Has anyone stacked 1000 gal propane tanks? I am kinda worried about the weight of the second tank on top of the first tank. I was planning on welding saddles to the tanks and welding them to each other. I have just enough room to do this where the tanks go and have about 4-6" above the top tank. I was thinking at least 4 saddles and making them out of 1/4" plate and bending the ends. Thinking I will need the same 4 saddles for the bottom tank to make legs for more support than the factory feet. Figure on tank weight is around 1900 and 1000 gal water 8300 means that top tank is 10,000 lb or so. Thoughts?
anyone stacked 1000 gal propane tanks?
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Frozen Canuck
Minister of Fire
Assuming this is going on a concrete floor you will have no issues. Ahona.com (one of the site sponsors) sells a product just like this.
nrford
Minister of Fire
I thought if I ever add another tank I would make saddles for in between but I would connect them by welding in short pieces of well casing.
What do you think? Weld in 4 or so pieces of 6" well casing.
gg
What do you think? Weld in 4 or so pieces of 6" well casing.
gg
maple1
Minister of Fire
That's a lot of weight - wish my basement had room for that much storage.
So far, it looks like I'm going to be using 330 gallon tanks (that's what they called them - 9' long by 30in diameter). I don't have a whole lot of extra room to work with. I was thinking of using two & stacking, but building a 4x4 wood frame between tanks - which would also be part of the framework for insulating & boxing them in. Not sure whether I should rest one right on top of the other, or have the top one sitting independant on its own framework - just in case something happens to one of them and I have to replace it or pull out to fix (my luck). Good thing I have all winter to try to plan this stuff...
So far, it looks like I'm going to be using 330 gallon tanks (that's what they called them - 9' long by 30in diameter). I don't have a whole lot of extra room to work with. I was thinking of using two & stacking, but building a 4x4 wood frame between tanks - which would also be part of the framework for insulating & boxing them in. Not sure whether I should rest one right on top of the other, or have the top one sitting independant on its own framework - just in case something happens to one of them and I have to replace it or pull out to fix (my luck). Good thing I have all winter to try to plan this stuff...
infinitymike
Minister of Fire
I might be concerned with the saddles on the concrete. You might want to consider putting wide steel plates under each saddle to help spread the load.
Yes I was planing on putting plates on the lower saddles to spread the load on the concrete. Ok, sounds like I should be fine.
goosegunner said:
That's not a bad idea, any worries about expansion/ contraction with heat cycles? I might look into this I have the capability to do it. Would make the whole thing stronger for sure and add the connections at the same time.
cjdave said:
Not sure about expansion or contraction, you could seek out the thickest wall pipe.
The advantage would be nice big connections between the tanks with stability.
Disadvantage would be moving it around! Even my single 1000 was tuff to move. If you weld two together make sure that you elevate the bottom one in nice big saddles and give yourself big base plates to distribute the weight. It might be kind of top heavy until you get it stabilized.
gg
Garth B
Member
I welded 2 800gal tanks together. The factory legs on the upper tanks stradeled the lower tank nicely so i just welded them in place like that. I didnt provide any extra support under the lower tank and the factory legs are holding up fine, as they should... I think they were formed 1/4" pl. So in the end it required no extra fabrication other than a couple pieces of pipe from the top tank to the bottom tank and the half couplings for my other various connections. I did put metal plates under the legs on the concrete floor, probably didnt need to as the floor is 12" thick under my tanks.
Yea weight is a problem, but I worked for structural steel company for a while and we moved heavy stuff all the time, sometimes it's about having the right plan and knowledge (a bunch of friends that are professional equipment riggers don't hurt either!) . Plan right now is to weld them together on there sides, move into place and stand them up. It's a plan in progress, but needs to happen this week or weekend...goosegunner said:
maple1
Minister of Fire
My thought is if you put the return & feed on both tanks at the same end, you'd want to put the 6 inch at the opposite end, for better run around flow (so to speak) & hopefully better stratification. I'm thinking about doing that, except using a short run of external pipe at the opposite end to go out of the bottom of the top tank & immediately in to the top of the bottom tank.
That's a nice pic - and a lot of weight to tip upright. Might make decent Youtube footage.
Good luck!
That's a nice pic - and a lot of weight to tip upright. Might make decent Youtube footage.
Good luck!
I dont think the lower tank is designed for that kind of load. It is designed for large pressure from within.
Chris Hoskin
TarmSalesGuy
It might get a bit tricky welding the 6" dia. couplings down in between those tanks if the tanks are close together. Those have to be not only strong structurally but need to be absolutely watertight.
Tarm Sales Guy said:
Heating 3 buildings and DHW. with a 80kw boiler summer/winter. I just don't want to wish I had done more.
Yea that is one of the problems I am working on, I might go on the end instead of in the middle It's tight, but I am pretty sure I could get in there with the stick welder ( I have a welding cert for Structural stick welding). I would hate to have a leak after there in place and full....DaveBP said:
Garth B
Member
I used 1.25" pipe to connect the two tanks (as well as welding legs to top of lower tank) If you are only sending cool water back to the bottom of the tanks, what is the advantage of such a large pipe joining them? My upper tank probably wieghs around 8000lbs, sounds like alot but split it up over 6 points of contact with the lower tank and its only 1300 pounds per contact.
The 1.25" pipe I used to join them was pluged at both ends and sloted on the sides so it wouldnt shoot water straight up or down in the tanks. IMO cutting such a large hole and getting a tight fit would be more hassle than it was worth. If your just after extra support, I would keep the welds and extra material on the extrerior of the tank.
For moving mine I lag bolted (2) 2x6 on the bottom and used them as skids, then pushed it across my driveway and into the woodshed with a tractor. Tipping them upright was the harder part as my tractor does not have a loader, I had to jack them up to a 45 degree angle then pull them upright with the tractor.
The 1.25" pipe I used to join them was pluged at both ends and sloted on the sides so it wouldnt shoot water straight up or down in the tanks. IMO cutting such a large hole and getting a tight fit would be more hassle than it was worth. If your just after extra support, I would keep the welds and extra material on the extrerior of the tank.
For moving mine I lag bolted (2) 2x6 on the bottom and used them as skids, then pushed it across my driveway and into the woodshed with a tractor. Tipping them upright was the harder part as my tractor does not have a loader, I had to jack them up to a 45 degree angle then pull them upright with the tractor.
Attachments
Just a update:
Here is a rendering of the final design. I am putting fittings in the tanks this week and hopefully stacking the end of the week. I will post some pics as the progress goes. All the saddles are made just need to get everything welded together.
Here is a rendering of the final design. I am putting fittings in the tanks this week and hopefully stacking the end of the week. I will post some pics as the progress goes. All the saddles are made just need to get everything welded together.
Attachments
Singed Eyebrows
Minister of Fire
Garth, 8000 lbs or 800 lbs? That top tank can't weigh that unless its made from 1/2" plate, RandyGarth B said:
maple1
Minister of Fire
Has to be full weight, 1000gal x 8lb/gal.
My 2 1000 gal tanks full of water the whole thing should weigh in just under 20,000lb.
My 2 1000 gal tanks full of water the whole thing should weigh in just under 20,000lb.
Garth B
Member
I did mean filled weight but that number was a bit high, a more accurate number is 5125lbs for each of my tanks (full) assuming I have 500gal tanks which I think I do.
On a side note, getting -13deg F nights now, and I am really enjoying the extra storage! (first winter with storage)
On a side note, getting -13deg F nights now, and I am really enjoying the extra storage! (first winter with storage)
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