Richardson Vapor System

Paul S_3

Hey guys hope all is well,

I’m working on a Richardson vapor steam system. Some radiators still have their original union return elbows with the dip tubes, the customer previously had plumbers replace several of the others with thermostatic steam traps. The system currently has a mix of both.

Should I Replace the remaining original return elbows with properly sized thermostatic steam traps? Or Replace the radiator supply valves with new valves and properly sized orifice plates, then use regular union return elbows with no traps.

Also some radiators have new radiator valves with the original Richardson return elbows.

Would you recommend preserving the original Richardson fittings instead? Are there any concerns with the current mixture of original return elbows and steam traps?

Also We will be quoting to install a vaporstat. Currently there using an standard pressure trol.

There having issues with water shooting out of return line Air vents. Which is probably caused by higher pressure and improper near boiler piping/system piping causing water to collect at some back pitched points

EBEBRATT-Ed

I would install the Vapor stat and lower the pressure and see how it works. With low pressure and the vents working maybe it will be ok as is.

But you have quite a mixture of parts there, so it is tough to say what the least expensive best fix it.

I suppose the plumbers tossed the original return elbows so I would guess you would have to make a choice between traps and orifices.

Orifices are simple, nothing to go wrong with them but you might spend some time drilling orifices for each rad to get the correct size. If you put traps on and valves on the inlet its a more straightforward install and the customer can balance the heat with the inlet valves as needed

Jamie Hall

The very first step is getting the pressure downto where it belongs for a vapour system — any vapoour system. What is sometimes missed in the variety of patented widgets is the basic principle of a vapur system: only enough steam is allowed into each radiator to power that radiator, and no more.

What combination of widgets each system used to accomplish that really doesn't matter. The widgets came in two groups — those that kept excess steam out of the returns, and those that didn't allow it in in the first place. You need one or the other, but you can have both without problems.

What you can't have is excess differential pressure. Depending on what combination of widgets you have on various radiators or crossovers, excess pressure will cause various inds of misbehaviour — but it will always cause misbehaviour.

So.

Vapourstat. Pressure down to no more than 7 ounces cutout (3 ounce differential) and see how things run.

jumper

»can have both without problems.« Do you mean orifice plates on both supply & return?

Jamie Hall

No. I mean traps and orifices, plain elbows and orifices, plain elbows, traps and valves…

Or any possible combination of the above. Any given radiator needs at least a trap or other outlet device or an orifice or a correct valve, but may have any combination of outlet widget and inlet widget that you fancy.