Broomell steam heating system

Steamhead (in transit)

in a boiler that size, would be a cast-iron wet-base or steel boiler with a power gas burner in it, such as a Power-Flame JA which is available with low-high-low firing. The standby loss of this type of boiler/burner combination is much less than that of the typical atmospheric gas boiler, and the power burner offers better control of gas/air mixing which increases combustion efficiency.

Also, you can easily convert such a boiler to oil by simply changing the burner. You can even get combination gas/oil burners in these sizes with low-high-low firing such as Power-Flame's C1-GO-10. This would allow your customer to burn whichever fuel is cheapest per BTU.

Control the high-low firing with a Vaporstat set at 3 ounces or so.

As far as the boilers themselves, Burnham's V9 series and Peerless' SC series seem to hold up well. Columbia's L and GL series are interesting- these are steel boilers shipped in one piece, saving setup time- but you have to have a large enough door to get them inside. Also they may need water treatment in areas that don't have good water supply systems.

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Ned Stellmann

Re: Help w/ a Broomell steam heating system

Gutted Broomell "boiler room" system with all "non boiler room" Broomell components in inplace.
The boiler room has a Hoffman 50VBFD-B condensate receiver controled by two number 67 low water cut-offs, a two-inch master F&T trap, an open return before the F&T trap, two cracked Weil Mclain EG75 gas boiler (which will be replaced with a single boiler)and a copper header joining the two boilers. Beautiful house in a highend neighborhood.
Other then installing one new steam boiler with a pump control what do I do? (radiator/F&T traps, air vents,ect.)

Patrick Linhardt, \"Linhardt's Field Guide to Ste

love the broomell

Hi Ned,

I like Broomell so much its on the cover art for my book. I'm holding a Broomell receiver like a fish.

Sounds like a good time to step back and take inventory. On any restoration project, it is essential to understand what is still original, and what is not.

Are the original handvalves and return devices still on the radiators? Check everyone in the house, we'll need to know.

The receiver is gone from the boiler room, right? I mourn the loss, but we can work through that, especially since the boiler feed unit is there. You will want to control that pump on the boiler feed unit with a #42 m&m pump control or equivalent.

The master trap is a big mistake. Every main needs to be traped individually. Use it on the end of the steam main(s), and make sure there is plenty of cooling leg before it goes into the receiver. Make sure the air has a clear path to the vent (open pipe) on the boiler feed tank.

The dry return should not be trapped, but should be run through a cooling leg or radiator before it enters the boiler feed unit. Again, make sure the air has a clear path to the open vent on the tank.

The pressure control that comes with the new boiler needs to be overridden by a vaporstat. That is to control the pressure coming out of the boiler to up to 8 ounces. Less is better with Broomell.

In order to keep the pressure down, size the boiler correctly, don't oversize. Then vent the supply main(s) as much as possible. This will help keep the steam pressure down.

Let's get some more information before we speculate too much. And take pictures if you can, Wallies love pics.

Best regards, Pat

gerry gill

i have to question why there is a pump...

there shouldn't be any need for one..i'd bet the house didn't come with one..

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Steamhead (in transit)

Gerry nailed it

Broomell never used or needed a pump. Get rid of the pump and the master trap. Drip the steam mains and dry returns into wet returns and vent everything properly. If possible, set up the boiler for 2-stage low-high-low firing, controlled with a Vaporstat.

Then watch how well the system works at 3-7 ounces.

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Patrick Linhardt, \"Linhardt's Field Guide to Ste

to pump or not to pump, that is the question

Hi Gerry,

You are right, the original system did not come with a pump. It came with a boiler that had twice the water capacity of the modern boiler that is going in.

Since the pump is already there, and the system is over 500,000 btu, I think the right idea is to use it to maintain that perfect waterline, thereby using the least amount of fuel.

Every application is different, so with more info and maybe some pics we can answer this question. Pump or no pump?

Best regards, Pat

Ned Stellmann

Re: Followup on the Broomell steam heating questions

Patrick and Gerry thanks for you're input. I'm going to revisit the job and take a look at every radiator with the installed accessories, piping, the square footage of installed radiation, an open return to the the reciever with a cooling leg or radiator, vaporstat set at 3-7 ounces, F&T traps with or without air vents (depending on dry or wet returns) on the ends of the mains and a number 42 M&M pump controller.
Have you heard of a two stage natural gas boiler rated for approximately 1,500 sq/ft of installed radiation with an atmospheric gas or power burner?

Patrick Linhardt, \"Linhardt's Field Guide to Ste

thanks for the update, keep them coming

Hi Ned,

An alternative to the power burner would be an atmospheric draft style boiler, like a Weil-McLain LGB, which has a two stage gas valve as standard equipment on most models. I'd check it out, but I'm typing now from our county courthouse where I get to spend the next two weeks on jury duty. The one consulation is they do provide an internet access, when available, while we wait.

I've seen a few of these used on vapor systems with the vaporstat driving the burner to low fire, and it seems to work quite well. Have your local supply house contact their boiler manufacturers for wiring or application help.

Good luck with the job and don't hesitate to ask questions so we can all learn.

Best regards, Pat

Mike Cascio

Ned,

I noticed that you said that you were going to use a copper header to join your boilers together. Copper on a steam system is a big NO NO. You must use steel piping.

Hopefully some of the experts will chime in and guide you in the right direction.

Best of luck,
Michael J. Cascio

Ned Stellmann

Bromell piping

Thanks for you input Michael. The new boiler will be piped out with a factory approved steel header and piping. I'm still waiting for the local Hoffman rep to look at the job and make recommendations on the non-boiler related specialities. P.S. I've ordered the Linhardt's steam book for a closer look at the system. I'll keep posted on my progress.

Patrick Linhardt, \"Linhardt's Field Guide to Ste

thanks

Hi Ned,

Thanks for taking a look at my field guide. I hope it helps you out on this job and many more to come.

Best regards, Pat