I live on a hill.

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gorbull

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Jan 5, 2009
77
Hi Folks,
I'm trying to determine the best location for the boiler I will be ordering next week. I live at the base of a mountain overlooking a large lake thus we have not much wind but very predictable air movement patterns. When the temperature is warming a slight breeze moves up the mountain, when it's cooling the breeze reverses itself and is a little stronger.

I have an outbuilding that could accomodate a boiler in place, the issue (maybe not) is that it's aprox. 60 ft. away and 20 ft. above my basement radiant floor loop. I will be adding storage A.S.A.P. and it will be installed on the basement level. What issues will arise from the plumbing arrangement and pumping return water up 20 ft.?

In addition the outbuilding is directly aligned above my house so for the most part the exhaust will be rolling down the hill (even if I can't see it!) over or around me house. How much of an issue is that?

Thanks!
 
gorbull said:
In addition the outbuilding is directly aligned above my house so for the most part the exhaust will be rolling down the hill (even if I can't see it!) over or around me house. How much of an issue is that?

Thanks!
Here's a thought on the last part:
If you are getting a gasifier, there's not much smoke (most of the time none), so if you only plan on burning in cold weather when the windows are shut, there should be no problem. However if you plan to burn year round for DHW, then you will probaby get the smell in the house when/if the wind comes down the mountain.
 
head press and pump sizing
 
A gasifier may not put out smoke but I bet what it is pumping out is not all that healthy. Anyone know the composition of a gasifiers exhaust?
 
outdoorstokerboilersofky.com said:
head press and pump sizing

I think he means it might increase head pressure and require a bigger pump...

As for the exhaust, it sounds like you will need to burn in the off season only when the wind is blowing away from the house... or you need to supersize the stack to compensate... ;)
 
gorbull said:
Hi Folks,
I'm trying to determine the best location for the boiler I will be ordering next week. I live at the base of a mountain overlooking a large lake thus we have not much wind but very predictable air movement patterns. When the temperature is warming a slight breeze moves up the mountain, when it's cooling the breeze reverses itself and is a little stronger.

Sounds like a nice place...

I have an outbuilding that could accomodate a boiler in place, the issue (maybe not) is that it's aprox. 60 ft. away and 20 ft. above my basement radiant floor loop. I will be adding storage A.S.A.P. and it will be installed on the basement level. What issues will arise from the plumbing arrangement and pumping return water up 20 ft.?

Depends a little on whether you are running an open or closed system, but aside from a bit more of a challenge to get things purged and filled, shouldn't be a big deal. I probably would want to avoid putting pumps up at the top near the boiler, but as long as your feed lines are big enough, you won't have any problem at all with head pressure if the boilers are down below. The height isn't a big issue because the gravity influence on up and down flows essentially cancels out. If the distance was higher, there might be a need to worry about the static pressures on the lowest components, but 20' really isn't any more than the difference between the basement and 2nd floor in a 2-3 story house...

In addition the outbuilding is directly aligned above my house so for the most part the exhaust will be rolling down the hill (even if I can't see it!) over or around me house. How much of an issue is that?

Thanks!

I don't see it as a huge concern... A gasser in full burn isn't the healthiest thing, but it's not that bad - mostly just CO2 and water vapor as the exhaust components, the CO produced by the gasification process gets burned in the secondary chamber. In addition the height of the boiler building should help make the smoke go over the top of your house. If you do find it's a problem, I would expect that just boosting the chimney height would probably cure it...

Gooserider
 
Aside from possibly having to use a high pressure pump of some kind to initially fill the system the elevation will not be a problem once all the air is out and that piping is sealed up. The really simple solution regarding the wind pattern is to install enough storage to carry you through the times when the air flow is toward your house. Burn the unit only when the air flow is headed away from your dwelling.
 
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