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Combustion Measure

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adayton_2
adayton_2 Member Posts: 130
in THE MAIN WALL
combustion analysis with COMPLETE burner package/boiler spec tune up performed by a PRO (preferably a steam specialist) is our next step. we just wanted to get the scale/soot off the heat exchanger Iron before inviting in the PRO (just getting some of the grunt work out of the way :-) )..

Two questions we have.

Number 1: as stated in original above, would not removal of substantial (30 years worth) scale/detritous from the boiler Iron xchanger change the time to first 10 ounce steam cycle?

Number 2: are there any combustion/steam PROs in Long Island, N.Y State, Nassau County (Baldwin Town) area?

Alfred/Jim

Comments

  • adayton_2
    adayton_2 Member Posts: 130
    Combustion Measurement

    before and after thorough scrub & vac removing substantial surface of carbon/scale/soot from boiler heat chamber/exchanger. How do you quantify/measure change in boiler efficiency? The only "measure" I presently have is 42 minutes from 160* aquastat water to achieve 10 ounces steam on first cycle. AFTER a thorough scrub & vac the time remained at 42 minutes. should not the time to first cycle have gone down?? 35 year old excellent condition Weil McLaine 572 5 section steam boiler (ratings attached) rated 292,000 IBR at 2.75 nozzle. 5 year old Beckett Burner at 100 PSI presently running 2.00 nozzle. Alfred/Jim
  • Mitch_6
    Mitch_6 Member Posts: 549
    Messure efficancey and nozzle size.

    Your oil nozzle should be sized to handle the attached steam load (provided it is a size that both the boiler and burner are rated to handle) you should not under or over fire only stay withing the specified equipment ranges.

    By cleaning who did it, if it was an oil company they should have done a complete combustion analysis at least when done, I like doing before and after when possible more so on gas.

    The only way to tell if the unit is running properly is by a combustion analysis preferably with a digital analizer but a good oil teck with single gas chemical analizer reading co2 may be able to get you close enough.

    A digital that gives o2,co,co2,gross and net stack will give you better results and quicker since you can litterly see the change as you are making adjustments not stopping and re sampling like with singe gas chemical kits. Draft should also be checked over fire, over breach and outlet side of draft regulator tee.

    Mitch S.
  • jim lockard
    jim lockard Member Posts: 1,059
    Al /jim

    Check "find a Pro" in the upper left. You will find a number of fine "steam eaters" live in the Long Island Ny. area.Best Wishes J.Lockard
  • Mitch_6
    Mitch_6 Member Posts: 549
    Question 1

    I am guessing that the boiler has been cleaned at least once since its installation so It most likely does not have 30 years of soot and scale. Most oil companies clean the boilers once a year during the annual tuneup they also change nozzles, electrodes, filters and re adjust the air fuel mixture.

    Also not only is there particulars that can effect steam time in the fire chamber but also in the steam chamber. Is the water in good condition no oil little or no sludge.

    Just a little oil on the surface can effect proper steam and sludge coating can effect heat transfer.

    If the burner is not set up right you can soot up the fire chamber right away. Cleaning is part of a proper tuneup done at the same time.

    To question 2 I am in Boston, hopefully one of the pros on this site know or are someone in your area. If not there are oil and plumbing associations that may be able to refer.

    Mitch S.
  • adayton_2
    adayton_2 Member Posts: 130
    35 Years

    has certainly seen a few PROs performing adequate scrub & vac but mostly I am sure the quicky bums rush "cleaning" that many overworked, underpaid techs are prone to performing. Fortunately the flame was burning pretty clean all those years so there was not large quantity of black soot, however there was plenty of scale with some slight soot covering 40 to 60 percent of the Iron including the usual build up of granular combustion detritous clogging the joints between sections and piled up in the passagways between each sections adjacent waterways. This we thoroughly removed and expected to see some indication immediately apparent of improved efficieny/heat transfer.

    Alfred/Jim
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