steam system question

Tom_4

I have a question about a 2 pipe steam system. There is what looks to be a steam trap with I think is the supply line(kind of forgot,looked at it 2 weeks ago) running into the side at the very top of it and a return coming out of the bottom which drops into a manifold of about 4 return lines. It has the name Moline cast into it. From the top there is a 3/4 pipe coming up and then over to a disc shaped object which resembles the regulator that is before the gas meter. Does anyone know what this is and is it needed in the system because it is leaking water through a hole in the top of it. They have asked many people and have not gotten an answer from anyone yet. Thank you Tom

Mark Hunt

Does it look like

This?

Mark H

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[Deleted User]

thats what i think he is talking about also

could he not replace this assembly with a gorton main vent, put one on the steam supply main also and turn it into an ordinary two pipe system? he would have to get rid of the ejector also, if its still there. i think that would work...its not coal fired anymore i assume. this would be a good question for Noel or Steamhead.

Tom_4

similar to that

It is similar to that but it is piped different than that with the vacuum valve dropping out of a 3/4 90 deg. fitting. I think it was coal at one time but it is nat. gas now.

Unknown

I bet the pressure is a little high still,

and I bet the seat/valve in the big object, the vent, is worn. The ejector probably still works, before this vent and the condenser it is connected to.

I don't think I would take apart much, I might take the vacuum vent off and put a number 2 Gorton, as per this picture.

What pressure control are you using? Where does it shut off?

Noel

Tom_4

Post a pic

Noel I have not looked at anything except the vacuum valve where it was leaking. Is there a way I can post a pic. I am going to install a new sink and countertops there next week and I can get a digital pic of it. Tom

Steamhead

Tom, posting a pic is easy

save the image as a .jpg file on your hard drive. If you have image-editing software (highly recommended), size your image about 5 x 7 inches, so it will display on our screens without an excessive amount of scrolling.

When you go to the Post screen, click the Attachments button at the bottom. This will produce a screen on which you can browse to the folder where the image is. When you find the image, click Add, then OK. Finish typing your post, check the box next to the Attachments button if you want the image to display automatically, then click Post. That'll do it.

The Moline was one of the nicest vapor/vacuum systems ever designed. It is covered in much detail in Dan's "The Lost Art ofSteam Heating Companion", available on the Books and More page of this site.

If the air trap doesn't work, one or more Gorton #2 vents will work fine, as Noel suggests.

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