flex hose for steam line??

[crueby]

For hooking up a small boiler to different steam engines, the intake pipe is never at same height/angle, so I was wondering if there is a good material to use for a flexible line that would take the heat and pressure? Must ba a type of rubber or composite hose suitable. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Chris

 

[vederstein]

For my boiler sight glass and lines to my steam engines I've used PFA tubing.

It is:

• Flexible
• Hard (Short D58)
• Temperature Range: -320° to 450° F
• Use with compression fittings.http://www.mcmaster.com/#Compression Tube Fittings for PFA Tubing

I purchased it from McMaster Carr (SKU #52705K33). Other sizes are available.

As long as it's not exposed to extreme heat sources (like flame) it'll be ok.

At 10 bar pressure (145 psi), the transition temperature from liquid to gas is about 470 kelvin (386 deg F). So for the size of tubing I use, PFA is applicable.

(Now before people start to think I run my engines at 10 bar, it's not even close. I'm more like pressuring my boiler to 3.4 bar/50 psi and only sending about 1 bar to the engines.)

 

[crueby]

Sounds great, I'll check that one out. Thanks!!!!