Name this system

Tim_14

I will try to explain it.Here we go
The structure is 2 stories
split up into 3 apartments
the entire 1st floor is apt 1, the second floor is split into apartment 2,3.
It was bult in approx 1940-1950

The radiation is cast iron baseboard, thin tube radiators,cast iron radiators,and coloum type radiators, they are all mixed up within the structure.

The exsisting boiler is coal fired, forced hot water, with 3 zones.

The header off the boiler is 1" and and continues into the return of the boiler (bypass circuit) off the header comes the 1 1/4 line into a flow control vlv then disapears into the structure.

The next line off the header is the 1 1/2 line that is piped in the same manner But this one has monoflow tees 1 goes to a radiator and the other about 15 feet away goes to another then theres another about the same distance away.

The next line off the header is the 2" line that is piped the same way but after the flow control it it bull heads into 2 2" lines and runs along the basement cieling with radiaton tapped off it.

There are 4 return lines that enter the boiler.
The first one has 2 1" lines connected by a tee then piped into the circulator then into the boiler

The second is 1 1/2 line that also is piped into the circ. then into the common return manifold

The third is a 1" piped the same

Thats the boiler

However, in the cieling the pipes do reduce in size like a gravity system.
What do you think about all this
What I need to do is replace the boiler to gas and I cant size my pumps FOR WHAT a diverter TEE, a gravity conversion , Steam reconversion WHAT.
Thanks
Tim

Steamhead

It's a Classic Hot-Water Hodge-Podge

Sounds to me like the house originally had gravity hot water, and the 2 more modern zones were added along with the circulator when the place was split into apartments.

What I would do is ascertain how much radiation is on each zone, then size your circs accordingly. This may take some doing but will be well worth it. And when piping the new boiler, PUMP AWAY from the air separator/expansion tank connection.

Dan has two great books you should get if you haven't already: "E.D.R" for determining radiator capacities, and "Pumping Away" covers the one best way to install your circs.

Go to the Hot Tech Topics page for a circulator sizing chart.

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kevin

Wow!

Does this even work? is it still coal fired? Definately do the homework on this one.read ,read ,read. I would definately get a high mass(water content) boiler. pipe it pri/ sec and go from ther w/ the proper piping & circ size. Gravity type conversions are weird and do the opposite of what you thnk they should.Good luck.