reservoir tank ,on old vapor system, new boiler, to add volume

Steamhead

That's a new one on me. Sure it isn't a water seal contained in the outlet bushing, with a small hole drilled in it to vent air?

Have you been able to tell who made the system? How about posting some pictures?

Noel is dead-on regarding the tank. Remember that steam is a gas and can be compressed. If you keep the pressure low (most Vapor installations ran on 1/2 pound or so, use a Vaporstat not a Pressuretrol) you won't boil a lot of water to generate compressed steam. Today's boilers really do have enough water in them- you just have to set the system up properly.

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David M. Oliver

external reservoir tank on new boiler, old vapor system

Old 2 pipe vapor/vaccum system. Orfices on each outlet of radiator. Wet return to boiler. No traps in system. We are repiping header to slow velocity of steam to get dry steam. Presuretrol is going on and set in ounces. We have the system operation and piping down pat. Just one question: Because of the higher water volume on the old boiler we looked into adding an external reservoir to the boiler to make up the difference between old and new. The piping diagram that comes with tank shows tank (horizonital) splitting water line of boiler. Connections are piped to steam on top and bottom of boiler on bottom. This also was the way Weil McClain suggested. My feelings on this are that you woul want the tank piped below the water line to add volume. Has someone done this either way? results? ps: Dan, your books were very helpful on identifying and correcting the original piping near boiler disaster from the original attempt at putting in a replacement boiler. Thanks!

Unknown

no...

If it were below the water line, no water would ever leave it. If it were above the water line, no water would stay in it. If it straddles the waterline, water will go up and down with the boiler. That is what they want.

Most houses don't need one. They just need to be fired at the right rate, piped right, cleaned well, and be vented properly. Extremely wide buildings would be the exception.

Start-up is when the biggest load occurs. That's when the most water is out in the piping. Things settle down as the vents close and the supplies are hot.

Each case is different.

Noel

David M. Oliver

The orfices were on the inlet valve , not outlet. If memory is correct it is a Arco model K system, but I,m still trying to verify that with the person.

DanHolohan

Agree

I think those tanks are just silly.

Steamhead

Dave, the Model K Vapo-Orifice System

is covered in Dan's "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" and in more detail in "The Lost Art of Steam Heating Companion". I highly recommend you get both if you haven't already.

These Orifice Vapor systems are great. No moving parts in the rooms and they heat on only ounces of pressure. But you have to use big main vents (think Gorton #2) to get quick steam distribution at such low pressures!

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David M. Oliver

I misidentified the system. It is a Mouat vapor heating system from Cleveland,Ohio

Steamhead

Water seals instead of orifices

Still a work of art!

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