How Critical is Storage Location?

[velvetfoot]

I'm thinking about locating storage tank(s) across the basement from the boiler, about 30'
What are the downsides of this compared to adjacent?
I can see heat and pumping losses from the pipe, but not sure how critical that is, and maybe there are other downsides.
Thanks.

 

[JP11]

well, remember that as long as storage is IN the envelope, your 'losses' in your plumbing and storage are 'gains' in your envelope.

that being said.. you don't want a boiler room or storage space that's a hundred.

JP

 

[maple1]

Some guys have the boiler in an outbuilding & storage in their basement - so it's not critical. You won't be able to maximize the easy heat dumping potential you would have if they were right next to each other (with storage elevated) - but as long as you have other heat dumping measures in place (some slant fin over the boiler, add a UPS to your boiler circ, etc..), it's not a big concern.

 

[Clarkbug]

I would say maple nailed it.

 

[velvetfoot]

Thanks guys. Maybe I won't cover the little basement window after all.

 

[peakbagger]

My wood boiler is in the center of basement as my chimney is in the center of the house, the storage tank is in a corner. The connecting pipe is roughly 16' . I have rubatex insulation on it and don't feel as though I lose a lot of heat on the run out and back to the tank. My basement does warm up running the boiler but I expect the storage and piping contributes very little. I have a square tank so it fits in the corner quite well and have a removable shelf system hung from the rafters over the top of the tank for storage of Rubbermaid totes of kindling, newspaper and cardboard.

 

[flyingcow]

My storage is 100ft from my boiler. Works good.

 

[mmudd]

My storage is about 30 ft from boiler, works good. Just make sure you size the pipe correctly.

 

[velvetfoot]

Just make sure you size the pipe correctly.

What size did you choose?

 

[mmudd]

I used 1.25" copper based on GPM needed to move the BTU's my boiler could crank out. It works good. In case you don't have your plumbing schematic figured out, I used one of the Tarm USA plumbing schematics. I Don't have to do anything but light a fire. No valves to adjust etc.. I also use a loading unit which maintains minimum supply temp to boiler and also sends flow to storage/load as long as minimum temp is reached. My pipes were in a garage and I also insulated them. The Tarm folks were very helpful when I was planning my system.

 

[velvetfoot]

Thanks much.

 

[ewdudley]

Just make sure you size the pipe correctly.

If not using the storage loop for power-fail gravity-flow fail-safe, then pipe to storage can be surprisingly small.

• Insure that all flow to top of storage is at the desired storage temperature, e.g., 180 degF, by proper 'launch temperature' and/or supply temperature controls.
• Insure that all flow to bottom of storage is as cool as possible by foolproof low-temperature emitters, or proper return temperature minimizing controls.

So if supply to storage is 180 degF, and return from storage is an easily achievable 140 degF, then 120000 btu per hour can be moved through 3/4" copper with only 6 gpm.