Steam flow issue

[fa50driver]

We have a steam jacketed kettle and a low pressure boiler. Sometimes (and especially today) I find that the steam pressure will be in the operational range (12 to 14 psi) and the kettle will sort of stall out (not increase in temp). Today, I can't even get to a boil.

The set-up prior to the kettle is manual valve, pressure gauge, and then solenoid. In the past, if I cycled the manual valve, (IE shut it off and waited a second before opening it, then repeated a couple times) the rush of steam would get things moving again and I would get flow. I have pulled the strainer and traps to check for debris, but nothing. I am starting to think that it may be a clogged or stuck solenoid valve.

Anyone ever have similar issues?

[GlacierBrewing]

I just had a very similar situation: full kettle, boiler making steam but wouldn't get past 10-12 psi (low pressure ajax), condensate return pump always kicking on and running. What was happening was no condensate was returning, forcing more make-up water to be added. Therefore, more water was accumulating in the vertical part of the main steam trunk that feeds the steam-jacket manifold. When the system was drained and cooled, I opened up the main line condensate float valve and found it had piece of scale stopping the float from operating the valve. Once all was reassembled, the boiler was once more fat, dumb, and happy!
Are you accumulating too much water and condensate in your main steam feed lines? That would prevent the bulk of the steam from reaching the jackets.

Prost!

[fa50driver]

I am getting up to 15 psi right at the jacket. Condensate pump cycling occasionally, but not as often as I would expect it to. Its as if the steam is getting to the jacket, but something is preventing it from releasing energy in the jacket, condensing, and moving past the trap to the condensate pump. It is almost as if there is a block after the trap that is causing the water to back up into the trap or preventing the steam from making it past the solenoid. I have no idea really - steam is certainly not my area of expertise...

The fact that cycling the manual valve before the jacket would get things moving (in the past) leads me to believe that there is some crud somewhere... Going to take apart the solenoid tomorrow or perhaps remove it altogether and eliminate it from the equation.

[GlacierBrewing]

Also, check the high-low sensors in your condensate return pump.
Do you experience terrific banging in your steam jackets when the first few big heads of steam go into them? Wondering if you have excessive liquid sitting in your jackets.
If you're going to take the system off-line, check for crud everywhere!

Prost!
Dave

[biosonik]

Any sound coming from the solenoid? Buzzing?

[GlacierBrewing]

Any sound coming from the solenoid? Buzzing?

Very good point! I have been burned (sometimes literally) by failed solenoids.

Prost!
Dave

[fa50driver]

Yep - buzzing in the solenoid is fairly common. We also get some hammering from time to time, but not necessarily on start-up.

[fa50driver]

Cleaned all traps and screens, but there wasn't much of any type of debris. Replaced solenoid with a strait section of pipe. Kettle really boils now. I suspect that the solenoid was hanging up, besides the fact that it was naturally restricting flow. Had to give up temp control, but at least I can boil again! Thanks for the suggestions.......