Boiler Piping

Tim Potter

What is the best practice piping method to add a buffer tank to a cast iron boiler? The piping to the BB will be in 1-1/4 black pipe. Is there any reason to be concerned about expansion forces on either piece of equipment? Should there be swing joints between the units, if so how many? & on both pipes or just 1? I do have layout flexibility, they can be installed right next to each other, or they can be installed on either side of with the boilermate between them.



Thank You



Tim

Ironman

Expansion issues?

I see no expansion issues as long as the buffer is piped per the manufacture's instructions.



How many connections on the buffer tank, 2 or 4?



If 4, then pipe it as a hydraulic separator.



If 2, then you have two basic options:

1. Pipe it in series with the supply line.

2. Pipe it with two closely spaced Tee's injecting into the supply line. This will require an additional circ, but may be desirable if there are multiple temperature zones taken from the supply and you don't want the buffer in the circuit for a higher or lower temp zone. In that case, just choose which zone to energize the circ with.

Tim Potter

4 connection Buffer

It will be a 4 pipe connection with the buffer as a hydraulic separator with a Tekmar 361 controlling an injection pump.



attached is a picture of the present setup



Thank You



tim

Tim Potter

Here is the attachment

Sorry, Still having attachment issues.....



1st Picture is the present setup, 2nd drawing is planed mod's



Tim

Ironman

Pic

First pic isn't clear enough to make out what's there. If you follow Tekmar's drawing and instructions, you'll be fine. Just make sure you use the return sensor for boiler protection.

Tim Potter

Its a disaster...

4 years ago I first came here with the same design on a house we purchased

Search " New House Q's ' for my original post & subsequent repairs.



I just purchased the twin to my original house with the same hydronic "designer & installer" so I am going to have the same repiping performed. some of the many problems are: no return water protection for the boiler, no high temp protection for the in floor tubing, 2 pumps, a 26-99 along with a 007, installed in series etc etc.



The boiler sensor is going in the buffer tank because I am using an ESBE for return water protection.



I'm not sure why I am concerned with expansion issues this time.



Thank You for the input



Tim