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Broomell Steam system

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oilheatme
oilheatme Member Posts: 5
in THE MAIN WALL
Does anyone have a drawing of the piping from the receiver.
J E Trotter

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  • New England SteamWorks
    New England SteamWorks Member Posts: 1,505
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    New England SteamWorks
    Service, Installation, & Restoration of Steam Heating Systems
    newenglandsteamworks.com
  • Gsmith
    Gsmith Member Posts: 432
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    On a slightly off topic, does any one know the position of the radiator valve handle for a fully open rad valve--valve handle over the word "open" cast in the valve or 180 dog from that?
  • oilheatme
    oilheatme Member Posts: 5
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    I'm assuming that the receiver doesn't get piped in the hartford loop
    J E Trotter
  • oilheatme
    oilheatme Member Posts: 5
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    i believe 180 deg from it
    J E Trotter
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,527
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    Here's a detailed spec from 1924:
    https://heatinghelp.com/heating-museum/broomell-specifications-from-1924/

    And the patents, thanks to Gerry Gill:
    https://heatinghelp.com/heating-museum/broomell-u-s-patents/

    Job photos from Robert O'Connor:
    https://heatinghelp.com/assets/documents/359.pdf
    Retired and loving it.
    oilheatmeHenry
  • Gordo
    Gordo Member Posts: 857
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    @Gary Smith:
    The following video is by no means a definitive essay on the internal construction of the Broomell radiator valve.

    It appears that there were many variations. We found two slight variations within one house!

    I do hope this information is helpful.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Kii5K_wps
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    "Reducing our country's energy consumption, one system at a time"
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Baltimore, MD (USA) and consulting anywhere.
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/all-steamed-up-inc
    oilheatme
  • Gsmith
    Gsmith Member Posts: 432
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    Thanks

    Gordo, very helpful. Attached are 2 pictures of this houses valves. They have the word "open" stamped on the outlet side of the valve (radiator side) . I think n these valves full open is with the handle pointed toward the radiator and the pin in the hole next to the word open.
    oilheatme
  • oilheatme
    oilheatme Member Posts: 5
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    it looks like it is open
    J E Trotter
  • Gsmith
    Gsmith Member Posts: 432
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    I think the pictured one was partially open. Will experiment a bit in the next few days
    oilheatme
  • Gordo
    Gordo Member Posts: 857
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    Thank you for those pictures, Gary.

    We have not, as yet, had the opportunity of taking apart your particular variation of the Broomell valve, as we do not have that one in our "petting zoo" of steam parts.

    It looks like you will have the distinction of becoming the local Broomell expert!
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    "Reducing our country's energy consumption, one system at a time"
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Baltimore, MD (USA) and consulting anywhere.
    https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/all-steamed-up-inc
  • Gsmith
    Gsmith Member Posts: 432
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    It is actually a friends house and I only get there occasionally. House heats fine, but one room with 3 exterior walls and two massive rads needs more heat. The valves on the rads are set at different positions and I was trying to figure out what full open position was. I'm sure just a little experimentation will tell us. I thought perhaps all Broomell valves were similar, buthanks to you I now know there are several varieties.
  • MilanD
    MilanD Member Posts: 1,160
    edited December 2017
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    How does Broomell setup work with a modern boiler? Do you just set up the vaporstat to very low cut out? (I'm just curious as I'm reading the LAOSH companion book.)
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 23,322
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    Should work just fine. Most vapour systems do. Main thing is to keep the vapourstat set low enough, but as sort of a general thing anywhere from 8 to 12 ounces cutout should work.

    And to the OP -- you can safely throttle the valves to control the individual heat from a radiator, up to the point where it is full.
    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
    MilanD
  • MilanD
    MilanD Member Posts: 1,160
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    Thanks @Jamie Hall ! I know the whole point of Broomell was modulating the coal burner air draft via the Receiver. I am supposing with a modern non-modulating steam boiler this Receiver has no real function, aside from, perhaps, allowing for the slight vacuum via the draft connection going into the chimney. Am I mistaken to think this? Any other function of the Receiver with a modern boiler?
  • DanHolohan
    DanHolohan Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 16,527
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    It does a nice job of showing the boiler pressure on the device's gauge glass.
    Retired and loving it.
    MilanD

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