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weird gravity piping

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norfitz
norfitz Member Posts: 55
in THE MAIN WALL
I did a load survey at a 2-story school from the 40's I think, and it is gravity hydronic. Every radiator on both floors was piped the same way, with the radiator as a bypass off a downcomer that came out of the ceiling and went into the floor. This system has evidently been running OK for 75 years or so, and I can't figure out why the radiators have flow. Oh, duh - I think I just got it. The cold water in the rad is heavier than the hot water in the pipe so it drains out and is replaced by hot water. I guess I asked the right guy. Anybody agree or disagree? Thanks for thinking about it.

Comments

  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 18,170
    Yup

    it's what we call an overhead or Mills system. The supply from the boiler goes up to the top of the building where it feeds horizontal mains, and the risers feed down from there.



    John Mills was a heating genius.
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
  • norfitz
    norfitz Member Posts: 55
    thanks

    Thanks for confirming. I was clear on the downfeed but the bypasses seemed to not make sense until they suddenly did
  • Ironman
    Ironman Member Posts: 7,827
    Dan...

    Describes it in this article:



    http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/332/Gravity-Hot-Water-Heating/72/Gravity-Hot-Water-Heating-FAQ
    Bob Boan
    You can choose to do what you want, but you cannot choose the consequences.
  • jumper
    jumper Member Posts: 2,494
    overhead downflow forever

    There's even older buildings with those heating systems working just fine.

    I figure that the system you describe was less expensive to install than the more common ladder (double) piping for gravity circulation. Sometimes less expensive is superior.
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