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8 steam rules every tech should know

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RayWohlfarth
RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 2,016
edited 11:33AM in Strictly Steam

This video goes over 8 rules I follow when troubleshooting a steam system. Most were learned from @DanHolohan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KloCApIEsdg
Ray Wohlfarth
Boiler Lessons
Mad Dog_2

Comments

  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,635

    Excellent....Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • Jamie Hall
    Jamie Hall Member Posts: 27,499

    Good summary! I especially like the comparison with air conditioning — that may help some of the younger techs. see what is happening — with one exception; as you note, steam systems breathe, while sir conditioning and heat pumps, although they work on the same principle of latent heat, do NOT breathe!

    Br. Jamie, osb
    Building superintendent/caretaker, 7200 sq. ft. historic house museum with dependencies in New England
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 3,066

    @RayWohlfarth Rule#1…steam is not hydronic? I've seen textbooks and others define it as hydronic. Is your description meant only for the context in which you are explaining it here?

    Always, luv your stuff. The 8 rules are a great reminder to follow. Thanks for sharing.

  • RayWohlfarth
    RayWohlfarth Member Posts: 2,016

    Thanks @Mad Dog_2

    @Jamie Hall I was referring to the phase changes that occur. Thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow

    @Intplm. Great question and that drives me crazy. Both systems use a boiler to heat water but steam operates way differently than hydronic or any other Hvac mode. For example if you speed up a fan you will get more air. If you increase the operating control set point on a hydronic system, you get more heat. If you increase the steam pressure, the steam will slow down and other weird things happen. Sorry for the ramble

    Ray Wohlfarth
    Boiler Lessons

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