Steam condensate receiver piping

[JimGPE]

I have a question similar to Murphymonk's of September.

I, too, am bringing condensate from a 75 psi steam line end of main drip to a receiver tank, AND condensate from 15 psi steam from a steam to water heat exchanger. I plan to pipe the two condensate streams separately into the tank.

The receiver tank is existing, and my question concerns the piping at the tank.

The condensate line slopes to near the tank, the drops vertically downward out of a bull head tee, turns horizontal, expands from 1" to 3" pipe in a reducing ell, runs horizontal, then turns down into the tank. The other run of the bull head tee goes into a vertical loop, about 6' tall, comes back down and connects into the back of the elbow that connects to the tank.

Why was the condensate piped this way, and what is the purpose of the very tall inverted loop?

I have photos, but there doesn't seem to be a way to attach them....

The condensate is pumped out of the tank and back to the boiler. The tank is vented via open pipe into the room.

 

[friartuck]

We need a photo, but the loop becomes a 'trap' full of condensate which would help to stop low pressure steam passing. I would use one of these as an overflow for instance whereby if the water level rose by too much, it would overflow to waste. The loop being full of condensate would allow water to pass but not low pressure steam. The loop would go like this, horizontal, down, across a little, back up again and then across again to wherever the drain was.

The 'bulls head' I take it is the same as a 'header' where several pipes are connected together???



Friar Tuck of Sherwood

 

[JimGPE]

In this case a bull head tee is where the fluid comes in the branch and out both "run" connections.

How do I post a photo? I won't do that till Monday because the photo files are at the office.

Thanks for your reply!

 

[TangoCleveland]

Posting a photo - you'll need to build yourself a web page with the photo on it, and post a link to the page in your message.

Larry

 

[chicopee]

That loop that you are referring to seems to be similar to Hartford loop that you have on cast iron steam boiler condensate return piping. The Hartford loop prevents the condensate from being flushed back into the condensate line when pressure is building up in the vapor space of the boiler.