For Lack of a Heat Exchanger-System Failure-PGP

Paul Pollets

We just finished repairing & retrofitting a system installed 14 years ago (by "Others") The radiant tubing was polybutylene directly connected to the boiler. Even though a Viessmann boiler was used, oxygen corrosion burned a hole through one of the manifolds and caused massive sludging of the system. We replaced the leaking manifold with a Wirsbo manifold and relocated the equipment so it could be serviced and retrofitted the boiler with a new Vitotronic 200 computer. We built the "Near Boiler piping/HX" panel in the shop. The sludge took 2 chemical treatments to remove.The deposits reduced flow to less than 5% of the pipe diameter. The owner realizes he may have to replace the 4 other manifolds in the near future. I see this too often...non-barrier tubing will and does cause serious corrosion in closed loop systems. For lack of system separation, the client almost lost the entire system.

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George_10

For future prevention

you could use our Rhomar 922 treatment since it has an active oxygen scavenger in it and it would capture the oxygen coming in through the tubing. There are many other benefits also, but I wanted to only address what you spoke of. You can check it out for yourself under Hydronics on our web site www.rhomarwater.com. I also would be available for any questions you may have.

George

Paul Pollets

Boiler chemicals

We use Chem Aqua CB93 system cleaner and CB777 corrosion inhibitor and pump lubricant. I'll check out your website...Thx, Paul

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Dan Foley

Nice.....

job, Paul. I have never seen those type of manifolds. Are they welded steel? -DF

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steve gates

it's amazing what

o2 can do. Try breathing without it.

? Was there ever a polybutylene made with o2 barrier?

Can you tell what amount of deteriation has gone on inside the boiler? Life loss?

Paul Pollets

corrosion

PB was never made with an 02 barrier. The manifolds are powder coated steel, and were corroded inside and particularly at the outlets, and loaded with sediment. The 2 lower floor manifolds is where the sludge collected. The boiler had some corrosion, with no pin damage on the heat exchanger, despite condensation. The sediment was blocking 90% of the supply and return outlets on the boiler.

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Paul Pollets

Hey DF

Thanks...the Magra manifolds were made in Germany and have both supply and returns casted into one housing. Sorta like a dual "low loss header". The casting is welded. These types were sold thru Canadian sources in the NW 15 years ago, when the German equipment started becoming popular.

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steve gates

The reason

I asked about pb. I saw a letter to a buyer, from another fellow in town, that stated the house he was looking to buy had o2 barrier pb. He called it p-box I think.

I told him not buy it. When the buyer first called he thought the tubing in the floor was Entran. He then got this note about o2 pb.

He didn't buy.

Thanks