Re: Steam Trap Failure--Need help with school project

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: How about remove scale from the boiler if any is in there. : : Hi all, : : I am a first year graduate student taking a class on pollution prevention strategies. Our semester project is to look at a live case-- a very old steam boiler system at a local high school. Students are asked to select one opportunity for improving (preventing energy losses) the system. The boilers are nearly 50 year old oil-fired low pressure sectional Bigelows, so you can imagine there are many problems with the system. Corrosion, water loss and age are the big factors working against this system. : : I decided to look at the premature failure of steam traps as the one problem I want to address. : : I'm asking for your help in coming up with some : : alternatives for solving the problem of early steam trap failure. Basically the system is fighting an endless battle against corrosion and age. : : The idea is to search for a range of creative responses that yield a range of soultions that vary in cost, ease of implementation and effectiveness. We're looking for "low hanging fruit" and "crown jewels." : : If you can think of some additional alternatives to my preliminary list, that'd be great. : : Remove old system and install circular hydronic hot water system : : Seal all leaks : : Run system continuously to avoid "cyclical" losses : : Flush it more frequently : : Install a deaerator : : Install a more effective demineralizer : : Test water quality more frequently : : Install steam trap monitors : : Provide additional water chemistry and systems training to boiler room crew : : Hire a full-time operations engineer : : Provide cleaner water : : Give financial bonus to employees who can improve system reliability and effciency : : Install higher quality steam traps : : Ensure steam traps are properly sized/located : : Use alternative chemistry--amines : : Take kitchen out of loop to avoid FDA regulations to allow switch of water chemistry : : Insulate building—walls, doors, cracks : : Install high efficiency windows : : Take advantage of solar radiation for heating rooms where possible : : Explore opportunities for venting air from warmer areas to cooler areas. : : Explore opportunities for cogeneration. Can waste heat from kitchen be used to provide additional heat to rooms? : : Install best condensate return system : : Install economizer : : Thanks for your help, : : Jan Gudell