Old Steam-only radiators

michael_15

As I sit here and think about it (don't I have anything better to do?), I'm a bit confused about why these worked well compared to using a hot-water radiator for steam.

Since the old steam radiators are only nippled across the bottom and there's only an air vent at the end of the radiator, it would seem that the steam would have very little motivation to rise into the individual columns, but rather would prefer to run along the bottom of the radiator until it reaches the air vent. Thus, it would only get partially hot before the radiator closes.

The only way I can imagine the middle columns getting hot is through diffusion of the steam "trading places" with the air in the column, but this can't be nearly as efficient as pushing it out the other end.

Am I missing something here? Rather, I know I'm missing something here -- what is it?

-Michael

Dale

Density

Steams density is much less than air. So,as the steam comes in it rises in the somewhat large sections and the heavier air goes to the bottom where it flows to the vent. Reading Dan's LOASH he says that originally all rad vents were slow vents, giving the air time to drop and flow to the vent.

thfurnitureguy_4

Imagine your radiator turned upside down and running water into them from the pipe end. The water cascades down the sections one by one until full. Steam is the same only it falls up. Now how does the steam go down from an overhead main to a radiator on the floor below? Is this by pressure?

Steamhead

Yes it is

it's looking for a low-pressure point- the vent.

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