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Why isn’t there a #3 or #2 rate vent?

mikeg2015
mikeg2015 Member Posts: 1,194
edited January 2020 in Strictly Steam
In the MoM and Gorton lines, why isn’t there an ultra slow vent like a #3 or #2? Is a smaller orifice just too likely to plug? Does it whistle when wet? I could really use a vent just a tad slower for several smaller radiators. My solution is to place them on TRV’s.

Perhaps I’m looking at it the wrong way. IF I further increase main venting, I can maintain the same venting ratio on the fastest vents, while have a larger ratio with the slowest vents on small radiators. IT would shift the baseline.

Might be time to do some more drilling and tapping or install a Tee on the dry return drip to add all the venting I want. I know it’s not the preferred location. But my main is so large compared to the boiler size steam volume and velocity at that point I don’t think it will matter at all.

Only vent slower than a #4 is a obsolete Hoffman 2 vacuum vent. But you can’t get those in a vertical configuration for a TRV.


Any thoughts?

Comments

  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,840
    Hoffman 1A
    I ignored the official numbers and got it even slower. I had a #4 on the subject radiator and it was too much, I had the Hoffman laying around so I tried it. Works like a charm. I have 40 EDR for a single 180 sq ft bedroom and it needs “tamed”.
    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,317
    I've wondered what happened to #3 and #4 also.

    For that matter where's 7,8,9? There's C and D but why did they go to letters?

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • Precaud
    Precaud Member Posts: 370
    ChrisJ said:

    For that matter where's 7,8,9? There's C and D but why did they go to letters?

    They were visionaries. It's a hexadecimal system :smiley:
    1950's Bryant boiler in a 1-pipe steam system at 7,000 ft in northern NM, where basements are rare.
    ethicalpaul
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,387
    Maybe someone at Gorton would know. But I would assume numbers 1 and 2 were already in use for their main vents. They might have left 3 open for an even larger main vent- I once suggested they scale up the #2 to create a #3, but they didn't.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Hap_Hazzard
  • SteamingatMohawk
    SteamingatMohawk Member Posts: 1,025
    The Vent Rite #1 is adjustable from "OFF" at setting 1 to a #5 at setting according to the table in the Data from Gill/Pajek report, "Balancing Steam Systems, Using a Vent Capacity Chart", 2005, which you can Google to see.
  • SteamingatMohawk
    SteamingatMohawk Member Posts: 1,025
    Similarly, the Heat Timer Varivalve is a #5 at Minimum setting and between a #1 and #2 fully open. Again see the report.
  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
    They're just model numbers, not sizes. #1 and D are the same size, but they have different fittings.

    I don't see much need for a vent slower than a #4, but there's quite a gap between a #6 and a C.
    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24
  • mikeg2015
    mikeg2015 Member Posts: 1,194
    > @SteamingatMohawk said:
    > The Vent Rite #1 is adjustable from "OFF" at setting 1 to a #5 at setting according to the table in the Data from Gill/Pajek report, "Balancing Steam Systems, Using a Vent Capacity Chart", 2005, which you can Google to see.

    In practice on a vapor system under 1oz. It’s a little wonky under a 4 setting. 1-3 are about the same... which you can see in the report. It’s about a 4 equal on setting 3 low and 5 on setting 7. 8 is about the same and if you go past 8 at all it goes to 0.

    They don’t make a straight ventrite.

    Otherwise I really like the vent rites.
  • mikeg2015
    mikeg2015 Member Posts: 1,194
    > @KC_Jones said:
    > Hoffman 1A
    > I ignored the official numbers and got it even slower. I had a #4 on the subject radiator and it was too much, I had the Hoffman laying around so I tried it. Works like a charm. I have 40 EDR for a single 180 sq ft bedroom and it needs “tamed”.

    Got a couple of those laying around. Might try that. But again no straight 1a
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 6,679
    Precaud said:

    ChrisJ said:

    For that matter where's 7,8,9? There's C and D but why did they go to letters?

    They were visionaries. It's a hexadecimal system :smiley:
    $deadbeef

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,317

    Precaud said:

    ChrisJ said:

    For that matter where's 7,8,9? There's C and D but why did they go to letters?

    They were visionaries. It's a hexadecimal system :smiley:
    $deadbeef
    10 PRINT "3735928559"
    20 GOTO 10

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    ethicalpaul
  • Hap_Hazzard
    Hap_Hazzard Member Posts: 2,846
    ChrisJ said:


    10 PRINT "3735928559"
    20 GOTO 10

    $ echo "obase=16; 3735928559" | bc

    Old unix geeks never die; they just > /dev/null
    Just another DIYer | King of Prussia, PA
    1983(?) Peerless G-561-W-S | 3" drop header, CG400-1090, VXT-24