3 ms·
So people would use a mercury seal to put pressure on the water, allowing the system to run hotter without boiling. I didn't quite follow this part. Where in
by jpatokal 11y ago
So people would use a mercury seal to put pressure on the water, allowing the system to run hotter without boiling.
I didn't quite follow this part. Where in the system does the mercury go, how does it add pressure, and does it have anything to do with Wikipedia's description of using mercury in glass-to-metal seals?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass-to-metal_seal#Mercury_seal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass-to-metal_seal#Mercury_se...
- maxerickson 11y agoIt's a pressure valve. Here's the patent: https://heatinghelp.com/assets/documents/141.pdf https://heatinghelp.com/assets/documents/141.pdf I don't think I've a clear enough understanding of how it works to try to explain it.
- steckerbrett 11y agoIt's essentially a pressure regulator I think.
- steckerbrett 11y agoHere's an EPA document which shows some pictures, look at page 2 for the unit the OP has. http://www.epa.gov/mercury/pdfs/EPA-905-F-11-008.pdf http://www.epa.gov/mercury/pdfs/EPA-905-F-11-008.pdf
- fsavard2 11y agoThis page describes that system, I think: http://www.oldhouseweb.com/how-to-advice/gravity-hot-water-heating-continued.shtml http://www.oldhouseweb.com/how-to-advice/gravity-hot-water-h... (the "Honeywell Heat Generator")
- cbr 11y agoI've now linked that from the article; thanks! (I read that page when I was first reading about this the night of the spill, but had forgotten about it. Holohan is amazingly knowledgeable about old heating systems.)
- mietek 11y agoWow. If there’s anyone deserving the title of a hacker, it’s the author of this page.