Updating Williams Mansion- thread 2; choosing optimal gas- fired boiler/ power burner;

JIK

Any one else have thoughts/ experience/ results regarding the following question/ response? (Though time is a bit of a crunch factor here, can't help asking further);



I am looking forward to conferring as possible with the two Daves. Meanwhile,



"How has the next generation Midco LoNox Radial Flame "5 to 1 mod burner with no burner roar" worked out or could work out with the 580 and/ or 680?

Also, what is the cost/ efficiency relative to the Rielle or the Power Flame variety?

Any problems with the install or subsequent performance?



It is decision time on the boiler purchase for the Williams Mansion replacement.

I agree; Steamhead's posts are consistently top notch; my choice will be either the 580 or the 680, and I want to order in the next few days.



Regarding power consumption, noise in the high end fireplace office space directly above the basement boiler room, and balancing the size of the unit (the 580 suits the current total EDR of 1550 best, while the 680 would allow for some expansion I may consider, such as two 12 x 20 porches one above the other I fantasize about enclosing someday.)



Dave mentioned he chose the 680 because of these sorts of issues, and especially because he could fire the unit with the Riello 2 stage burner with its acoustic cover satisfying less btus needed now, expansion of additional radiators later, quietude for the occupants, and superior energy conservation.



He considered the 580, but had issues pairing a similarly appropriate power burner unit to that model. Fascinating that our issues are similar. Since I will (hopefully) only be replacing this unit once in a very long time,



How has the Midco LoNox Radial Flame model 5 to 1 mod burner with no burner roar worked out with the 580 and/ or 680? The one where the blower motor is an ECM so electrical usage is a fraction of typical power burners?"



Reply

Steamhead

February 18, 2013

@ 11:13 PM



Contact this user

You need to talk to "The Steam Whisperer"

a.k.a. Dave Bunnell- he's closer to that Midco burner than I am. I will say that I saw it firing in Midco's lab when I was there last summer, and am duly impressed.

Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists



Oil & Gas Burner Service



Baltimore, MD (USA) and consulting anywhere.

Hap_Hazzard

Bump

Don't know the answers, but I didn't want to let this thread get lost.

vaporvac

My Coinversation With Midco

First off, let me say I'm just a homeowner like yourself with a large property of 1466 edr. I'm currently replacing my old Dunkirk boiler with two stage-fired Slantfin Intrepids. I had seriously considered this burner and had a couple of very informative conversations with the Midco Tech folks. Super nice and helpful. They said this low nox burner was developed mainly for the changing pollution standards in CA because as CA goes so goes the nation.  I would have used this, but they said it was very expensive (about 5x more expensive that the Riello single fire) .I have never gotten a quote for a powerflame or the other Midco modulating burner and I actually never got a quote from a supplier for the low nox, but I imagine it's quite pricey. For me that was too much as I'd need two of them. For you it might be worth it.  I was mainly interested in the noise factor rather than the low nox.

Powerflame was going to run some noise tests on their burners, I just never checked back with them.

It is a difficult decision, but there are many good options. My ongoing problem was finding anyone willing to put a wet-base boiler in as they'd never even heard of them...and I'm in an area with alot of steam. It's hard to teach a old dog new tricks. Where do you live, btw?  Colleen

JIK

I asked Midco to design and build a special flange to officially attach the LNB 1000 Lonox power burner to my WM 580;

I want the steam boiler configuration to be correct and certified.



I really like the technology for a number of reasons, yes, including the quieter operation as well as overall efficiency.



I am, thank goodness, replacing an old Crown atmospheric steam boiler, so why not go the extra distance, given that hopefully I will be doing it once in several decades henceforth.



As a fascinating aside, I had recently poured over various texts and articles, after attempting to analyze my century old steam system on my own.



I was perplexed, as the main and main branch piping was extremely complex and interconnected in unexpected ways. Two separate mains interconnected via other mains branches over several different basement floor levels, etc. It seemed at first like counter flow, then parallel, then...oye!



Quad City Dave (thank you) was kind enough to walk me through the piping by phone and it turns out, partly due to a split level basement with many chambers, I have a hybrid system.



It starts out as counter flow in the boiler room, then combines with parallel in mind- bending (for me) ways.



Not a single steam pro in the Ithaca area had a clue as to this, and I couldn't help thinking of Sherlock Holmes as Dave explained to me it is both counter flow and parallel.



Some of the local "pros" were ready to start removing and reducing seemingly redundant header and other piping, but what a hornet's nest that would have created.



The amazing thing, even with many rad vents ridiculously disturbed, while rads and line missing, and an old atmospheric boiler 2/3rds gone, their complex system still managed to heat the 10,000 square foot estate to a surprising extent. All without any hammer, pipe knocking.



It's gonna be fun when I finally fire up the 580-S firing off the Lonox 1000 with a fully restored pipe and rad system. Even more fun to compare the savings in gas fuel and increased comfort level.

I like in Ithaca, NY.