carr's positive circulating radiators - Can I convert to water?

nickDC

All I pulled this out a house we're renovating - the owner was going to trash. I have a hydronic system in my house but I have never seen this radiator before. Can I convert to water? It is beautiful I have one column and two others.

Nick

JUGHNE

If only one pipe connection probably not working with water.
But I am sure someone here would want them....priceless!

EBEBRATT-Ed

@nickDC

I bet you could find a place on the top header to drill and tap a 1/2" pipe thread. I would do it on the opposite side of the existing tapping at the top

hot_rod

This type of valve works well on one pipe radiators. I have played around with one on several different radiators in my shop. Adding a small 1/8" auto vent vent up high assures you get the most amount of water into the radiator. They will heat without being 100% filled.
Air space gets you a false expansion tank in the system.

https://www.caleffi.com/sites/default/files/file/01051_en.pdf

The Caleffi is not sold in the US, but I believe Oventrop has them available in the US.

nickDC

hot_rod - thanks that is a great solution. I'm attaching more pics of the opposite side and the other two radiators



. It looks like another place where if I could undo the plug I could put a return valve. The one thing I am wondering - From the pdf of the 1874 tech specs - is that a water seal below thats locks the steam in the upper tubing until it turns back to water. And it would just act like one big chamber even if filled?

Steamhead

I don't think these will work on hot-water, even with those Oventrop valves. But please salvage them, they are classics!!!!!

hot_rod

nickDC said:

hot_rod - thanks that is a great solution. I'm attaching more pics of the opposite side and the other two radiators . It looks like another place where if I could undo the plug I could put a return valve. The one thing I am wondering - From the pdf of the 1874 tech specs - is that a water seal below thats locks the steam in the upper tubing until it turns back to water. And it would just act like one big chamber even if filled?

It would be worth trying one with a conversion valve 
Do you have a source of hot water? A small electric water heater and a circulator would work

They would need to be able to hold pressure also.

JUGHNE

There was a simple single 3/4" insert double pipe valve that would go into a WH tank drain valve opening for the desuperheater from WTA geo heat pumps.

Long 1/2" od tube to the inside and 1/2" od on the shell of the valve.
Constant flow from the HP until hi temp reached. No adjustments.

DanHolohan

I don’t think those tubes are connected at the top. They probable have an internal baffles to allow steam and air to pass each other. I’ve never seen these converted to water. 

EBEBRATT-Ed

Since the vertical pipes are threaded on both ends I would think one end must be a LH thread???

JUGHNE

In the 1890 St Louis house posting, there is a picture of a round table top rad with 2 pipes connected and an air vent.
May not be the same at all.

nickDC

so after the round and round I will need to get rid of these - anyone have a sense of what they are worth?

ChrisJ

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1803242#Comment_1803242

Are you in Washington DC?

I'm not sure if you're going to get much for them but someone like @Steamhead may be able to rehome them.

hot_rod

Send me one, I'lll determine how and if they could be used on a pumped hydronic system:)

No hurry so don't worry about air freight :)