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steam condensate trap?

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gerardlem
gerardlem Member Posts: 1
in THE MAIN WALL

I have a Dunham (condensate vent?) not sure what this is. See pictures. The inlet comes from the condensate return lines from about 3/4 of the radiators with 1-1/2" pipe then goes up 20" with 1" pipe into the 2" gravity return (so as to avoid doorways) which catches the rest of the radiators then into the boiler feed tank. There is a lot of banging and I suspect that this is the issue. The system used to have a vacuum pump attached to the returns but that was another nightmare. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

IMG_5829.JPG IMG_5828.JPG IMG_5815.JPG

Comments

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,992

    I don't know what that is, @Pumpguy

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,353

    Lift fitting?

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    EBEBRATT-Ed
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 19,992

    Yes. I thought that after he mentioned vac pump. That is probably why the riser is smaller than the horizontal to increase velocity

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,353

    That would explain the banging. It needs vacuum to operate.

    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • Pumpguy
    Pumpguy Member Posts: 795
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1887501#Comment_1887501

    Thats what I'm thinking. The difference in vertical and horizontal pipe sizes is a good clue.

    That said, I've never seen a cast iron lift fitting that looks like this one.

    Sounds like this OP needs someone that really knows about 2 pipe vacuum return systems.

    Let start by asking what is the operating steam pressure on this system? Also, what is the height of the lift in these pictures?

    Not having any vacuum on these returns means we need the water column height in back pressure to move condensate up that lift pipe.

    Dennis Pataki. Former Service Manager and Heating Pump Product Manager for Nash Engineering Company. Phone: 1-888 853 9963
    Website: www.nashjenningspumps.com

    The first step in solving any problem is TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.
    EBEBRATT-Ed

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