Condensing boiler plume, acidic or not?

[Mike7777777]

Hi
I'm looking a definitive answer, so where better to ask than here!?

There are those_who_should_know who tell me that the plume is just water vapour, but there are also those_who_should_know who tell me that is mildly acidic because it contains other products of combustion (oxides of nitrogen?)

Views and comments please!

 

[heatingeng]

Hi
I'm looking a definitive answer, so where better to ask than here!?

There are those_who_should_know who tell me that the plume is just water vapour, but there are also those_who_should_know who tell me that is mildly acidic because it contains other products of combustion (oxides of nitrogen?)Views and comments please!

the second one is correct

 

[Happyplumber]

very mildly acidic,about the same as vinegar check it with bit of litimus paper if you like

 

[keego]

If the condensate is mildly acidic then it follows that the condensation in the plume will be the same.

 

[JohnD]

it is acidic enough that if you let the flue drip onto a concrete path, it will erode it and you will see the bits of stone sticking through the surface.

 

[Mike7777777]

Thanks for the quick replies, seems pretty clear!

 

[gassafeengineer]

just wondering for what reason would someone ask this question

came up with the luxury sports car on drive rarely used parked next to boiler flue and now it needs a respray

 

[Tibbot]

it is acidic enough that if you let the flue drip onto a concrete path, it will erode it and you will see the bits of stone sticking through the surface.

It's also acidic enough to erode your boiler, an unfortunate side effect which was overlooked

 

[JohnD]

your boiler

my boiler:
stainless steel hex.

 

[oilman]

I measured the condensate from an oil boiler. It was pH3, which is about the same as vinegar.

 

[Tibbot]

your boiler

my boiler:
stainless steel hex.

From the number of times mentioned yours is a Viessmann, so may have a longer life but condensate also makes light work of the cheaper stainless. Most are is resistant but not acid proof. A well designed alloy can outlast a cheap SS.

 

[Happyplumber]

I am sure veissmann,who ok may not be that well known in this country on the domestic side,but that commercial kit is known as rolls royce in the commercial industry

Being German and their obsession with engineering i am sure they will not use cheap stainless steel,specially as their single pass heat exchanger is their own design and comes with ten year warranty.|Everyone else including vaillant glwoworm Biasi baxi are all using the ginnoni heat exchanger .

Actually the most impressive thing on Veissmann is their single pass heat exchanger and the size of its bore ,the rest of the parts are all industry standard

One the major issues with the ginnoni heat exchanger is because of the size of waterways,its actually 5mm in some places,plus its dual pass,its very easy to block them up with sludge.

This the reason why all manufacturers are so insistent on the system being meticulously clean

 

[heatingeng]

I am sure veissmann,who ok may not be that well known in this country on the domestic side,but that commercial kit is known as rolls royce in the commercial industry

Being German and their obsession with engineering i am sure they will not use cheap stainless steel,specially as their single pass heat exchanger is their own design and comes with ten year warranty.|Everyone else including vaillant glwoworm Biasi baxi are all using the ginnoni heat exchanger .

Actually the most impressive thing on Veissmann is their single pass heat exchanger and the size of its bore ,the rest of the parts are all industry standard

One the major issues with the ginnoni heat exchanger is because of the size of waterways,its actually 5mm in some places,plus its dual pass,its very easy to block them up with sludge.

This the reason why all manufacturers are so insistent on the system being meticulously clean

just been on the viessmann installer training and it seems like a good boiler although i have heard a lot of bad press on there past models and customer support.

 

[Tibbot]

One the major issues with the ginnoni heat exchanger is because of the size of waterways,its actually 5mm in some places,plus its dual pass,its very easy to block them up with sludge.

This the reason why all manufacturers are so insistent on the system being meticulously clean

I'd go further and say I think the Giannoni is sh*t.