What is a vacuum problem in a small steam system?
This normally shows up with the flooding of the boiler overnight. It is not uncommon for this to happen. Vacuum (negative pressure) is caused when the boiler is shut down with steam pressure in it. As the steam cools overnight and condenses (changes to water), the space left by the steam becomes a vacuum. (One pound of steam takes up about 350 times as much space as one pound of water.) This vacuum in the boiler “sucks” water from the condensate tank and causes the boiler to flood. Unless the boiler is hooked to equipment (such as a utility press), this is more of an inconvenience than a problem. It can be resolved by closing the ball valve between the tank and boiler each night (open same each morning), or by placing a vacuum relief valve in the steam piping.
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