Distribution Forum

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Welcome to the IDEA Distribution Forum, created for technical exchange of information by IDEA members responsible for the safe operation and design of thermal distribution systems. The forum focuses on such issues as engineering, confined space, urban construction, emergency preparedness and customer response related to the installation, operation and construction of steam, hot water and chilled water piping networks. The Distribution Forum meets physically at the IDEA Annual Conference and its co-chairs present the Distribution Workshop at the IDEA Annual Campus Energy Conference.

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Tim Gephardt - University of Missouri - Columbia

10/19/17

Direct buried, underground hot water valve

The University of Missouri is installing a direct buried, high temperature, high density polyethylene

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Direct buried, underground hot water valve

The University of Missouri is installing a direct buried, high temperature, high density polyethylene

10/19/17

Len-IDEA, … Edward T. Borer Jr.3

8/22/17

Safety Question Regarding Maximum Temperatures for Manhole, Vault or Tunnel Entry

Our EHS office would agree with Mr. Phelps assessment below. Typically they would encourage anyone

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Safety Question Regarding Maximum Temperatures for Manhole, Vault or Tunnel Entry

Our EHS office would agree with Mr. Phelps assessment below. Typically they would encourage anyone

8/22/17

Len-IDEA, … Somrah, Dowlatram4

7/5/17

Control systems methods to monitor & control remote DE sites

We also monitor pressures at multiple locations as a means of operating our district steam system.

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Control systems methods to monitor & control remote DE sites

We also monitor pressures at multiple locations as a means of operating our district steam system.

7/5/17

Len-IDEA, Dmitry Ostrovsky2

6/26/17

175’ of 6” steam and 2” condensate piping

Hi Jeff, Understanding, that the system solution is required, but fyi - for condensate piping (design

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175’ of 6” steam and 2” condensate piping

Hi Jeff, Understanding, that the system solution is required, but fyi - for condensate piping (design

6/26/17

Len-IDEA, Aurel Selezeanu2

5/4/17

Protecting public from steam vapor rising from flooded manholes

I would like to add to this question the manhole cover problem. What cover do you use for preventing

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Protecting public from steam vapor rising from flooded manholes

I would like to add to this question the manhole cover problem. What cover do you use for preventing

5/4/17

Len-IDEA, … Izzy Rivera7

5/1/17

Condensate metering and external corrosion of steam & condensate lines

The attached article details a good solution for condensate metering. Clamp-on ultrasonic meters are

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Condensate metering and external corrosion of steam & condensate lines

The attached article details a good solution for condensate metering. Clamp-on ultrasonic meters are

5/1/17

Len-IDEA, … Frank D. Perry5

4/28/17

Computerized Maintenance Management Software System

If the IDEA member already owns the CMMS software, generally the best way to successfully implement

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Computerized Maintenance Management Software System

If the IDEA member already owns the CMMS software, generally the best way to successfully implement

4/28/17

4/25/17

Best Practices for physical security of facility

Posted on behalf of IDEA member utility: We are doing a review of our physical security for our

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Best Practices for physical security of facility

Posted on behalf of IDEA member utility: We are doing a review of our physical security for our

4/25/17

Len-IDEA, Maciejczyk, Joseph2

4/10/17

Heat exchanger leakage issues

I can't respond to your questions for end users but I can offer some insight on your failures.

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Heat exchanger leakage issues

I can't respond to your questions for end users but I can offer some insight on your failures.

4/10/17

djhestad, … Edward T. Borer Jr.6

4/3/17

Map for purpose of seeing and updating operational lineup?

In addition to Pipe-Flo https://eng-software.com/products/pipe-flo/ that George mentions and TERMIS

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Map for purpose of seeing and updating operational lineup?

In addition to Pipe-Flo https://eng-software.com/products/pipe-flo/ that George mentions and TERMIS

4/3/17

Len, … John Coggins5

3/31/17

BTU meter measurement standards and protocols

If I may interject here ... it is interesting to understand the derivation of the (500) “constant”.

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BTU meter measurement standards and protocols

If I may interject here ... it is interesting to understand the derivation of the (500) “constant”.

3/31/17

3/10/17

Do you use soil stabilization measures in advance of future expansion without piping vaults?

Posted on behalf of IDEA members Dan Dixon and Bruce Barnhouse of Lincoln Electric (ddi...@les.com;

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Do you use soil stabilization measures in advance of future expansion without piping vaults?

Posted on behalf of IDEA members Dan Dixon and Bruce Barnhouse of Lincoln Electric (ddi...@les.com;

3/10/17

pat.davin, Hugh Bahar2

11/30/16

Corrosion on low temperature and medium temperature hot water systems

Hi Pat, Please consider contacting Scott Paul, PE, President of CorrTech http://www.corrtech-inc.com/

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Corrosion on low temperature and medium temperature hot water systems

Hi Pat, Please consider contacting Scott Paul, PE, President of CorrTech http://www.corrtech-inc.com/

11/30/16

Len-IDEA, … Dmitry Ostrovsky3

10/28/16

Condensate recovery into hot water return system

Hi Dan, There are flexible plastic reinforced non-corrosive pipes from Austria available for

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Condensate recovery into hot water return system

Hi Dan, There are flexible plastic reinforced non-corrosive pipes from Austria available for

10/28/16

pat.davin, … Len-IDEA6

10/25/16

2017 IDEA Thermal Distribution Workshop

Ted, Thank you for suggesting some topics for use at the thermal distribution workshop. Your input is

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2017 IDEA Thermal Distribution Workshop

Ted, Thank you for suggesting some topics for use at the thermal distribution workshop. Your input is

10/25/16

8/4/16

Guided Wave Testing (GWT) to assess condition of buried steam & condensate piping

Posted on behalf of IDEA Member David Christiansen, Principal Mechanical Engineer Supervisor, Energy

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Guided Wave Testing (GWT) to assess condition of buried steam & condensate piping

Posted on behalf of IDEA Member David Christiansen, Principal Mechanical Engineer Supervisor, Energy

8/4/16

Len-IDEA, … Hugh Bahar5

5/12/16

Unusual pattern of condensate pipe corrosion

Never seen that before. Hypothesis: Check this out RE vapor phase corrosion-scroll down to the second

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Unusual pattern of condensate pipe corrosion

Never seen that before. Hypothesis: Check this out RE vapor phase corrosion-scroll down to the second

5/12/16

5/10/16

Seeking advice on expansion joint

Posted on behalf of IDEA member Stephanie Samuel, Mechanical/Energy Engineer, Rochester District

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Seeking advice on expansion joint

Posted on behalf of IDEA member Stephanie Samuel, Mechanical/Energy Engineer, Rochester District

5/10/16

Len-IDEA, … Edward T. Borer Jr.3

4/22/16

Fuel-bound nitrogen in Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel fuel

Some #2 ULSD test results attached. These include Nitrogen. Ted Borer, PE, CEM, LEED AP Princeton

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Fuel-bound nitrogen in Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel fuel

Some #2 ULSD test results attached. These include Nitrogen. Ted Borer, PE, CEM, LEED AP Princeton

4/22/16

4/22/16

fuel bound nitrogen in ULSD

Ohio University is planning to purchase two dual fuel boilers and use highway spec ULSD for the oil.

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fuel bound nitrogen in ULSD

Ohio University is planning to purchase two dual fuel boilers and use highway spec ULSD for the oil.

4/22/16

Len-IDEA, … John Digest5

4/22/16

How to determine condition & remaining life for direct buried steam/condensate pipe?

Pipe Dryness Testing is a good way to extend the Life of your system and to determine is the

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How to determine condition & remaining life for direct buried steam/condensate pipe?

Pipe Dryness Testing is a good way to extend the Life of your system and to determine is the

4/22/16

Len-IDEA, … Howe, Rachel A9

4/22/16

Summer shutdown of high-pressure steam line

We did the same as Kurt (by-pass with pressure reducing station) for a 16”, 1500 linear foot, back-

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Summer shutdown of high-pressure steam line

We did the same as Kurt (by-pass with pressure reducing station) for a 16”, 1500 linear foot, back-

4/22/16

Len-IDEA, … Hugh Bahar8

2/22/16

CAPEX & OPEX of tunnels vs. direct buried systems

Person-tunnels, if constructed correctly give optimum opportunity for inspection, addition of new in-

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CAPEX & OPEX of tunnels vs. direct buried systems

Person-tunnels, if constructed correctly give optimum opportunity for inspection, addition of new in-

2/22/16

Len Phillips, … Hugh Bahar5

2/22/16

Spalling in steam concrete vaults

What are the engineering reason(s) for the spalling? That question must be answered with certainty

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Spalling in steam concrete vaults

What are the engineering reason(s) for the spalling? That question must be answered with certainty

2/22/16

12/11/15

Electrolysis as a defense against steam damage claims

Posted on behalf of IDEA member Paul Razo of Detroit Renewable Energy, pr...@detroitrenewable.com: I

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Electrolysis as a defense against steam damage claims

Posted on behalf of IDEA member Paul Razo of Detroit Renewable Energy, pr...@detroitrenewable.com: I

12/11/15

12/7/15

2016 Campus Conference Thermal Distribution Workshop

Dear colleagues, Just a quick reminder of the workshop coming up. The agenda is being put together

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2016 Campus Conference Thermal Distribution Workshop

Dear colleagues, Just a quick reminder of the workshop coming up. The agenda is being put together

12/7/15

Len, Arthur, Susan (Sue)2

10/6/15

Testing/qualifying new steam distribution personnel

Len and Paul: Austin Energy uses the attached document in regard to testing and qualifying steam

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Testing/qualifying new steam distribution personnel

Len and Paul: Austin Energy uses the attached document in regard to testing and qualifying steam

10/6/15

Len Phillips, … David Wade4

8/19/15

Insulation on district cooling pipe

The new ASHRAE manuals do expand on the work by R. McCabe, J. Bender, and K. Potter in the Journal

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Insulation on district cooling pipe

The new ASHRAE manuals do expand on the work by R. McCabe, J. Bender, and K. Potter in the Journal

8/19/15

Len Phillips, … Tim Gephardt - University of Missouri - Columbia8

8/14/15

Dewatering hot water from manholes

I just wanted to update this post from two years ago. We ended up purchasing the Atlas Copco unit we

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Dewatering hot water from manholes

I just wanted to update this post from two years ago. We ended up purchasing the Atlas Copco unit we

8/14/15

Tim Gephardt - University of Missouri - Columbia

8/7/15

Electric sump pumps and floats

All, What type of electric sump pumps and floats are you using to dewater your steam vaults that give

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Electric sump pumps and floats

All, What type of electric sump pumps and floats are you using to dewater your steam vaults that give

8/7/15

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