1968 American Standard/Kewanee Boiler
Year Made | 1968 |
Type | Type C/Firebox-style Firetube |
Fuel | Combination (natural gas/oil) |
Ignition System | Ray combination burner and controls |
Rated Output Power | 112 BHP |
Output | Low pressure (15 PSI) Steam |
Location | High School |
Status | Non-operational/retired |
This boiler was constructed in 1968 and installed in the basement while the school was still under construction. Despite the boiler being retired over a decade due to being inefficient (and being replaced by individual roof-top units serving each classroom), the boiler is still in the basement. (Probably due to a high cost to remove the boiler.)
The boiler contains a Ray combination burner and control system, which could use natural gas and oil as the fuel source. Oil was piped into the basement from a now-removed oil tank. Remnants of the oil pipes and a oil leak (which stained the wall) are still located in the basement. The Ray control system used an early Fireeye ignition control module, which still used vacuum tubes rather than transistors or (later) microcontrollers.
This boiler produced low-pressure steam, which was sent throughout the school to fan-forced radiators located in each room. This boiler also has a large amount of asbestos, such as the door gasketing and the pipe insulation.
While this boiler has been long retired, its local and younger brother, the 1974 Kewanee, is still producing hot water for heating an adjacent school. However, the day's for that boiler are limited as the school is soon expanding and it too is being replaced by roof-top units.
Above: The 1968 American-Standard/Kewanee Boiler. [November 5, 2013]