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.426 CHAPTER 16 ... 1958 Guide sufficient coal capacity for approximately an eight-hour firing, period plus a 20 percent reserve for igniting a new charge, more, grate, area may be re quired depending upon the depth of the fuel pot. Gas-Fired Boilers After determining the net load for the installation, gas designed, boilers can usually be selected from manufacturers' tables of net load ratings which are based on piping and pickup allowances varying from 56 percent for small steam boilers and 33.3 percent for small hot water, boilers to 28.8 percent for very large boilers. If the piping and pickup load, or other factors create an unusual load, a boiler should be selected which has an A.G.A. outpid rating equal to the maximum output required. Detailed recommendations for selection of gas designed boilers are given in the A.G.A. publication, Comfort Heating.6 SPACE LIMITATIONS , Boiler rooms should, if possible, be situated at a central point with respect to the building, and should be designed for a maximum of natural light. The space in front of the boilers should be sufficient for firing, stok ing, ash removal and cleaning or renewal of flue tubes, and should be at least 3 ft greater than the length of the tubes. A space of at least 3 ft should be allowed on at least one side of every boiler for convenience of erection and for accessibility to the various damp ers, cleanouts, and trimmings. The space at the rear of the boiler should be ample for the chimney connection and for cleanouts. With large boilers the rear clearance should be at least 3 ft in width. The boiler room height should be sufficient for the location of boiler accessories, and for proper installation of piping. In general, the ceiling height for small steam boilers should be at least 3 ft above the normal boiler water line. With vapor heating, especially, the height above the boiler water line is of vital importance. - CONNECTIONS AND FITTINGS Steam outlet connections should be the full size of the manufacturers' tappings, in order to keep the velocity of flow through the outlet reasonably low, and to avoid fluctuation of the water line and undue entrainment of moisture, and should extend vertically to the maximum height available above the boiler. A steam velocity in boiler outlets not exceeding 25 to 30 fps at maximum load is recommended, unless data are available to show that a higher velocity is satisfactory. See further data on pipe connections to boilers in Chapters 20 and 21 and in the ASME Boiler Construction Code for Low Pressure Heating Boilers. Where a return header is used on a cast-iron sectional boiler to distribute the returns to both rear tappings, it is advisable to provide full size plugged tees instead of elbows where the branch connections enter the return tap pings. This aids in cleaning of sludge from the bottom of the boiler sec tions through the large plugged openings. An equivalent cleanout plug should be provided in the case of a single return connection. Blow-off or drain connections should be made near the boiler, and so arranged that the entire system may be drained of water by opening the drain cock. In the case of two or more boilers separate blow-off connec tions must be provided for each boiler, on the boiler side of the stop valve on the main return connection. Water service connections must be provided for both steam and water Heating Boilers, Furnaces, Space Heaters 427 boilers, for refilling and for the addition of make-up water to boilers. This connection is usually of galvanized steel pipe, and is made to the return main near the boiler or boilers. Fitting connections for pressure gage piping, water gage connections, and safety valves, should be made in accordance with the ASME Boiler Construction Code for Low Pressure Heating Boilers. Smoke Breeching and Chimney Connections. The breeching or smoke pipe from the boiler outlet to the chimney should be air-tight and as short and direct as possible, preference being given to long radius and 45-deg instead of 90-deg bends. The breeching entering a brick chimney should not project beyond the flue lining, and where practicable it should be grouted from the inside of the chimney. A thimble or sleeve usually is provided where the breeching enters a brick chimney. Where a battery of boilers is connected into a breeching, each boiler should be provided with a tight damper. The breeching for a battery of boilers should not be reduced in size as it goes to the more remote boilers. Good connections made to a good chimney will usually result in a rapid response by the boilers to demands for heat. ERECTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE The directions of the boiler manufacturer should always be read before the assembly or installation of any boiler is started, even though the con tractor may be familiar with the boiler. All joints requiring boiler putty or cement, which cannot be reached after assembly is complete, must be finished as the assembly progresses. Five precautions that should be taken in all installations to prevent damage to the boiler are: 1. There should be provided proper and convenient drainage connections for use if the boiler is not in operation during freezing weather. 2. Strains on the boiler, due to movement of piping during expansion, should be prevented by suitable anchoring of piping, anti by proper provision for pipe ex pansion and contraction. 3. Direct impingement of too intense local heat upon any part of the boiler sur face, as with oil burners, should be avoided by protecting the surface with firebrick or other refractory material. 4. Condensation in steam systems must flow back to the boiler as rapidly and uniformly as possible. Return connections should prevent the water from backing out of the boiler. 5. Automatic boiler feeders and low water cut-off devices which shut off the source of heat if the water in the boiler falls below a safe level, are recommended for me chanically-fired boilers. Boiler Troubles A complaint regarding boiler operation generally will be found to be due to one of the following: 1. The boiler fails to deliver enough heal. The cause of this condition may be: (a) Poor draft; (6) poor fuel; (c) inferior attention or firing; (d) boiler too small; (e) im- Piping; if) improper arrangement of sections; (q) heating surfaces.covered with.soot; (ft) insufficient radiation installed; and (i) with mechanical firing, fuel Duming equipment too small. 2. The water line is unsteady. The cause of this condition may be: (o) grease and uirt m boiler; (6) water column connected to a very active section and, therefore, not sonuotpwuint.g actual water level in boiler; and (c) boiler, operating at excessive rate of ._ Water disappears from the gage glass. This may be caused by: (a) priming due grease and dirt in boiler; (6) too great pressure difference between supply and