Moline Vapor System

[Deleted User]

I am working on an Old Moline Vapor System that is about 90% to 95% intact. However, at some time the Moline Air Trap was removed and replaced with an old Trane Vent. The System also has 3 missing supply valves and two missing return valves. I am sure someone replaced these because they were leaking when the system was running at 3lbs! I replaced the Trane vent with a Gorton and replaced the pressuretrol with a vaporstat. This got the system pressure under 16oz., but I know I have to get this down another 8oz. or more. Is there a better way to handle the missing Moline air trap? Add another Gorton? What should I use to replace the missing supply and return valves? Also, I am sure the manual valves on the system are causing havoc with the returns because too much steam is getting in, but I have no idea where to find either old Moline parts or suitable replacements.

Boilerpro_3

Sources

Contact Tunstall for orifice plates for the replacement valves. The Return valves do nothing, they were just there to allow servicing of the rads.

Is the condensing pipe and Moline ejector still in place?
The System vent would be at the end of the condensor pipe (Or Rad) just before it drops below the waterline. Here's a pic of the ejector on a system with two steam mains.


Boilerpro

[Deleted User]

Condensing Pipe and ejector

Yes, these are still in place the only missing pieces appear to be the valves and the vacuum valve. The air trap is in place, but the vaccum valve was either never installed or removed a long time ago. The old trane still functioned, but was covered with a lot of rust. It was located at the end of the condensing pipe (not insulated) just before it drops below the water line. (I suspect the system was installed just prior to 1920. The patent date on the air trap has 1915 on it.) The cover of the air trap has the Gorton on one end where the vacuum valve would have been and a manual valve on the other end that can be opened.

Boilerpro_3

Your headed the right direction

If you can control the pressure to keep it below 8 ounces you dont; even need the air vent on the end of the condensor pipe becaue any steam that gets past the ejector will condense before it gets to the end of the pipe. You could just leave athis pipe open. I fyou want a little security a couple of no. 2 Gortons should do a good job of venting the system well, depending on its size. When you get these systems running properly they are beautiful and I beleive unmatched, in their simplicity and very efficient.

I am less than an hour from the city of Moline, so there's alot of those systems here in northwest Illinois.

Boilerpro