Oil burner problem

Rich_3

I recently installed a horizontal furnaces that is tripping on reset. I was told that a B-pump would handle it no problem, however, the 1/2" line, pump, and even a Tiger loop is not working. I had a gut feeling I was in for trouble. Now I need to solve it. Where can I learn to size the pump and learn more on this topic. (I have emailed tech. service at Suntec today.) HELP is greatly appreciated. I am thinking a booster may be needed.

Here is the info. 1/2" oil line goes up out of the tank 5', then drops down below ground 9', runs 60' horizontal underground, then up about 14'-16' to the Garber filter, and now a tiger loop, I tried a 2 pipe back to the tank..Nothing.. The tiger loop works for a while and then gets really frothy and the burner runs out of fuel and trips. Nozzle 1.10 70A Again all help is really appreciated.

Respectfully,

Rich AKA I've had better days.

Kevinj

oil

Have you run a vaccum check on that line to see if you are within pump spec. ????

Rich_3

Yes

Vacuum guage on Garber reads 10-11", but drops when it is getting frothy???? Thanks for your thoughts here.

Respectfully Rich

John@Reliable_5

Here's the deal..............

from what you said a "B" should be able to handle 18'H with 3gph at a max run of 76' on two pipe but up to 100' if lift is 16'so true measurements are needed. A couple of questions, what is the vac reading? Is all of the run new pipe? Are you using flare fittings? You are just about at the max for a B pump if your tape is right, I would undo and check ALL fittings again and all pump plugs install the allen screw and try two pipe again. Next would be a day tank. John@Reliable

Greg Gurecki

Remeber also fittings are restrictive fittings and filters reduce allowable line lengths.. The support from suntec should be able to give you some numbers

Kevinj

You will lose vacuum if you are sucking air. Are you within the lift limits for the pump you are using ?????

Steve Eayrs

About 10 on vaccum is all you can do without pulling the oil apart, but sounds like you are pulling air in somewhere. You can suck air in places that you won't have a leak.

Sounds like its within the lift limits (lets see....up 5', then down 9', then up 16', is about 12' lift?) Sound right? Is this soft K copper? blk pipe, other?


I would check all fittins like others said, and change any compression fittings to flare. I don't know your oil experience but NEVER use compression on oil lines.


If still a problem, check the dip tube on the fuel tank. Have a foot valve on the bottom? If you don't blow back down the line to clear anything stuck in it.


How about disconnecting the line around the boiler and seeing how this thing runs out of a bucket of fuel? Will tell you which end of the job the problem is on.


You said you ran a 2 pipe with no change. Imagine you took the tigerloop out of the loop when you did this. Try switching the supply and return piping, and run it one pipe, w/ the tigerloop. If one line is kinked or blocked it should work with the other.

Really don't think you need a boost pump or 2-line system. Just creates a possible bigger spill. It should work fine with that lift, using the tigerloop and single line system. I would think the vacuum should be lower, (under 5-8?) if air leaks, kink, or ck vlv, or whatever is wrong is fixed.

Don't forget the make sure the filter cartridge is tight, and gasket is in place and not kinked.

Steve

Jack, CVMS

First of all,

the B pump (two-stage) is no advantage unless it's on a two-pipe system, even with the Tiger Loop. With the Tiger Loop, the pump is always having to lift the fuel 14' to 16'. With a two-pipe system (after both lines have been filled) the fuel in the return line balances the fuel in the supply line so you only have to overcome friction loss.
It sounds like you have an air leak somewhere in your supply side fuel plumbing. After rechecking all your fittings, try jumping your cad cell to keep the burner running while you have a purge line on the bleed screw (you won't flood the chamber so long as your bleed screw is opened fairly wide) and give it time to get the air out - with around 90' of 1/2" line, there will be quite a bit of air, and as the lift gets higher, the air density is reduced, and it takes even longer to get it out.
Something you might try - you'll need a can of fuel, short piece of fuel line with a filter installed in-line, and a valve on the supply side fuel line (I always have these things available for troubleshooting). Install the return line back to the tank, then fire the burner out of the can. Should fire up just fine unless you have some other problem. Shut off the valve, then shut off the burner. This has charged your return line. Now connect your supply line from the fuel tank to the inlet side of the fuel valve and try it again. This way the fuel in the return line will help pull the fuel up
the supply side, and reduce the amount of vacuum the pump has to develop.

MikeB34

Too Long

By my math up 5, down 9 yp 16 = 20' of lift. The B pump is rated by the insert litterature to 18', with a max horizontal run of 88' on a 2 pipe 1/2" system.

The B pump Will NOT work. Maybe series pumping?

Mike

Paul Mitchell

23\" vacuum

You are now at atleast a 23" vacuum. no good...You will need to have a transfer pump to pump the oil through a loop that the furnace will draw off, or pump into a holding tank the furnace will draw off. Something like the above. Suntec will fill you in. No one pump is going to do it. 2stage pump only good to maybe 15" vac and then if you don't have 2 lines it is useless, tiger loop wont help here.
good luck make sure you post what suntec had to say

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Guy_5

Oil

Another thing to watch is that Garber filter. It is an excellent filter, but you may be trying to pull too much oil through it. They make a less restrictive commercial element that may work better in your situation. A B pump on two lines is moving a lot of oil (or at least trying to). Contact Garber and see what they say.