Heating Help

New roofing system for energy efficiency

@ September 13, 2012 12:25 AM in New roofing system for energy efficiency

Looks very interesting

http://www.ornl.gov/info/press_releases/get_press_release.cfm?ReleaseNumber=mr20120910-00

meplumber

@ April 3, 2012 10:12 PM in Happening elsewhere?

Without condensation there is still one big difference, modulation. less BTU's burned, higher effeciencies.

Happening elsewhere?

@ March 31, 2012 6:45 PM in Happening elsewhere?

Don't know if this is a trend or not, but in the past 3 weeks, I have been asked if I still install 'traditional" boilers by 2 prospective customers. Seems that some rumours are starting to spread about the expensive upkeep for high effeciency boilers.

Just curious.....

WOW

@ August 17, 2011 9:21 PM in Infloor Radiant Heat issue

just WOW!

Would never had thought of that one!

Ah, Thermolec

@ July 18, 2011 10:55 PM in Infloor Radiant Heat issue

boilers.

RCO, how old is this boiler? I have about a dozen of them installed, and about ten of them have had similiar problems as yours. Every one of them had undersized electronic relays  for the elements. How do I know? Because every time I have ordered the new contactors to replace burnt out ones, Thermolec has sent out 25 Amp ones instead of the 15 amp originals.

I think I read that the outdoor sensor has been disabled? If not remember that the max temp out from your boiler will be the same for -10*C as   minus 40*C. For some reason they decided that -10 is the lowest that was needed.

Here is the PDF to their manual, it may help:

http://www.thermolec.com/_documentationcache/cd-266-Boiler%20Manual%20Version%2011English%20Canada.pdf

Also check to make sure that an inline timer has not been added to your system, if it has the temp drop could be from that.

But my money is on undersized and burnt out relay or 2.

PS - how much does the temp drop from daytime high to night time low in the winter?

OH!

@ July 14, 2011 1:05 AM in Kitec Class Action...

That is what I have been missing, the change from lead to zinc in the brass.

As I keep saying in other non-heating related blogs, "there are always unintended consequences!"

Hey Mark,

@ July 13, 2011 8:24 PM in Kitec Class Action...

What of the other manufactures that are still producing this PAP tubing? Any whispers about their products?

Hot rod

@ July 12, 2011 9:36 PM in Buffer tank piping diagram

I have been perusing the B-W storage tanks as one choice, but would prefer to find something with no dip tubes, so one opening on the top (system out), one at the bottom (boiler return and maybe the system return on a tee to this pipe?) and one I would hazard to guess within the top third of the tank on the side (boiler supply). Does this sound feasible?

Buffer tank piping diagram

@ July 12, 2011 10:03 AM in Buffer tank piping diagram

Hey anyone out there have a schematic of the piping layout for a top supply to system, bottom return, side supply from boiler, three hole buffer tank application?
Thanx in advance
Leo G

WHEW!

@ July 12, 2011 1:45 AM in Kitec Class Action...

Well Mark, I used to be known as the guy who would try anything new back in the day. But for some reason I decided not to get involved with Kitec. It bothered me somehow. Anyway pretty happy for me and my customers that I never did try that stuff out. What a mess eh?

My favourite climate scientist is asking for help

@ February 23, 2011 1:07 PM in My favourite climate scientist is asking for help

designing a wood burning heater for his pool. Just thought some of you people would be interested in his thoughts/design. I gave him the addy for here, but he may be too busy to actually visit, so thought I would cross-post.
http://www.drroyspencer.com/2011/02/fire-water-some-thoughts-on-wood-stove-design-and-efficiency/

Go have a look and hopefully we can help him out.

Now now NRT

@ January 29, 2011 12:10 AM in Simple System, Impossible Problem.

Of course you're not under pumped. That would be impossible, because what you use are circulators!  :)
I like your thinking beyond the box myself.

Scott

@ January 28, 2011 11:53 PM in IBC's New Smaller boiler now out SL20-115

My Wholesalers price is still over a g-note more then the vito 100. Though the features of the new IBC are a better package.

Funny thing is their 150 model can modulte to 15K so may still be a better fit for a lot of jobs here on the left coast.

Well good luck

@ January 21, 2011 3:41 PM in Simple System, Impossible Problem.

hopefully it will be something simple that a different pair of eyes will see.

So Rob,

@ January 21, 2011 3:29 PM in Simple System, Impossible Problem.

 have you phsyically seen the install? Your guys may have built the panel, but the installers may have the set-up different to what you drew. I agree with some of the others, we need actual photo's of the install.

This system is way to simple to have the energy being transported to Alpha Centauri within the buffer tank!  :)

Rob, all things being equal

@ January 21, 2011 12:24 AM in Simple System, Impossible Problem.

, the only thing that could be dumping cool water into the system by the supply distribution branch would be if your pressure by-pass is mounted in reverse.....

WP

@ January 21, 2011 12:21 AM in Simple System, Impossible Problem.

This set up is used to help with boiler cycling issues when there are smal loads in the system.

Rob,

@ January 21, 2011 12:15 AM in Simple System, Impossible Problem.

Could you put a guage, either strap-on or digital, to the pipe leaving your buffer? I would be interested to know if the temp leaving the tank is 15* less then the boiler temp, or is the temp dropping over the length of the piping from the buffer to the distribution point. Also, what size is the tubing?

Trying to se if the loss is within the buffer, or within the supply tubing. As for low flow, maybe, but with 80K heating a 30 gal tank, it should be able to get the temp up even with a less then adequate flow.

Hey Rob,

@ January 20, 2011 3:38 PM in Simple System, Impossible Problem.

Are you saying that if the water leaving the boiler is 90*, and you are not heating the home at all, after an hour of continous circ from the boiler through the tank, the temp will be approx. 75*  at the tank and does not get any higher?

condensate tubing freezing in old Blighty

@ December 28, 2010 3:26 PM in condensate tubing freezing in old Blighty

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/27/condensing-boilers-freeze-uk

Thought this was interesting. Always interested how things are done in other areas of the world.

Hmmm

@ December 18, 2010 1:54 PM in A question for the engineers...

thought expirement -

Heating of outer jacket produces an out to in flow with the DHW portion. i.e. in my minds eye I see the inner heated water flowing up the side of the tank, rolling across the top to displace the cold water downwards and outwards. Following this flow would it not tend to bathe the top mounted aquastat with hot water and inform that the tank was satisfied much before it really was?  Then would not the hotter water, being lighter settle up on top of the coller/cold water, thus allowing maybe only half a tank of hot water?

Also in this thought expirement, as a high use occurs, the cooler water would get to the centre mounted top aquastat earlier, thus bring the heating cycle on, and no doubt, that with all that surface transfer area and the rounding of the top of the inner tank to promote quicker access to the hot water for the potable system, would in fact be very effeciant for high use times.

I am thinking that this may be the very thought process used by the developers of this style of tank. They would be far more efficient for high use systems, say appartments, but would give up the efficiency on the lower use parameters, say small single/double occupancy homes.

Interesting post Prof, thank God I had my coffee before reading it!

:)

Hey Prof,

@ December 18, 2010 1:41 PM in A question for the engineers...

I have installed exactly one of these style tank within tank systems. Am not impressed with it. It seems to me that stratification is a very likely outcome of this design. The one that I installed seems fine to fill a tub or allow a shower, but to my mind, seems to need to reheat way to soon and to often.

I decided to stay with the inner coil design. Seems to be more precise.