PARKER

B O I L E R C O.

PUBLISHED FOR EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS & SUPPLIERS OF PARKER BOILER CO. ISSUE NO 15 WINTER 98/99

BOILERPLATE

HOT WATER SYSTEMS FOR HVAC

AND SOME COMMON PROBLEMS
The Parker T Model Hot Water Boiler is used extensively in HVAC for providing hot water for space heating. There are many different types of systems employed with our boiler, which serve to heat the building. Normally hot water supply and return pipes are routed through the building and connected to coils in terminal reheat units or fan coils. The following is a discussion of some of the types of systems and advantages and disadvantages associated with them as well as some of the common problems, which we see with boiler installations. Also, sequence of operation control schemes are discussed. One of the first considerations of the Design Engineer when designing a heating system is to determine the tolerance for hot water temperature fluctuation that his particular system can tolerate.

SINGLE BOILER HOT WATER PIPING SYSTEM

The use of a hot water system in a commercial building does not require as tight a temperature control as may be required in a clean

room or pharmaceutical facility where temperature and humidity are critical.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

PARKER WORLDWIDE SALES UPDATE

x z { y
Current International installation projects of the Parker Boiler Company now in progress include:
1.) Hyundai, Korea
Drilling Rig; two GO-4032 Hot Water Boilers

3.) Vitalizxadores Unidos, Guatemala

Central American Tire Recapping Co. 70 HP Oil Fired Boiler

2.) Moscow, Russia

Tire Recapping Plant, 50HP Steam Boiler

4.) Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico

Sonora Dry Cleaning 25 HP

HOT WATER SYSTEMS FOR HVAC AND SOME COMMON PROBLEMS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Most normal boiler operating controls have a built-in 8-12F differential which means that hot water supply temperatures will fluctuate. There are electronic controls available which can control the differential on the boiler to a tighter degree. The diagram on the cover shows the simplest type of boiler piping schematic involving the boiler, expansion tank, air eliminator and pump. In this system water will circulate continuously through the boiler at a rate which would be dependent upon the pump and the resistance of the system. It is always advisable to provide a bypass or a three way valve or valves in the system so that flow can be maintained on the boiler. On this type of system sometimes the Design Engineer elects to install outside air reset temperature controls and resetting of hot water supply temperature can be accomplished as part of the boiler control. However, we recommend a minimum return water temperature of 120F to prevent condensation in the boiler. This limits the low reset hot water temperature point on the system. A common system which we see in the field utilizes a three way valve. This essentially cuts boiler flow and may allow only a small portion of the water to be routed through the boiler to mix with the return water and create a hot water supply temperature to satisfy building needs.

We see quite a few of these systems in the field where the outside air resetting is accomplished by the use of a three way valve. This system has the advantage of being able to reset the hot water supply temperature to a temperature lower than can be tolerated in the boiler but it also creates low flow problems in the boiler and manual reset high limit shutdowns when the boiler is allowed to experience a low or no flow condition. A preferable piping arrangement when low hot water system temperatures are desired at times is a primary secondary type of system. In this type of system a low head pump can be used on a boiler loop and a system pump can be employed to provide water to the system. On the return line from the system there can be a three way valve which can blend in the desired amount of return water to match the desired hot water supply temperature. Please contact us for sample piping diagrams. These are the basic types of systems New Area Code for Parker Boiler
818 Area Code
Glendale West Hollywood Eagle Rock

that we encounter in the field. The following are the problems that we normally see. PROBLEM #1: Lack of flow through the boiler causing manual reset high limit shutdowns. This problem can be addressed by providing primary secondary pumping in the design stage or providing three way valves at the point of the water use. If a three way valve is used at the boiler it is necessary to put a bypass around it or to put a minimum position stop on the three way valve which will always allow a certain amount of boiler water flow. An alternate method is to install a run around pump on the boiler to maintain boiler water flow. PROBLEM #2: Relief valve setting too low. In many instances the specified boiler does not have a high enough relief valve to accommodate the required system pressure. This is the case when the boiler is provided at grade level or in the basement and the building has a height of two or more stories. In this instance the static head of the water on the boiler drives up the system and boiler pressure to a point where the relief valve cannot accommodate the pressure. In these instances it may be required to change to a higher relief valve setting to solve the problem and this can be quite difficult depending on system components and proper procedures for ASME. Note that the maximun boiler pressure should be 25% below the relief valve set point, ( not less than 10 psi ). The problem can also be caused by a high pressure pump, pumping into a boiler.

626 Area Code

Pasadena

New 323 Ar ea Code

Beverly Hills

213 Area Code

Downtown Los Angeles

City of Commerce Monterey Park

New 323 Ar ea Code

Culver City

310 Area Code

Huntington Park Lynwood

562 Area Code

PROBLEM #3: Flue gas condensation. It is particularly important to maintain the proper boiler water temperature so as not to cause condensation in the boiler. If the return water is too low coming into the boiler the flue gases will condense dripping down onto the tube bundle causing problems with pilot outages, corrosion and water on the floor. We see this particularly in heat pump type applications. Our Indirect WH Model is the preferred unit for low temperature (<130F) systems. For our T Models we recommend a minimum return water temperature of approximately 120F and in most instances this will prevent condensation in the boiler. The flue gas condensation point is dependent upon atmospheric conditions. OPERATION SEQUENCE: For any Parker Hot Water Boiler system it is important to always start the pump either before or at the same time as the boiler. Boiler flow must always be maintained, a flow switch can provide this insurance. When heat is no longer required the boiler should be disabled and the pump should run for a 10-20 minute period in order to remove the residual heat from the boiler. This method of operation assures proper boiler operation and no high limit shutdowns. We hope this brief discussion of hot water systems will serve to inform you of the common problems that we see and allow you to consider these on new hot water system designs. Watch for more articles, in the future, on hot water systems, computer controls and interface to building automation systems.

MARINE CORPS, LOGISTICS BASE

BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA

Shown above are two Parker Low NOx 50L (50 HP) Steam Boilers installed at the United States Marine Corps Logistic Base. Parker provided six boilers for this facility this summer. All six boilers were started up by Parker Boiler. The Low NOx boilers obtained emissions of less than 25 PPM NOx at 3% O2. This project was a portion of an overall Base Energy Use Reduction Plan developed by Edison-Envest which involved replacing an obsolete Central Plant and installing new individual boilers for many of the buildings on this military base.
Southland Industries performed the design and installation work on the system. Shown above from left to right are Ron French-Installer, Clyde Yocky-Installer and Michael Hunt, Project Manager with Southland Industries.

PARKER
INDUSTRIAL

BOILER
5930 Bandini Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90040 Fax (323) 722-2848 E-mail: sales@parkerboiler.com

Phone (323) 727-9800

www.parkerboiler.com
visit our website at

FABRICARE 98

YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE

To our Customers and Suppliers: Parker Boiler Co. has analyzed all of its products and found them to be Year 2000 compliant. This means that new products and those in the field utilizing original factory supplied controls will not have their operation effected by the date transition from 1999 to 2000. We have also analyzed our internal business systems including facilities, equipment and information technology systems and have found the business will not experience any significant delay or interruption of operation as a result of the Year 2000. We believe our products and Company will be ready for the next millennium. Sincerely,

Shown above, at the recent Fabricare 98 Show, at the Anaheim Convention Center, are Randy Saxton, Tom McCook, Dean McCook and Adam McCook of McCook Boiler & Pump Co. in Tucson, AZ.

McCook Boiler & Pump Co. has experienced an excellent sales year in 1998 and they have recently taken on the responsibility of handling Contractor Sales in the Las Vegas area of Nevada. Their company, as well as Parker Boiler, is looking forward to the increased business in the growing Las Vegas area.

Sid D. Danenhauer
President Parker Boiler Company