Boiler replacement - steam header piping

dandub1960 · October 24

So i am dangerously close (I hope) to replacing my 38 yr old Burnham 5B (oversized for load, but currently downfired) with a right sized unit in the 240-260 mbh range which should be right for the 600-ish EDR connected load.

I'm looking probably at a Peerless 63-05 or Burham IN8, or maybe a Weil. The Peerless (and Weil) have the option of 2 - 2" inch steam take-offs or 1 - 3". The piping looks really simple for the single nozzle. Any thoughts on preference?

Also my system (2 pipe low pressure) brings all the steam drops and condensate returns down on the south wall of my boiler room but the steam supply (100 yr old pipe) drops almost 5 feet to the north so pretty far from where I'd like to put the Hartford loop for gravity return. How do folks feel about a lateral pitched back toward the boiler, preferably 45 degrees-ish to tie into the new steam header?

The current offtake (attached pic) has a lateral about 76 inches off the floor with a 2 1/2 flange ending the old supply piping. I'm kinda surprised that lateral doesn't make noise on start up but maybe there is just enough pitch to drain before the next cycle. Anyway if we tie into the existing flange with a short nipple and elbow I can rotate the new pipe downward and aim it toward the supply take-off on the new header. But 76 inches down to 50-ish for the header doesn't get me quite enough run to keep 45 degrees. Also I wind up with a bunch of back to back elbows to make the connection work. Is this a bad idea? Swings seem good for piping flexibility but I'm not sure on the steam flow? We could do a drop header but even that would be a bit scant.

Finally if we go with the single 3" nozzle I'm thinking if we turn the header assembly 90 degrees from typical (so it kinda bisects the boiler) we get a lot closer to the flange connection which seems good. Tho then I have to run a small lateral coming off the reducing elbow at the end of the header to go over the side of the boiler for the Hartford loop. Would this be an issue?

The other option might be to start at the north steam nozzle and run across the boiler (southward) to drop into the Hartford loop.

Facing south-west, and yes I know the header is very wrong.

Hope these questions make sense.

EBEBRATT-Ed · October 24

You need about 230,000 input for 600edr. But don't bother with btus just look at the square ft of steam rating on the boiler.

As far as the risers 1 3" is larger in area than 2 2" but you can use whatever option the boiler mfg allows. If they allow 2 2" that is fine and easier to do.

I understand your questions except the Hartford loop. The Hartford loop goes at the boiler and the equalizer return goes in the boiler as the equalizer drains the header. If your asking about dripping the steam riser near the flange yes that should have a minimum 3/4" drip for that riser. That condensate is draining back into the boiler supply now.

dandub1960 · October 25

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1869137#Comment_1869137

My mistake Ed, I said Hartford loop when I meant equalizer. My question pertains to turning the steam header 90 degrees (for a single 3" offtake) to make it a bit easier to tie into the existing steam main. If the header runs from front to back rather than side to side my supply tee is closer to the old main (and can be rotated to 45 degrees) but then the reducing elbow at the end of the header ends up in the middle of the boiler instead of hanging over the side, and I need to pipe a lateral over to the side where it belongs to drop into the hartford loop. Is that lateral and extra elbows going to cause any issues?

Also I'm curious why you feel the 2 - 2" offtakes would be easier to pipe? Is it just the smaller pipe size? The single 3" looks about as simple as it can get.

Thanks

Boiler replacement - steam header piping

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