1-pipe counterflow steam near boiler piping

johnlemen

ok steamheads. i work @ a local wholesaler that sells boilers. when called upon, i go out to size replacement boilers, etc. i ran across this the other day.the house was built in 1917. it has i-pipe counterflow steam system. the current homeowner purchased the house in nov 2015. the complaint is that there is water hammer the entire time with the heating cycle. pictures are attached. what's the fix.

Paul48

No header.....No equalizer......No drips, other than down the "vertical" header. Too many problems to list.

Jamie Hall

I especially like the photo of the label on the boiler, which says -- at the bottom, I'll grant you -- "follow installation instructions". As @Paul48 said, too many problems to list individually, but basically it comes down to one: the boiler wasn't piped according to the manufacturer's instructions, never mind good practice.

That may not be all... but would be a good place to start. Water hammer throughout the cycle is the tipoff -- the steam is full of water droplets, and the way it's piped it can't help but be.

A repipe job is in order here.

JUGHNE

The higher pipe to the left (main or runout?) is definitely sloped to hold water and could be the most hammering.
But everything is wrong anyway.
Is it new boiler time or are you just there for advising.

johnlemen

the boiler does work and i did find iom instructions on line. i believe i found how to pipe for this type of system. just looking for advise. thank you

Paul48

The anvil chorus will continue until he gets the near boiler piping re-done. A steam pro should evaluate the whole system as well. There may be some other areas that are contributing.

EBEBRATT-Ed

I am one of the ones here that will "sometimes" let some questionable piping go if it works.

NOT THIS ONE!!!!

Everything is wrong!!

Steamhead

Agreed.

Dunkirk gas steam boilers are especially sensitive to improper piping. At minimum that one should have a 2-1/2" header. On the larger sizes we like to use 3" headers- that's the only way to get these boilers to produce dry steam.

Looks like that one is old enough that it might not be worth repiping- just replace it.

gerry gill

piping the boiler properly would solve the issue.

New England SteamWorks

Steamhead said:

Looks like that one is old enough that it might not be worth repiping- just replace it.

I am with @Steamhead. Replace & repipe. Doubly so because it's a Dunkirk, and this design is very difficult with steam.

Steamhead

The bigger the steam outlet, the better. Like the Slant/Fin Intrepid series with its 3" outlet:

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/161736/flir-video-of-slant-fin-intrepid-boiler-fired-with-carlin-ez-gas-burner

jumper

Off topic, don't some counterflow work well with bad piping? If the pipe is big enough......