I built a condensate pump that doesn't need power?

b4racing

ok ok.. its not a pump. After recently installing a condensing boiler into my shop that is above grade, and has no plumbing, I needed to solve my condensate issue. Being up North with freezing temps most of the year, I was told I had 2 options:

1: Drain out the building and heat trace the pipe.

2: Condensate pump out the building. This works because the pump runs periodically and with enough flow not to freeze. The killer for freezing is the trickle.

Since its a hobby shop and I'm not out there everyday I didn't like either option. Too big of a chance for failure. Or maybe I'm just stubborn and had to make things hard. Anyways, I set out and built a tank for my condensate that automatically drains once full. This creates the periodic and larger flow similar to what a condensate pump provides but without power. Picture roughly a 16" tall 4.5" diameter tank. Condensate drips in after the neutralizer and flows out periodically with enough flow not to freeze.

Now the reason for my post. Is there a market for anything like this? On one hand I am thinking possibly, might just be because I think its cool. On the other hand, most boiler installations are going to be in places that have interior plumbing for drainage, or below ground which would require a pump to get above grade. Thoughts??

HVACNUT

Is this like a secondary trap that once condensate is up to drainage level will only put out what comes in, or is there a float switch or another mechanism that will empty the whole cylinder?

Regardless, the piping to outside needs to be thought out. Discharge tubes can still freeze when using a pump. You don't want water back trailing and damming itself closed. Start the down pitch inside. Protect it from wind.

b4racing

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1821073#Comment_1821073

Yup, somewhat. The very small flow from the boilers made it much harder though.

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1821074#Comment_1821074

Yup. Its a 16"tall x 4.5"diameter tank after the neutralizer. No float switch, it works on a siphon system like Rick mentioned, but took some significant experimentation to make work for the very low flow of a boiler

b4racing

I've built a tank that works great! The intent of my post is asking if anyone see's a market for this type of product to be sold and marketed specifically for this. I am considering building and selling them.

Maybe Ill word it this way, what percentage of boiler installs would this benefit or be used on?

hot_rod

it seems 90% of the time a floor drain or condensate pump covers it. I think it would be a pretty small niche product.

Getting it to market could be a challenge . Maybe approach Rectorseal or other companies that specialize in solutions for condensate removal with the idea

GroundUp

In my 18 years in this trade, I have only found a use for something like this maybe 5 times. All of which were covered by a 120v condensate pump. This certainly isn't a new technology, but a combustion condensate specific (maybe with an internal neutralizer?) type unit may have a merit for off-grid properties or those who like to way overcomplicate things and reinvent the wheel. It'd certainly be worth approaching somebody like Axiom to discuss marketing, but I wouldn't expect to be getting rich on this venture.

mattmia2

I'd probably just make it out of pvc pipe and fittings if i needed something like that.

"Scale prevention" is tricky because what prevents scale also pretty easily leaches lead from the plumbing system if there is any excess and if there isn't excess then it is likely to deposit scale.