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CHAPTER 16
1957 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. output 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.9
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
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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 '
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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. i nere snould 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,-'and 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 mechanically-fired boilers.,
Boiler Troubles
, A- complaint regarding boiler operation generally will be found to be
uue to one of. the following: ..."
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Doo l1* boiler fails to deliver enough heist. The cause of this condition may be: (o)
Drone
^ Pr fuel; (c) inferior attention or firing; (d) boiler too small; (e) im-
with r P'P111' .CD improper arrangement of sections; (g) heating surfaces covered
k,, .300t; (A) insufficient radiation installed; and.(").with mechanical firing: fuel fuug equipment too small .
dirt iri h V,a*er ',lne is unsteady. The'cause of this condition may be: (o) grease and showi ""er> (b) water crilnmn connected to a very active section and, therefore, not output*5 ac^ua water level in boiler; and (c) boiler operating at excessive rate of
to-Breamf*1" ^appears from the gage glass. This may be caused by:. (a) priming due 'ease and dirt in boiler; (6) too great pressure difference between supply and