Floor trench heating with one pipe steam

jweob · February 2021

We are adding a floor to ceiling store-front style window to a kitchen (see render). The architect has recommended we have recessed heating in a trench on the floor in front of the window to help manage the downdraft. We have a 1 pipe steam system and there is an existing riser very near to the window location. The radiator spec'd is the Governale Industries convector unit (http://governaleindustries.com/products/convectors/).
The description for this unit doesn't mention use in a floor trench. I also coudn't find any examples on this forum of people using 1 pipe steam with trench heating, and I have seen concerns with trench heating about getting proper air flow. My questions are:
1) Can trench heating work well with 1 pipe steam?
2) Is the proposed convector a good choice?

Thanks!

Jamie Hall · February 2021

It will work -- or rather, it can be made to.

Two things. First, your architet/builder/who have you has to ensure that there is ample air circulation around it. The air has to be able to get into the trench underneath it and then flow up through it. I'll leave that to them.

Perhaps more important: it will give you trouble if you pipe it from just one end. What needs to be done is to feed the steam to it at one end, and then give it a slope -- I'd suggest an inch or so in 10 feet -- down to the other end. Put a vent on that end. then provide a drain from that end to a wet return somewhere down below -- like at basement floor level. NOT to a steam main or steam main extension. Without both the vent and the drain it will heat poorly, if at all, and may be noisy.

EBEBRATT-Ed · February 2021

Does this have a basement underneath?

I don't know about the convector he picked but your architect is right you need heat in front of that window. If you have access underneath to pipe it right it will be fine.......provided your installer knows what he is doing.

If no access underneath it may be able to be done but more difficult

KC_Jones · February 2021

As an aside to this, whoever designs and builds the trench arrangement should allow you access top or bottom (maybe both) to the complete length. It's going to accumulate a lot of dirt and dust so you will need to clean it, I'd say at least yearly. The dirtier it gets, the less airflow you will have and the less effective it will become.

These are the minor details that can add up to a major pain later.

mattmia2 · February 2021

you could also build a box below it and make an indirect radiator/convector

Floor trench heating with one pipe steam

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