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What is the purpose of this vent type fitting, on this one pipe steam system radiator?

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Dennis
Dennis Member Posts: 101
in THE MAIN WALL
The fitting is 3/4 inch.



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Comments

  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
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    That's not a vent fitting and it serves no purpose on a single pipe steam system. It looks more like a drain plug or maybe just a plug that someone put in it to convert it from a hot water radiator to a steam radiator. That radiator
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,843
    edited March 2018
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    That should be a Monitor "Bi-Loop" radiator. It was made to hold a quantity of water, and the incoming steam would heat the water, which would hold its heat longer than cast-iron would by itself. The drain was so you could winterize the radiator so it wouldn't freeze.

    Somewhere, I have a diagram of these radiators.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    delta T
  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,062
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    So was there a "dam" to retain that water to one side so as to not produce water hammer as steam entered?
    I understand the added mass of the water.
    If heated to steam temp and then going into a vacuum would that water boil? WAG.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,843
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    Found it- this is the 2-pipe version, but it works the same way:



    @Erin Holohan Haskell , this might be good to add to the Heating Museum under Radiators.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    JUGHNE
  • delta T
    delta T Member Posts: 884
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    huh. learn something new every day! thanks @Steamhead
  • Erin Holohan Haskell
    Erin Holohan Haskell Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 2,293
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    Steamhead said:

    Found it- this is the 2-pipe version, but it works the same way:



    @Erin Holohan Haskell , this might be good to add to the Heating Museum under Radiators.

    Fantastic! Thanks, @Steamhead. Where'd you track it down?
    President
    HeatingHelp.com
  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
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    Wow, that is really neat. And something I would have never thought. Thanks for sharing that @Steamhead
    Never stop learning.
  • the_donut
    the_donut Member Posts: 374
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    Seems like a half way between steam and water. Notice the big cutdown on sq ft edr.
  • Fred
    Fred Member Posts: 8,542
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    Yes, with the reduction in EDR, I'm not sure it was a very good idea. Kind of self defeating. Guess that's why it is now a rarity.
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,843
    edited March 2018
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    Erin Holohan Haskell said:

    Fantastic! Thanks, @Steamhead. Where'd you track it down?

    1922 ASHVE Guide. That company doesn't appear in later Guides, which makes me think they didn't last long. Perhaps the reduced heat output and/or increased cost had something to do with it. But I've seen these in Baltimore, and as usual, was the only one who had worked on the system to know what they were B)
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Mike_Sheppard
  • Big Ed_4
    Big Ed_4 Member Posts: 2,785
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    Learn something every day, thanks... I wonder if its thought of use was for Appartment buildings ?

    There was an error rendering this rich post.

  • Mike_Sheppard
    Mike_Sheppard Member Posts: 696
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    @Steamhead when I run into something like this is DC I'm contacting you lol
    Never stop learning.
  • Erin Holohan Haskell
    Erin Holohan Haskell Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 2,293
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    Thanks!
    President
    HeatingHelp.com
  • Erin Holohan Haskell
    Erin Holohan Haskell Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 2,293
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    Here it is: https://heatinghelp.com/heating-museum/monitor-bi-loop-hot-water-radiators/

    Thanks, @Steamhead! Your knowledge of these older systems continues to wow me.
    President
    HeatingHelp.com
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 16,843
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    Erin Holohan Haskell said:

    Here it is: https://heatinghelp.com/heating-museum/monitor-bi-loop-hot-water-radiators/

    Thanks, @Steamhead! Your knowledge of these older systems continues to wow me.

    Well, that's why we're here. BTW, I just found an old Monitor Bi-Loop catalog online, and it's on its way to Baltimore. I'll go through it when it arrives and will likely post more stuff here- watch this space.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Erin Holohan Haskell
    Erin Holohan Haskell Member, Moderator, Administrator Posts: 2,293
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    Fantastic!
    President
    HeatingHelp.com
  • Mike Cascio
    Mike Cascio Member Posts: 143
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    Wow this is neat. I suspect it would work well.

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