Condensate pump suggestion

Brad White_30

There are lots of options.

The brand I specify most is Skidmore, but there is also ITT Domestic, ITT Hoffman (have to wonder if there is a difference), FloTronics, more I cannot think of right now.

Features I usually specify are:

Cast iron receiver, duplex arrangement, pump suction isolation valves, pumps packaged with starter. Depending on what grade of sophistication of your facility, you can get alarm outputs (high water, pump failure/inconsistent status, even a DDC output for general status and remote start-stop.

Depending on your trap mainentence and any steam blow-by, you may want to select a pump with 2 foot NPSH rating which indicates an ability to handle hotter condensate without cavitation.

Units are sized based on EDR, the square footage of connected radiation. Flow rates are usually 3 times the condensing rate. The other thing you have to know is what the discharge pressure needs to be, how far back to the boiler feed unit.

Speaking of which, this may well be your boiler feed unit. If that is the case, the control setup runs on boiler low level not receiver high level, and you want a larger receiver.

That is a general overview.

California dying man

condensate pump suggestions

I need to replace the 80-year old warrior that's been keeping my 95 radiators dry all these years. I haven't a clue where to start looking. What are some brands and models that have the capacity to serve this size two-pipe system?

oil-2-4-6-gas

i deal with a lot of condensate pumps/--a couple of others are Shipco,Allied,Federal,Dunham Bush there are plenty more --
#1 i would not recommend the Hoffman units ---the design of the pumps are not the greatest -2 pump shops we deal with says this is the most problamatic pump they deal with .
Federal units have special motors on some you can only buy from them -at hugely inflated cost of course
Allieds and Skidmore are an easy to service pump in the field with normal motors --
most important issues with Any would be making sure they don"t run dry and no live steam gets to the tank
Cast tanks last about 2.5 -3 times longer but cost more intially

Unknown

I have to agree

Especially about the Hoffmans. Wassup with that snap ring and gasket arrangement on the motor???

I prefer the cast tanks, although I had mostly Skidmore tanks to care for. Easy to work on and keep clean, but the steel gets thin faster than I get old. One of us has a problem. I still like 'em, though, for ease of service and reliability.

Deferred maintenance can be pretty hard on a pump and tank.....

Noel

Brad White_30

Shipco

Yes, another good name. With Federals I had similar parts and stocking issues, but I always liked their "pancake" receiver which fit in low spaces nicely. Did not know about the service intensity of the Hoffman units. Good to know. Thanks

Christian Egli_2

Tanks for cool stainless steel

With a large system like yours with 95 radiators, relatively speaking, spending a little more for some deluxe features on the condensate pump might be appropriate.

Here's what I dream about

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Tanks made of stainless steel never ever rust, this means (1) the stagnating water inside them does not turn brown, (2) the outside does not develop rust patches over time, (3) cleaning duties are easy, inside and out, since there is no rust build up to remove there is simply sediment accumulation to wipe away, and (3) stainless steel being such a horribly poor heat conductor the stainless tank gives you a mild bonus in heat loss economy.

Sterling makes nice stuff. Series 4300 pump is stainless, sterlco. steamcontrolproducts.com

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A duplex tank with isolation valves is a godsend when a pump decides to go cold on you.

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If your building has three phase power, I would most definitely wire the pump with three phase, even at the cost of adding a new wire. I stay away from single phase motors, with all the starting capacitor and switch and complicated electrical connections and junk it's all garbage. There is no trouble shooting with three phase motors and they are vastly less energy hungry than their one phase simpleton counterparts. But you need three phase power from your utility... and they sell you the power...

Happy pumping. Include me in with Oil-2-4-6 and Noel about the Hoffmans.