Steam Vacuum System

jeff_51

Do you have Dan's book "The Lost Art Of Steam Heating"?.
Splains everthing real well.
Splains everthing else real well to.

Wayne_12

Steam Vacuum System

I need some help to explain the vacuum system to students. Specifically how does the vacuum pump function on larger systems that use a condensate storage tank. Does the pump move water from the vacuum tank to the boiler? Does the vacuum pump only remove air from the condensate return line creating the vacuum in the line, then the condensate flows back to the condensate tank. Then a float device activates a pump to move the condensate into the boiler. Internal diagrahms or pictures whould help.

Thanks for the support in advance. I check this site as often as I can and have learned alot about steam and hydronic heat.

Dave Meers

answers to your questions

Hi Wayne,

Glad you asked.

1) Most mechanical vacuum pumps create the vaccum internally, which draws the air and condensate to the tank of the vaccum unit. The removal of air is the primary function.

2) As condensate accumulates in the vacuum unit tank, it will be pumped away from that tank to either a boiler feed unit's reservoir tank, or directly into the boiler. The boiler feed tank is prefered, better waterline control can be achieved.

3) Yes, the vacuum removes the air from the return lines, helping the distribution of the steam to the radiation. This was and is its best feature because this leads to more even heat and better economy of operation. Condensate flows back to the tank by gravity or can be lifted from low points with "lift fittings".

4) And yes, Dan 's book can help. You can also try to contact your local ITT Hoffman rep for literature that contains diagrams and pics. If that doesn't work, give me your fax number and I'll send some your way.

Best regards, Pat

Wayne_12

Thanks to the replies

I appreciate the quick response to my question.

Wayne_12

Thanks to the replies

I appreciate the quick response to my question. Pat thank you for a quick easy explaination to the question.

I do have some of Dan's books. They where not readily avaiable when I asked the question