[RE-wrenches] SHW expansion tank pressure

[August Goers]

Hi Carl,



Daniel's points all seem good.



We have had a Schuco system with a blown expansion tank bladder exhibiting
similar behavior to what you describe. It sounds like you said that the
expansion tank has the correct pressure at 26 psi but you might want to
bleed the expansion tank through the schrader valve a tad with the tip of a
screw driver just to verify that air comes out and not glycol.



We've also seen pressure relief valves go bad.



Good luck with your troubleshooting.



Best,



August



*From:* re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:
re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Daniel Young
*Sent:* Monday, June 24, 2013 9:08 AM
*To:* 'RE-wrenches'
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] SHW expansion tank pressure



Hey Carl,



You seem to be blowing the pressure relief valve. So raising the pressure
in the expansion tank would only make the problem worse. Did you test your
26psi expansion tank before you pressurized the system? If you did, the
4psi difference (exp tank being lower) is the same way we do it. And if
that’s what the manual says, then that’s not the most likely source of you
issues.



If not, you can’t trust your pressure setting in the tank, just verify it
when the system is open (partially drained) so you are testing the
precharge with no pressure on the other side of the bladder.



But it does seem like you shouldn’t be blowing the pressure release either
way. Those stainless steel line sets act as little expansion tanks
themselves, so you likely have more expansion room than you need. Have you
tested to see what the blowout pressure of the pressure release is? Using
compressed air or just pushing glycol in with your charging station with
the expansion tank isolated? That would be something to verify.



Last data point, you had 0psi and then 3” of glycol in the catch container.
How much glycol does it take to go from there, to 30psi? if it takes more
glycol than you have in the container, than you probably have a leak that
you haven’t noticed yet. Those stainless steel linesets are very hard to
make 100% tight, especially in a steam back system like Schucos.



Daniel Young,

Lead Systems Designer

Dovetail Solar & Wind

*www.dovetailsolar.com*



*From:* re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [
mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org<re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>]
*On Behalf Of *Carl Adams
*Sent:* Friday, June 21, 2013 2:18 PM
*To:* RE-wrenches
*Subject:* [RE-wrenches] SHW expansion tank pressure



Hello SHW Wrenches,



I have a pressurized glycol system which is causing me some grief.  The
customer called for service after noticing the system pressure was down to
8 psi, and there was some fluid in the glycol catchment container.  I
inspected for system leaks and found non, recharged the system, and very
carefully bled all the air out of the system.  Left it run the afternoon
and came back next morning to check it.  Pressure was down a bit so I
recharged it and bled the air several more times.  Next day the customer
reports the pressure is down to 0 and there is 3 inches of glycol in the
catchment vessel.  I am beginning to suspect the pressure setting or size
of the expansion tank.



The system is a Schuco OG300 system, 115 gal tank, Schuco pump station, and
3 CTE 215 collectors (24k BTU/each  Clear day C rating).  I have a 50 foot
SS lineset between the pump station and the collectors with 26 feet of
elevation between the expansion tank and the collectors.  The expansion
tank is a Zimlet 18 liter tank pressurized to 26 PSI.  The system pressure
is set 30 PSI.  These settings are as prescribed in the attached Schuco
charging chart.  The Schuco pump station shows 1.5 GPM flow when running
(WIlo Star 21 pump set at speed 3).



In consult with another thermal installer he says he typically sets
expansion tank pressure about 5 psi higher than the system pressure.  I'd
be interested in others practices with regard to system/expansion tank
pressure and exp tank size.
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