The Battle Inside Your Boiler: Air vs Steam
In this video, I go over the battle inside your steam system between Steam and Air. I hope this helps you better understand how steam systems operate.
Boiler Lessons
Comments
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That was awesome, Ray. "Air is like a squatter."
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Nice
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Thanks for the video. One question, for a single pipe steam system, how to get rid of the air trapped inside the system/radiator.
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@PatB there should be a vent on the one pipe rad and a main air vent on the pipe below in the basement
Ray Wohlfarth
Boiler Lessons1 -
thanks, Ray, for replying to my question. I have the vents, but the steam doesn't go up to the third floor; is that possible to add a main vent on the upright pipe from basement to the third floor to speedy up the steam going upstairs? many thanks!
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@PatB The steam should arrive within one to two minutes. You may need a vent on the riser
Ray Wohlfarth
Boiler Lessons1 -
Take the vent out of the radiator and run the boiler, see if the riser gets hot fast. If it doesn't you have some other issue like condensate trapped somewhere or a broken or partially closed valve.
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If steam is water droplets at boiling temperature then steam does not mix with air. If steam is a gas then it mixes with air. Conventional vents reduce steam heating efficiency.
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What about in a two pipe system. I know you said the air gets released in the steam trap. Does the air get released in the condensate line back at the boiler? Or should the system be sealed and no air being introduced?
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@michaelmiracle The air has to be able to enter and leave the system. Think of a steam system breathes and the pipe is always filled with air or steam.
Ray Wohlfarth
Boiler Lessons0 -
No air or steam requires a tall leg of condensate or a very low NPSH pump to inject condensate to boiler. Or maybe not? Anyone here has any ideas?
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@RayWohlfarth, thank you.
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