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How to find specifications on old Continental Boiler?
3

How to find specifications on old Continental Boiler?

How to find specifications on old Continental Boiler?

(OP)
I am trying to locate the specifications for an old Continental no. 2 fuel oil boiler, specifically the rated heat output. This is for air permitting purposes.

It is estimated that this horizontal firetube boiler was built by Continental in the 1960s. The nameplate has a rated heat INput of 5,175 MBtu/hr (5,175 thousand Btu/hr or 5.175 million Btu/hr, or approx. 150 boiler HP). The input number might be 5,125 instead of 5,175.

Surprisingly, no other information is legible on the boiler!

I need to find documentation showing the rated heat OUTput.

Does anyone know where I can find this information? I have done extensive internet searching with no results, except for finding this forum.

Thank you,

Doug Smith, P.E.
Franklin Engineering Group, Inc.
381 Riverside Drive, Suite 200
Franklin, TN 37064

dsmith@franklinengineering.com

RE: How to find specifications on old Continental Boiler?

Do you have any idea who may have represented them?  I've looked at our mechanical books.  There's nothing for Continental but they may be bundled with equipment under another name.

We have some older Cleaver Brooks catalogs in the office (mid 1970s).  Their 150 Boiler Hp firetube boiler is listed as requiring 45 gal/hr of 'light' oil (140,000 BTU/gal) or 42 gal/hr of 'heavy' oil (150,000 BTU/gal).  #2 oil should be equivalent to what Cleaver Brooks calls light oil.

That gives you about a 80% efficiency.  Using their numbers, there is little efficiency difference between firing oil or gas.

RE: How to find specifications on old Continental Boiler?

I may have what youn are looking for. I have a used 150 for sale and I may have some extra parts and the book.

but question: why is it you are inquiring on so little change in btu/input to output.
Continentals run on approx. 75% to 78% efficiency. with the turbulators installed.
I will look into my files and see if the infor mation is there, I will posy by next week.

RE: How to find specifications on old Continental Boiler?

Does anyone in this forum know who handles or maintains the records of the old Continental Boiler line???

Last I heard, it was a company in Easton, PA, and their name will come to me later, but I cannot find any reference to them.

I liked their centerline fire tube design, and saw several of them in service over the years.

Doug, I will check a file I have tomorrow at the office for an old Continental.  It may have something that would help you.  Surely your boiler has a Nat Board number on it???

rmw

RE: How to find specifications on old Continental Boiler?

(OP)
This is Doug, and I posted the original question about the Continental boiler.  I sincerely appreciate the help everyone has given!

Here are some answers and comments to your questions:

TD2K:  

Thanks for posting.  Sorry, I don't know which equipment rep represented the Continental boiler line when the boiler was purchased back then.


generalblr:

I appreciate the input and your research time.  I need to find the exact heat input and output specs because the air permit emissions are calculated using these quantities.  I am trying to determine if this boiler is permitted correctly or not.  We both know that there's not a world of difference in the input/output, but hey, we're dealing with government agencies here, and those are the rules!


RMW:

Thanks for the reply.  Unfortunately the boiler is located on a client's site inside a military installation, so I am unable to run out and take a look at it!  Any info you can provide would be most welcome.

I do not know what a "NAT Number" is, or where it would be found on the boiler.  

If you could tell me what this number is and where to find it on the boiler, maybe I could persuade my client to send someone out to the boilerhouse to look for it.  

There is some kind of identification plate on the boiler, but it is rusted over and illegible.  The client was unable to clean it up to see what info was there :(

Thanks again, everyone.

Doug Smith

RE: How to find specifications on old Continental Boiler?

Your question:I do not know what a "NAT Number" is, or where it would be found on the boiler.

A= It may be NATL BD FOR NATIONAL BOARD NO:_____

The main name plate is die-stamped located on top of the shell near the front of the boiler, you need to brushout the rust and develop the data, steam lb per hour is there too.
you will not find the btuh there but in the second outside data name plate. the btu input information is outside the ASME/Natl Board requirements so it is up to the mfr. to stamp the btu input and/or output. in older boilers is stamped on the burner itself.
I will try to find any other info.
ER



 

RE: How to find specifications on old Continental Boiler?

Generalblr was right.  It was an abbreviaton for National Board.  Sorry, but I had a full Monday on Monday, and did not  get to look as I promised, but I will try to do it tomorrow, if tuesday does not turn into another monday.

rmw

RE: How to find specifications on old Continental Boiler?

You should find the info. you need stamped on the shell.

It will be under a sheet metal plate,under some insulation near the front of the boiler at the waterline. They are mostly around the MacDonald Miller.

You may also find some additonal stamping on the tubesheets above the tubes.

See ASME SecI PG-111.6

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