Oversized Storage Tanks

[SciGuy]

Thanks Hugh. I am thinking in terms of a fast hot gasified burn of cord wood - that is a fixed amount of energy right? The amount of energy released during a burn like that isn't affected by the exchange medium. If I give the burn a number, say 100 energy units, you are saying water will absorb 10 units of when oil will absorb onlly 4. Do I have that right?

For equal temperature change, the water will store 2.5 times as much energy per pound or about 3 times as much per unit volume compared to oil.

In regards to phase change heat storage, paraffin can store ~ 65 BTUs/lb just in the act of melting without a temperature change. Once melted, paraffin's specific heat is ~ 0.7BTUs per pound.

Hugh

 

[wally]

oversized water storage & lower water temp. may result in a better environment for bacterial growth.
recently read that the domestic water heater tank should be cranked up ti 150? every so often so to sanitize the tank. forgot the exact specs.

edit: nevermind. i figured it out. doh.