Clocking Boiler

Jon_2

You have to insure the input gas pressure is correct and the manifold pressure is properly set to clock any gas burning device. You most likely have the correct inputs that you personally clocked, but the appliances are not properly adjusted. I check all my installs after final adjustments and find they clock real close, and insure no other gas device is running while clocking one.

Gordy

Clocking Boiler

In clocking my boiler against the gas meter. I have found that I'm clocking 184,615 Btus, and the gross boiler input is 210,000 Btus. Water heater clocks at 25000 Btus and has a 28000 Btu input rating. Is this an acceptable tolerance? If not what could be wrong?

Gordy

Gordy

Jon

Thanks Jon, I have isolated all appliances while clocking each one. What could be the cause or causes? The flames all look good, I know thats not a good indicator, of what could be wrong.
Gordy

jim sokolovic

Heating value of the gas?

You will notice that both appliances'inputs are low by about 10 %. The heating value of gas can vary by that much, day by day. You can get the exact value each day from your utility, and put that number into your calculation. I would say you have no problem there, being how both are consistently low - only a combustion test on each will prove that, however. Hope this helps!

Gordy

Jim

Thanks Jim, that was in the back of my mind in reading another post on the caloric value of gas. I'm not to sure the meter is'nt off either. In my clocking I would never get the same reading in a revolution, I kinda took the time that seemed to come up the most in a 2 min. period. The 1/2 cubic foot dial was sticking now and then so I used the 2 cubic foot dial. I will clock it again a few different days and see what I come up with. If its the meter I would hate to ruin a good thing by calling the gas company.

Thinking about it though you are still using a cubic foot of gas, as far as the caloric value of the unit, it could either be diluted or concentrated. Would the appliance still not draw a set cubic foot for the burner operation. Since that is what I'm clocking the time involved in using a cubic foot of gas,and the caloric value is just based on the assumption that a cubic foot of gas has a heating value of 1000 btus. The gas is at a set pressure and when the valve opens a set amount goes through the gas valve because of the set pressure. Maybe I'm not understanding the theory,not questioning it just trying to understand it Jim.
Gordy

John Starcher_4

To eliminate.....

....errors, I usually clock the meter over several minutes, then average the total into a "per-minute" value.

Starch

Unknown

G. Kaske

If your meter has an AMR (Automatic Meter Reading) device on it then your 1/2 foot and even 2 foot dials may not give you correct measurements. I have taken to checking the size of the orifices and checking gas pressures for more accurate calculations. Your local utility can give you BTU content if you call them.

Maine doug

Boiler Clocking?

And where on my boiler will I find the big hand and little hand?

jerry scharf_2

hmmm

The big hand has the wrench for the gas valve, and the little hand has the match.

jerry

Mad Dog

Good common sense advice, Jim & Tim

Mad Dog

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jim sokolovic

Heating value of Natural gas...

we have calorimeter in our test lab, at sea level. I've seen the value vary from about 960 to 1060 BTU/cubic ft. - 1020 is about the normal reading. Then there are correction factors based on barometric pressure, gas temperature, etc. that in the field are probably not even considered. If you were able to incorporate all of this into your calculation, you might well find your equipment to be right on specified input!

Gordy

Jim

Thanks for the information Jim. I called Nicor and asked them what the caloric value of their gas was, and they said 1000 Btu cuft. It always is and it never changes. Sounded like a generic answer to me, I would believe you first. Bear in mind I'm not having any noticable problems with my equipment. I just got a wild hair, and decided to time their usage and it was not panning out as I thought it should. I like to learn and it was a question I knew someone here could answer. Thank you very much!

Gordy

Glenn Harrison_2

The last time I asked a Nicor engineer

what the specs for the gas were, I was told 1060 btu's at .65 specific gravity for McHenry County area. This was a few years ago, so it may have changed, and will vary from one area to the next. Who ever you talked to just wanted to get rid of you and was to lazy to look up the info.

Gordy

Glenn

Thats what I thought,Lazy. That 1060 would put my figures closer to where they should be with in 5%. Thanks Glenn
Gordy