At 10:52 PM 4/1/04 -0600, you wrote:
> I know some don't like to use them because they are difficult to repair
>if a leak should occur but I was not aware there were other 'concerns'
>Pete H
That's pretty much it. But they can be made as relatively
bullet-proof as any other part of the boiler by giving a little thought to
the material used, location, and installation. I think cross tubes and
porky-pine heat sinks have a great potential for Ga1 which hasn't begun to
be utilized yet and coupled with the advances in burners can make ferocious
little steam generators.
>does the trouble lie with the varied expansion rates of the differant
sized tubes?
In small scale practice I'd say it usually has to do with heat
working on too thin or poorly located tubes and/or poorly soldered joints.
>The reason I ask is because I have been looking at designs of vertical
>stationary boilers and was leaning towards one with "L" shaped water >tubes.
Quite a common arrangement.
> . . . . . . there is apparently more to it than just drill/reaming holes
and brazing tubes into place?
I would say one important consideration in that instance, in addition
to using good boiler building technique, would be to use water tubes which
are as thick-walled as you can find, certainly thicker than standard soft
copper plumbing tubing.
Regards,
Harry
