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buffer tank question

harold campbell2
harold campbell2 Member Posts: 16
in THE MAIN WALL
believe me, any answer is better no answer....anyway, now i have someone else to blame other than myself if it does not work. "i know it's cold in here but ametem2112 said it should work......."

Comments

  • harold campbell2
    harold campbell2 Member Posts: 16
    buffer tank question

    i am converting a john wood storage tank into a buffer tank for use with a low mass boiler and multiple small zones (8-15k btu) hydronic system. i would like to plumb it with 1" pipe due to gpm and head loss requirements needed but there are only 2 1" NPS (not NPT)treaded outlets (i believe they are used for heating elements in electric heater models variations of the tank) and the rest (4 including the drain) are 3/4" outlets. if i plumb with 1" pipe to the 3/4" outlets what effect does this have on the head loss calc? do i just factor in the equivilent pipe lenght for the 3/4" 2 fittings and rest using 1" pipe or is the reduction from the 3/4" fitting greater than that.

    the real problem is the equivilent lenght of pipe for a 3/4" check valve i will need (83 feet!) if i just plumb with 3/4" pipe all around, it increases headloss for the circuit to 12 ft from just under 2 ft if i plumb with 1" pipe all around.

    any suggestions greatly appreciated, thank you.
  • John Starcher_4
    John Starcher_4 Member Posts: 794
    Why not use...

    ....a 3/4 MIP x 1" sweat adapter? I can't believe you'd have much of a problem with the "brief" flow restriction caused by the fitting.
  • harold campbell2
    harold campbell2 Member Posts: 16


    thanks. just having trouble mentally with piping w/ 1" just to reduce to 3/4 just before the buffer tank.
  • John Starcher_4
    John Starcher_4 Member Posts: 794
    I know how you feel!

    I wish I could give a more educated answer, but I really don't know what kind of head increase you could expect to see from the reducer fitting at the tank. I can't believe it would be too much, though.

    Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me could chime in?


    Brad W. where are you??? We need an engineer's perspective!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Uni R_2
    Uni R_2 Member Posts: 589
    The big squeeze...

    Harold, the water will be forced to accelerate through the smaller diameter fitting and there will be more resistance from the higher velocity. Luckily, that distance will be very short so the overall resistance change will be minimal.
  • harold campbell2
    harold campbell2 Member Posts: 16


    thank you both so much for your replies. it will be very short distance, just the fitting itself, and then dump directly into the tank. the increase in velocity may even have benefical mixing effect in the tank?

    i guess it is like the outlet on the body of a circulator which remains the same whether 3/4, 1" or 11/4" flanges are used with it.

    either way, now i have 2 people to blame (otherthan myself, of course) if it goes south.

    i love this internet thing.........
  • John Starcher_4
    John Starcher_4 Member Posts: 794
    Leave Uni out of this!

    Blame it all on me!!!! I'm used to it, having been married to my current wife for so long :-0
  • harold campbell2
    harold campbell2 Member Posts: 16


    will do, and my "better" half still hasn't forgiven you for the jets seasons tickets i let you talk me into buying this year. I remember it vividly, i said the jets will su_k this year and in response to my question about p/s piping, you said Mangini had them going in the right direction.
  • John Starcher_4
    John Starcher_4 Member Posts: 794
    What can I say?

    I'm still catching crap for some poster here convincing me to buy NFL Sunday Ticket. Yeah, that's it! It wasn't my idea!!!!!! I'm blaming YOU!!!!!!!
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