Boiler Inspection/Certification Requirements in NC

[ehhobbie]

I recently got a Stuart D10 steam engine with a Stuart 504 boiler. My experience to date has been with fractional HP steam engines that I always run on compressed air. The outfit was obtained many years ago by a friend from a yard sale and was missing a piece of tubing so not working nor has any history or other documentation. Would never try firing any boiler without a test plus instructions. So am trying to find out what all is involved to determine if it is worth the time/effort/cost to possibly get the boiler working or whether to just use it as a stationary display item. Love small steam engines!! Thank You  Ed

[johan]

Get in touch with a local steam group and let then explain you about the reglementation in your area. These things are not everywhere the same.

Now if you cannot find some, then you could find some on the net. Most they include 2 parts of tests for a boiler:
1: a pressure test. In this test, the boiler is reduced to its minimal so no water level, no safety valve... just blanking plugs fitted and a single pipe connection. then you fill the boiler completely with cold water. Next you connect a water pump, gauge that reads up to 1.5 times the test pressure and a non-return valve to protect the gauge if anything goes wrong. And then slowly and in increments increase the pressure up to the test pressure. When the test pressure is reached you keep it at that pressure for some time inspecting for leaks. Release the pressure slowly. Test pressure is according to the local regulations, mostly it will be somewhere between 1.5 times and 2 times the designed working pressure.
2: a steam test. This is with the boiler fully kitted out, certainly with safety. You bring it up to pressure and then without taking off steam and with maximum heating you check that the safety can keep the pressure in check at the designed working pressure +x% with x again being locally defined. Often around 10%.

So if you do not have the whole test setup of water pump, known correct gauge, valves and taps etc or cannot have a local steam group doing this for you it is a whole undertaking. Not rocket science but careful working while well understanding what you are doing.

But never just connect an air compressor and just see if that works out. If that goes wrong you have shrapnel flying around. Also don't just fill the boiler completely with water and then heat it slowly as pressure can rise very quickly and destroy the boiler. Only test with a water pressure from a low volume pump and a know good gauge.

[ehhobbie]

Very informative! Thanks Ed