Re: Caboose 49

I certainly have no knowledge of the boilers in the hospital, but I do work on heating boilers from time to time in my area. One of these was installed in 1890 and is purported to be the oldest boiler operating in a commercial setting in Ore. This assertion from the St. Boiler inspector. Why has it lasted so long: #1 most heating plants for older buildings operate at very low pressure usually no more than 3-5lbs for steam heat, and #2 faithful treatment of the boiler water over the years. Boilers in heating service usually require very little make up water as condensate from the heating system is returned to the boiler by gravity or pump with little loss. The makes it pretty easy to keep the boiler water treated. It is quite plausible to me that boilers built for 120 or so pounds of operating pressure could last this long in a low press. heating scenario.
And yes gas burners, and oil burners have often been retrofitted into boilers that were originally hand fired in heating applications.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/21/2010 08:49PM by J.B.Bane.