size matters

Dave Palmer

Sized a steam job,3 decker house converted into a rest home many years ago.I could do the job with a multi section residential boiler or a small comercial boiler.Not worried about water volume on steam end,condensate,etc...Residential boiler would be easier install,into building,sectioning,etc... Any reason not too? Thanks Dave

John@Reliable

> Sized a steam job,3 decker house converted into a

> rest home many years ago.I could do the job with

> a multi section residential boiler or a small

> comercial boiler.Not worried about water volume

> on steam end,condensate,etc...Residential boiler

> would be easier install,into

> building,sectioning,etc... Any reason not too?

> Thanks Dave

John@Reliable

Steam boiler?

If you measured all the rad. in house + add for piping loss you will know what you need for sq.ft. of steam and pick boiler for that reason . Most comm. units will be to big a Burnham V903 has 1083 sq.ft. you need maybe 900? plus you might be able to use package boiler big time saver ! Good Luck

Steamhead

If you use several small boilers

instead of one larger one, you must deal with returning the condensate to the boiler(s) that need it. This typically requires a boiler-feed pump and a motorized valve on the condensate return to each boiler. When the control on the boiler senses that it needs water, it opens the valve. The end switch on the valve starts the pump and the boiler is filled.

I know those modular boilers are easier to install. But if the system is now gravity-return, adding the boiler-feed pump and motorized valves (and extra traps and whatever else might be needed) is a degree of complication I personally am not comfortable with. If I were doing this job, I'd use one boiler (knocked down if needed to get into the building) and keep the simple gravity return.

If the system now has a return pump- and actually NEEDS one (you'd be surprised at how many old systems have pumps that aren't needed- right, Noel?)- then the modular boilers with boiler-feed pump and motorized valves make sense.

Let us know how you do!

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Dale

Btu input

is the choice. If the edr shows a boiler less than 400 K input that's the way to go. Above this for gas anyway you get into the commercial controls area and the cost really goes up. The insurance co may have input also.

Unknown

I have another opinion

Modular boilers have the advantage of staging back the input, 1 boiler at a time, as the pick-up losses are met. This prevents short cycling like crazy. If you use a big boiler without a High/Low fire capability, you will see short cycling. If you use low fire in a big boiler, what kind of efficiency will you get?

I've become convinced, through watching both types run, that there are cases to be made for either type of system.

If you chose modular boilers, develop your piping plan carefully, as these are sensetive to water line problems if piped wrong. E-mail me if you would like piping info, either way. I'd like to help.

http://www.slantfin.com/prod-caravan.html

Noel