Gravity system : addition of a new radiator

tippgaafan

My parents in law got their solid fuel range replaced recently. The new range appears to send a greater percentage of heat to the back boiler, resulting in a much cooler kitchen. The overall system is extremely old with gun barrel piping although the connections to the range are 1' copper. Would it be possible to add a new radiator to the system as per attached diagram ? If so, would the height of the piping need to be above the range ?

Froststop

tippgaafan wrote: »

My parents in law got their solid fuel range replaced recently. The new range appears to send a greater percentage of heat to the back boiler, resulting in a much cooler kitchen. The overall system is extremely old with gun barrel piping although the connections to the range are 1' copper. Would it be possible to add a new radiator to the system as per attached diagram ? If so, would the height of the piping need to be above the range ?

looking at your sketch, you may have a problem getting the new rad to heat if the range is working on gravity. I assume there are more rads on the system, if so how many?.
You may need a pump on the range also.
Is the range suitable for the application.
How many BTU's/KW's is the boiler in the range?
Have you any spec for the range?

tippgaafan

Not sure how many rads on the system. As it stand's now, the range heats the water only (Gravity). The rads are plumbed to the boiler only. The oil boiler is extremely old and has 4 pipes (Gravity Hw and pumped CH).

Boiler output on the range is probably over spec'ed for the required purpose. Purchased 2nd hand...

The system would need major work to modernize properly. (Not an option)

Customer requirement (Mother in law):
Get more heat into the kitchen without replacing the range...

Froststop

tippgaafan wrote: »

Not sure how many rads on the system. As it stand's now, the range heats the water only (Gravity). The rads are plumbed to the boiler only. The oil boiler is extremely old and has 4 pipes (Gravity Hw and pumped CH).

Boiler output on the range is probably over spec'ed for the required purpose. Purchased 2nd hand...

The system would need major work to modernize properly. (Not an option)

Customer requirement (Mother in law):
Get more heat into the kitchen without replacing the range...

Haha looks like you have your work cut out for ya!
I would present her with a bigger coal bucket.

Froststop

tippgaafan wrote: »

Not sure how many rads on the system. As it stand's now, the range heats the water only (Gravity). The rads are plumbed to the boiler only. The oil boiler is extremely old and has 4 pipes (Gravity Hw and pumped CH).

Boiler output on the range is probably over spec'ed for the required purpose. Purchased 2nd hand...

Have you a make and model? Maybe I could find a spec for it.

Froststop

Just thinking, this may be a long shot.

I presume the hot water cylinder is standard. If it's not, (i.e. 100-400 litre solar) the next time your in the house and the range is running, wait till it's up to full temp or as hot as it can get. Check the temp difference between the F&R pipes. If there is a big temp difference then the range may be too small for the application. The hot water may need to be pre-heated before lighting the range to heat the kitchen.

Also if it's second hand, is there any baffles missing, when was it cleaned last. It was most likely sold for a reason.

esox28

A quick and cheap method of restricting hot water production and generate some extra room heating is the addition of a deflector plate or fire brick which will hang or postion against the fire box between the burning fuel and boiler.

Extra rads can be added to the circuit as you have drawn but with the use of an injector tee, pipe stat and pump. An estmate costing @€;400-500