I would like to put a 15.5 gallon stainless steel beer keg in my bedroom and pump water between the wood stove and the water tank. Is there an existing set of plans for something like this?
Dumb question... heat exchange between wood stove and a beer keg full of water
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Be very careful.
This is a recipe for a steam pressure explosion if implemented improperly.
This is a recipe for a steam pressure explosion if implemented improperly.
Circus
Feeling the Heat
I don't know of any plans but if the tank is higher than the stove you won't need any pumps. Just have the cold line low on the tank and the hot line high. If the water tank isn't sealed (pressurized) I don't see any danger. If it is, install a relief valve set lower than the vessel design pressure or maybe a radiator cap.
May I ask why? It's too small to do much buffering.
May I ask why? It's too small to do much buffering.
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Rearscreen
Minister of Fire
I'm with Circus. My wife wouldn't go for 2 bear kegs in the bed room. You would be better off pumping the water through a finned radiator. Also you need water temperature of at least 180F to get any heating off it. That's close to the boiling point, so I think you need to regulate the water temperature. It's done with wood boilers, so I would look at them.
maple1
Minister of Fire
You don't need water that hot for heat. I run my water temps down to 130° in winter before the house starts losing heat. Comes down to system design.
Having said that - this sounds like an idea asking for trouble. The more important little detail is missing - how the OP is planning to get the heat out of the stove into the water. SAFELY.
Having said that - this sounds like an idea asking for trouble. The more important little detail is missing - how the OP is planning to get the heat out of the stove into the water. SAFELY.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
... and the heat out of the keg. More typical installations would have an expansion tank with blow-off at boiler / heat exchanger, and fin tube radiator in bedroom. But, maybe we're all assuming this is for heating, and the op has another purpose in mind.
http://patch.com/new-hampshire/portsmouth-nh/redhook-employee-critically-injured-by-exploding-keg
If you want to do it, stick with an open system, too much risk for pressurized system unless you want to do it right and equip it with temperature and pressure relief valve. The problem with a closed system is what do you do with excess heat? Once the tank is up to pressure, it either boils or builds up pressure until it can boil. If it opens the safety relief it will boil until such time that all the water boils out and then the piping coil overheats.
If you want to do it, stick with an open system, too much risk for pressurized system unless you want to do it right and equip it with temperature and pressure relief valve. The problem with a closed system is what do you do with excess heat? Once the tank is up to pressure, it either boils or builds up pressure until it can boil. If it opens the safety relief it will boil until such time that all the water boils out and then the piping coil overheats.
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