anyone have any info on useing a propane tank for storage. How is this done?.I have actually found some good prices on 500 and 1000 gal tanks new and used .
There’s a guy named hot rod at http://www.heatinghelp.com (go to The Wall) who has a 500-gallon propane tank hooked up to a gasifier. He’s kind of an alternative heating guru and a very helpful and knowledgeable guy to boot. Has an EKO 40 heating his shop.
Basically, you just pipe it into your system so that the water from your boiler passes through the tank.
I paid 600 for a 500gal tank in working condition as I am using propane for back up. You might be able to find a tank that has a name tag that is missing or has been dropped. and then you can get it for scrap price. Those should be under 300. The amish around here buy them, threw them in a fire and then cut them up and make outside boilers. they take a 500gal and put a 300gal inside. They smoke but work. Here in Michigan it is VERY hard to find a tank that they will give a bill of sale. All the propane dealers have gotten together and won’t sell them as there is more money in leasing. Then they got you on price. It’s even harder to find a dealer that will fill your own tank but the price is alot lower. I paid .75 less a gal and I don’t have to pay rent if I don’t use 200gal.
leaddog
Check local farm papers. Farmers and dairy suppliers have old milk bulk tanks that the coolant lines leak and they usually sell the for scrap price. Food grade stainless (304) will last longer than any wood boiler and they even have insulation. My boiler is built into a 1500 gal milk tank that I bought for 900$.
A pressurized tank may be a better solution as long as you’re only using it for heat storage / retrieval. If you want to add secondary sources / sinks, then a sealed tank present problems as it’s very difficult to install heat exchangers. For example, my tank has a heat exchanger to preheat my domestic hot water and another to allow the tank to be heated with solar panels. That forced me into an unpressurized tank, although I could have used additional pumps and external flat-plate heat exchangers as an alternative.
what do you guys think about a 1000 gal propane tank with an eko 40 .also what kind of pressure would i be looking at 2-3 pounds? I have neighbor with propane bussiness he has a new tank with apin hole at the top weld . getting close to breaking him ,dont want to push too hard without a need.
what do you guys think about a 1000 gal propane tank with an eko 40 .also what kind of pressure would i be looking at 2-3 pounds? I have neighbor with propane bussiness he has a new tank with apin hole at the top weld . getting close to breaking him ,dont want to push too hard without a need.
I know that people have used propane tanks, but I don’t know what pressure they’re rated for. Usually, boiler systems run at pressures up to 30psi, so the tank would have to be good for that plus a safety margin.
Also don’t know if there are corrosion issues with the type of steel used or with the amount of dissolved oxygen in 1000 gallons of water. Anyone else have a better idea about whther any of these might be real issues?
Is a closed 1000 gal much different than an open storage. Nofossil I see you have 880 with the eko 25. At this point I have only oil boiler and side arm to suply. so I think in light of the price I would be better off with a pressure system other than none at all? What do think?
Is a closed 1000 gal much different than an open storage. Nofossil I see you have 880 with the eko 25. At this point I have only oil boiler and side arm to suply. so I think in light of the price I would be better off with a pressure system other than none at all? What do think?
Open or closed would be the same heat storage per gallon. Closed would have no evaporation loss, so that’s good. Storage is better than no storage, and bigger is generally better.
I just have no experience with closed storage tanks of that size. I raised some possible issues - if no one validates any of them, don’t worry. I just hate to say ‘no problems’ when I don’t have first-hand experience.
I don’t think the pressure would be a problem. I suspect those tanks are designed to hold a lot more than 30 psi. They’re pretty standard fare where pressurized storage is concerned.
As to corrosion, I don’t see where propane tank steel would be any more susceptible than boiler plate, but that’s just a guess, based on the above.
On the other hand, why would the propane company stop using a tank and basically sell it for scrap if there wasn’t something wrong with it? Hopefully there is a good way to determine its integrity before you buy and install it, only to find out that it has a fatal flaw.
The propane co. pull the tanks out of service when they get rusty or the paint gets chipped to bad. It cost to much to have them powder coated, to make them look good. By that time they are getting old and the asme stamp ususlly is getting hard to read. If the tag is gone or damaged they can’t fill them. I think that they are tested to over 200lbs but I’m not sure just how high. The guy I got mine from was using it for a air tank at 200lbs and had been using it for 15 years. He said that if he hadn’t used the air for a couple days it would still smell of propane. The only point you have to watch is you will need a large exspansion tank or leave the top so you would have room for exspansion. Zennon at New Horizon recommends them at his site.
If there is a pin hole leak in that one they can’t weld it and use it for propane but if it is a problem you could get a good welder and weld it and it would be fine for storage. I say go for it.
leaddog
