Side stream spirovent?

rich pickering

Has anyone ever used a spirovent in a sidestream application? Situation is a school with a small volcano boiler that used to have a compression tank. It now has a bladder tank but no air scoop and some small air vents that tend to leak. Air locking is a problem whenever any work is done.No purge valves. I was thinking of going from where the old tank was connected (supply line)to where the feed water is connected (return line).

Jerry Boulanger_2

Rich

Using any air separator in a sidestream application is iffy. In order to get free air from the main into the sidestream piping the water velocity in the main must be low enough to release the air, and the takeoff would have to be on top of the pipe, where the air would naturally be expected to be.

Better to put a line size air separator of any type at the proper place in the main so that it gets all the flow and all the air. Even simple air scoops do an acceptable job if properly located. In fact, an oversized vertical downcomer will do a decent job of removing air - size it so the water velocity is less than 1 fps and instead of flowing down with the water, the air will drift up to the top of the pipe where it can escape through a good quality air vent.

rich pickering

That's about what I was thinking would happen. MAJOR repiping to install a scoop, and money is always an issue.

Ken_8

Rich,

The absolute best location for any air purger device is where the water runs slowest and is also the hottest.

The only place that can be found is the boiler block itself!

The better manufacturers knew this and cast an air scoop into their boiler blocks. If not that, and "airtrol" fitting does the same thing.

Stop looking at the pipes for location and think boiler block.

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rich pickering

Ken, the volcano is a fire tube, I was under the impression B&G quit making airtrol fittings. And it would have to be 2 1/2".I'd rather sell them a new Vitolla.

Ken_8

I hope there's more to it than...

You'd rather sell them a Vitolla, than simply install an air purger.

But then, What do I know.

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B. Tice

Air removal

Rich, I have had good results with the "Spirotop" at a high spot in the system. Are you familiar with it?

rich pickering

rich pickering

rich pickering

The supply is 2 1/2", goes straight up for about 2 feet and goes into the branch of a tee. One zone leaves one side of the tee. The other side goes straight into another tee which then has two zones leaving it. The pumps are on the returns.

rich pickering

Thanks all.The supply goes straight up about 2 feet, into the branch of a tee. One side of the tee goes to a zone. The other side goes to another tee which then has 2 zones leaving it.(I hope this all makes sense)The zone pumps are on the returns.If there was a 3" vertical spirovent, it would be perfect.

The caretaker said he would keep bleeding the lines.