looking for info, literature on a Pacific steel steam boiler 5281 type L

steampunknoob

I'd like to know the specs on this boiler I have running at my school, so I can get it operating at maximum efficiency. It"s been converted to run on natural gas from oil but will run on both. I'd like to know how much water it holds, what the best operating pressure should be etc...  Im just learning how to keep this thing maintained and any info would be helpful.

nicholas bonham-carter

Even more important than the boiler...

Is the system to which it is attached. What type of radiation, and controls are being used now? Generally speaking, low pressure gets the job better than high, and saves fuel.

You could start by making a list of radiators, and their radiation capacity (EDR), and compare that number of square feet to the rating plate on the boiler. This will tell you if the boiler is oversized for the system, and help you choose some methods of compensation.

Next look at how the air gets out of the system, as firing is starting-is it adequate?

Getting the steam books from the shop here would soon put you light years ahead of most mechanical service people you will run into!

Congratulations on your interest in doing the best job you can on this system, a trait so rare nowadays!--NBC

Steamhead

Only thing I can find quickly is this:

http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/121/Beacon-Boiler-Reference-Book-Prior-to-1959/948/Part-09



These are just the models and ratings.



Sometime prior to 1959, Pacific Steel Boiler became part of United States Radiator Corp. US Radiator then merged with National Radiator to form National-US Radiator. In the 1960s, National-US became part of Crane Co, which later sold their boiler and radiator operations to Slant/Fin, which still makes boilers today. And you thought rampant mergers and acquisitions were a recent trend.......

steampunknoob

re:

Ok, I'll look into that stuff, more.

   I've learned some basic steam boiler operation and maintenance and i'm going thru the whole system now checking and replacing bad steam traps (that took some reading and searching to figure out types and troubleshooting, and i've got a good test rack set up now for that). I'm trying to get ahold of some efficiency testing equipment and get the guages I need installed/replaced to start keeping an accurate boiler log.  Trouble is that the maintenance crew for the school district knows as much or less than I do about how to get this system going so im tired of constantly fighting them and the heating system so im going to get this figured out myself and looking for some starting info.   

   The boiler is a jacketed oil/gas low presure steel steam boiler, with little othe info labeled on it that I don't have any manual on, that sends steam to varying size and types of radiators that have no identification or info on them, (mostly just pipes with fins attached). and one large forced air unit. I think the last modifications to the whole system were done back in the 1960's not including the recent conversion to natural gas burning. It uses mercury tube pressure switches for limit and operating controls, but it seems to cycle on /off alot in an hour. run 15 mins, off 5, then on again. I get lots of water hammer on first start up. (both issues probably due to bad traps) and the system will strangely oscillate water level up and down on a cold start up and then after it starts to reach operating pressure suddenly water level drops dramatically and triggers the low water cutoff, then settles, comes back to fill w/out adding but a couple gallons of water and then restarts after being reset but runs fine after the boiler heats up well ??? 

I'd like mostly right now to figure out the ideal operating low and high pressures to set the controls at. (the steam traps in the system are mostly mepco 1E thermostatic discs and a couple F and T traps (some old and a couple newer mepco ones for the air handling unit)   So any info i can get is helpful.

steampunknoob

re:

LOL. yeah thats a lot of mergers, I'm just surprised there were that many companies making boilers back then! Yes, I went thru that book too but the model number on the label wasn't listed in the chart   the steel label on the boiler door does read: Pacific steel, a division of United states Radiator co.

Steamhead

Found it

in the Hydronic Rating Handbook! The L in the model # apparently stands for Low Water Line.



Heating surface in boiler: 715 square feet



Radiation capacity: 12,150 steam square feet EDR when automatically fired



Firebox dimensions: 85.5" long,  52-7/8" wide, and the throat is 31"



Do you know when the boiler was installed, or when the school was built?



Post a pic and let's have a look at it.

steampunknoob

RE: found it

    Ohhh thanks, I'll see if I can look it up there too. I'll take some pics and post on Monday hopefully. I'd love to hear everyones thoughts and comments about my boiler!  

     I'll try to be more specific w my questions and further posts, i'm learning a lot here from you all.  Right now i've added one more thing to my list "what is a vapoerstat and how should it operate and proper settings", lol. I also have a trip scheduled to the library for more resources.