vapor system. Typical operating pressure 0.14 - 0.43 oz. EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Control for Residential Steam boilers. Rectorseal Steamaster water treatment
  • Eastman
    Eastman Member Posts: 927
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    this can be done?

    Can this be done without a power burner?
  • SWEI
    SWEI Member Posts: 7,356
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    not likely

    I just can't see the additional cost of a mod/con, tankless coil, controls and installation penciling out here.
  • Eastman
    Eastman Member Posts: 927
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    Relative cost

    Yeah, but in terms of restoring a system to its coal burning like functionality, what options are available at the residential level?
  • Eastman
    Eastman Member Posts: 927
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    doesn't have to be a modcon

    A low output two stage copper tube unit perhaps.  
This discussion has been closed.

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