Document Lg22nqLQoOMGo9akJ5dxYpLp3
American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers Guide, 1937
Fig. 9. An Open Expansion Tank
Fig. 10. A Closed Expansion Tank
tank (Fig. 10), the water is subjected to the pressure of the compressed air within the tank, and as the water expands, the volume of the air in the tank is decreased and its pressure increased.
The open expansion tank must be placed at a sufficient elevation above the highest radiator to prevent boiling when the water in that radiator is at the highest temperature to which it is to be heated. For example, if the water is to be heated to 225 F on extremely cold days, the absolute pressure on the water in the highest radiator must be at least 19 lb per square inch. This pressure will be secured if the open expansion tank is located 15 ft above the highest radiator. If a closed expansion tank is used and is located 30 ft below the highest radiator, an absolute pressure of about 32 lb per square inch must be maintained in the expansion tank if the water in the highest radiator is to be heated .to 225 F without danger of boiling.
The type of expansion tank used in a heating system, whether open or closed, has no influence on the operation of the system. The only function performed by the expansion tank is to provide for the variation in the
Table 9. Expansion Tank Sizes for Hot Water Heating Systems
Tans Sizb Gallons
Equivalent Direct Radiation Installed
in Sq Ft
Capacity Direct Radiation Installed
in Mbh
18 21
24
30 35 40 2-30
2-30 2-35 2-40
Up to 350 Up to 450 Up to 650 Up to 900 Up to 1100 Up to 1400 Up to 1600 Up to 1800 Up to 2000 Up to 2400
Up to 52.5
Up to 67.5 Up to 97.5 Up to 135.0
Up to 165.0
Up to 210.0 Up to 240.0 Up to 270.0
Up to 300.0 Up to 360.0
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Chapter 33--Hot Water Heating Systems and Piping
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volume of the water in the system, and at the same time to maintain a sufficient pressure in the system to prevent boiling when the water is at the highest temperature for which the system is designed. The capacity 0f the cushion or expansion tank should not be less than the tank sizes indicated in Table 9 and in addition provisions must be made for draining
it without emptying the system. The capacity of the expansion tank should be at least twice the in
crease in volume produced when the water in the system is heated from its normal to its maximum temperature. When 25 gal of water are heated from 40 F to 200 F, the volume of water increases to 26 gal. A safe rule, therefore, is to make the water capacity of the expansion tank equal to
10 per cent of the capacity of the heating system. In a forced circulation system, the expansion tank can either be con
nected to the flow or return main. In a gravity circulation system, the expansion tank should be connected to the flow riser so that air liberated from the water in the boiler may escape through the expansion tank.
The expansion tank should be protected so that the water in the tank or in the connecting pipe lines cannot freeze. If such water should freeze and the water in the system be heated to cause further expansion, the resulting force will burst the boiler or some other portion of the system.
RELIEF VALVES
All closed hot water heating systems should be equipped with a relief valve and compression tank, which should be of adequate size to relieve any pressure over the pressure rating of the boiler. Protection is thus afforded against any possible damages to the boiler due to overheating.
INSTALLATION DETAILS
The detailed installation of the pipe system should be governed by
four fundamental rules:
1. All piping must be pitched either up or down so that all gases which are liberated from the water can move freely to a vented section of the system. Whenever practicable, the pipe line should be pitched so that gases flowing to a vent will flow in the same direc tion as the water. When a pipe system cannot be installed without creating air pockets, that is, sections in the system from which liberated gases cannot escape, such sections must be provided with automatic air relief valves or with air valves which may be operated manually when necessary, or trapped into a pressure tank.
2. AH piping must be arranged so that the entire system can be drained, either to permit alterations or repairs, or to prevent freezing if the system is not to be operated
during a cold period. It is well to install a gate valve and union in every riser near the main to permit the
draining of individual risers without draining the entire system. It is also well, in large installations, to divide the system into branches and to provide each branch with unions and valves so that any one branch can be drained without disturbing the remaining
ones. The dividing of large heating systems into branches or zones and providing each zone
with individual valves has the further advantage of permitting a varying temperature control. For example, if a building is equipped with a forced circulating system and if the south rooms are on one branch of the main and the north rooms are on a separate branch, the valves may be set so that the water will circulate through the north branch
with a temperature drop of, say, 10 E, and through the south branch with a tempera
ture drop of, say, 20 F, thus delivering less heat to the south rooms than to the north
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