Steam boiler two pipe!!!

tonyleggeri

So here is the cycle that keeps happening. The boiler fires about 20 mins, shuts off on pressure. Boiler fires back up and shuts off 20 mins later on low water, by this time the steam trap is filled with water. Then the steam trap empties back into the boiler and this cycle keeps repeating. Is this normal?!?

Jamie Hall

Steam trap? What steam trap? Can you describe a bit further? Sounds more like you are referring to a condensate return tank, perhaps?

Something's not right -- but a lot more detail is needed.

Among other minor things -- what pressure is the boiler set to turn off at? It should not be more than 1.5 psi.

tonyleggeri

The bigger tank fills with condensate. Assuming it is a condensate return tank. My bad. Pressure is set for 1.5 bouler goes off around 2

Steamhead

That's a "Return Trap"- Barnes & Jones calls it the Condensator. It is basically a steam-powered pump that returns condensate to the boiler if its pressure gets too high for the condensate to return by gravity.

The small black device above it is the main air vent for the system- not sure why that 45° elbow is sticking up next to it. Is this vent working? If not, that might be why the system shuts off on pressure.

tonyleggeri

I have personally hurd the air vent working, only seems to work when the "condensator" starts to empty. As for the 45 ° I'm not sure why its there but its plugged. Spoke with barns and Jones. They say that the replacement for that small black device is a "vt1" a newer vent trap model. I don't want to go replacing things that may not help the issue

Steamhead

It should vent all the time, not just when the Return Trap empties. Any good main vent, such as a Gorton #2, could replace it.

Where are you located?