Another buffer tank question,,,

Unknown

Does a buffer tank need to be insulated?



And, can a large enough "open-type"(not bladder) steel expansion tank be used or this?

Seems to me it will do the same thing.

Actually, in the old days, didn`t they call a similar type tank "range boilers"?



Besides a cosmetic covering, please enlighten me to the diff between the two.

KBP&H_3

Tank sizing and Flow requirements:

There are a couple of things you are looking for in the buffer tank setup;

1-tapping sizes so that you can fully utilize the output of the boiler, ie- 80,00 BTU = 1" tapping's for boiler side, 120,000= 1 1/4" etc. so you achieve maximum boiler flow w/ out much of a pressure drop.

2-same thing for the demand side, your total flow is allowed by the tank tapping's

3-run time,- to have the tank capacity match your desired boiler run time, 3 -5-10 minutes??

4-Insulation- unless standby loss of okay?

5-Ability to create a temperature differential in the tank by the tank height and tapping"s placement.

Looking at the above items- an steel expansion tank will fall short in all of the requirements. If you could use a 42 gallon galvenized well tank and create tapping''s  and insulation,, maybe a start.

hot_rod

an uninsulated buffer is

really a radiator in the round. Unless you need the heat where the tank is located better insulate it.



Four large taps high and low across from one another give you nice flow and a hydro separator device, all in one. Throw an air vent on top also. Many tanks have a domed tank, a great place to collect and vent air.



I can't imagine installing less than 40 gallons of buffer if you are going through the time and trouble to buffer. Less capacity than that it starts to look more like an expansion tank



hr

Unknown

Respectfully disagree,,,,

IF the boiler has an output of say,,, 47K,,,, and the inlet tappings to the load are 3/4", why could this not be used?

I thought the whole idea of a buffer was "parking space" when the load is under the modulation rate.

Cooler return temps are what modcons want right?,,,, how can this be achieved by an insulated(keeping heat-in) buffer tank?

Unknown

Right Bob,,,

That`s what I was thinking!

KBP&H_3

?

I must be missing something??