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Fin tube Piped in 12 feet high

Muddy
Muddy Member Posts: 1
in Strictly Steam
At the bottom of a 20 ft rise, near the end of main, coming off a drip leg, was a steam trap about 12 feet ABOVE the floor. About 18 inches AFTER the trap was piped in a 24" long run of fin tube. No check valve, no shutoff valve. After that was just another couple feet of pipe, 90 up 6" or 8" inches to a swing joint and then tee'd down into the condensate return. This is a vacuum return system. There didn't appear to be ANYTHING up there in need of heat. This was not along a wall, but centered in the space. WHAT ON EARTH WAS THERE A 24" RUN OF FIN TUBE INSTALLED THERE FOR? Was it a mistake or intentional? This building was constructed between 1925-1930 in Detroit.

Comments

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,408
    It wasn't a mistake, someone put it there on purpose. Is there a trap at the end of the riser? It sounds like it's there to insure a water seal at the bottom of the riser, to keep steam from getting into the return.
  • Danny Scully
    Danny Scully Member Posts: 1,399
    Sounds like a cooling leg.
    unclejohnCanuckerIronman
  • Gsmith
    Gsmith Member Posts: 423
    Maybe a condensing radiator for the vacuum system?

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