No Steam Pressure

marty D_2

I recently replaced and old steam boiler coal/oil conversion
with a Pierless 6 section. After working out several bugs,still have 2 issues I would greatly appreciate help with. First, after skimming for a full day, then adding cleaning agent, following all instructions etc, still getting significant surging in view glass. Second, the old
building is warming up, all radiators getting warm, but
virtually no pressure showing on boiler gauge?? The gauge
reads in increments of 1 pound, and the needle basically
sits there. Pressuretrol is set at .5 with 1lb diff additive. Boiler never shuts off until tstats satisfied.
Other than a bad pressure gauge, is there something else that could be going on here??

Steam rookie

Ken Ditchfield

Steam Pressure

What kind of gauge do you have on the boiler? If it's the usual 30-pound gauge, it will be very difficult (Impossible?) to read the low pressure that you get with .5 cut-in and 1 psi differential. If you really want to know the pressure, you'll need to get a low pressure gauge - I've got a WIKA 0-3 psi gauge on my boiler. Another factor to consider is that if the boiler is correctly sized, you'll be condensing the steam as fast as you make it, so you may not see any pressure on the gauge until all of the radiators are fully hot and consensing ability is reduced. If the boiler is doing the job of heating properly, you really don't need to know the pressure, but you definitely want to know if it's too high.

marty D_2

Steam Gauge

Thanks Ken, Yea its a 30lb gauge. I will install a different
one, I see your point. What would be the best way to test to
insure the pressuretrol will do its job? Just turn the setting down as far as it will go? Any ideas on the surging
issue. Is it most likely still a matter of cleaning?

scrook_2

steam pressure

If all the radiators are heating you have enough steam pressure -- perhaps 0.5 psi, and if it doesn't cycle at all till the t-stat is satisfied, then it is not oversized. They have 30psi gauges to meat the 2X max raded pressure requirement (ASTM? ASME?) as th eboiler is rated 15 psi max steam. A 3 psi or 5 psi gauge hooked in will tell you what the pressure is actually reaching.

joe_14

surging



hopefully you have correct near boiler piping and have insulated all steam carring pipes.





joeg

marty D_2

Near boiler piping

Near boiler piping checked by 2 different steam engineers.
They missed a couple of things, but have been helpful in
correcting them. Pipes are not insulated yet as we are tweeking things, could that be the reason for the significant fluctuations in the water level?? You guys are
great, I really appreciate your help.

marty