Buffer Tank for Short Cycling

CapeCod

You all helped me narrow in on the need for a buffer tank in my system awhile back so now that I have done some research on buffer tanks I have a few more questions.  I have a boiler that can modulate down to 28500 Btu's and a shoulder season minimum load zone of probably something like 4000 Btu's.  I found the formula for tank sizing that uses on time (10 min), min firing rate (28500), and temperature rise (20 deg?) and have a couple questions:



1) Does the temperature rise refer to the delta T that is acceptable within the tank?  So if my ODR calls for a target temp of 150 and my delta T is 20 it will start to fire when the tank drops to 130?  If that is the case, aren't I just stuck with whatever logic is in my boiler or can that be changed?



2)  I also looked at it a different way, by looking at available storage tanks on the market and rearranging the formula to solve for "boiler on time"  For example, the 25 gallon Thermocon by Caleffi would fit nicely under my wall hung boiler and preserve floor space that I value.  Another alternative would be a 50 gallon electric water heater conversion.  It seems the 25 gallon would give me what I need but are there any arguments to go for 50 gallons in my case?



3) I am currently using the built in system boiler circulator as my sole circulator now.  I have lowered it to the lowest setting and I think it is still too much based on my flow requirement calcuations.  I have two zones with panel radiators (home run disribution) and I am shooting for a high delta T so I am coming up with very low flows and low head loss (around 3 ft hd)  Would you recommend adding a variable speed circulator on the distribution side of the buffer tank so that it can deal better with the low flow requirements?



Thanks again for putting up with all my questions.  This is my first heating season after my conversion from forced air heating to a boiler and it has become an obsession ever since.  Comfort has definitely improved but I have to realize any kind of payback.  My heating bills are roughly the same as last year after having replaced a 25 year old forced air furnace with 96% efficient Triangle Tube.  The only thing I can think of to blame is that the short cycling is robbing my efficiency.  I have noticed a big improvement in electrical consumption though so that must be mainly due to the huge forced air blower vs a small boiler circulator.

Ironman

Buffer Tank

As you know, the purpose of the tank is to extend the run time to a minimum of 10 min. The tank is just a wide spot in the road of hydronic flow. Kinda like when a 2 lane widens at a 10 gate toll booth and then goes back to 2 lanes. Don't think of it any other way. It doesn't require any additional controls or logic. The boiler reset stays the same; you don't change the curve. All we're trying to do is make the boiler run longer by heating a larger volume of water. It's all hydronic, not electronic.



The Delta T remains the same.



You can use a water heater tank if you choose. Pipe the inlet at the bottom where the drain valve now is. Don't use the cold tap at the top: the dip tube inside is only 1/2". As long as your system piping is not more than 1.25" and you transition right at the tank, the 3/4" connections shouldn't be a problem. Remove any heat traps (plastic inserts) from the tank taps. Come out of the top from the "hot" tap so the tank is in series with the supply pipe.



If your system piping is larger than 1.25", the you could connect the tank to the supply using 2 closely space Tee's so it would inject into the supply line (pri/sec). Of course, this would require an additional circ that you would wire to run with the system circ.



Again, you don't need a smart circ; it's all hydronic.



The attachment has another similar method that "Siggy" designed.

CapeCod

you don't need a smart circ

Thanks for the reply...I will take some time and study that example in the pdf.  Regarding smart circ...maybe it is not a matter of needing it but whether it would be a good idea to add as long as I am having someone come out and spend a day repiping everything.



My thought was that given a 4000 Btu zone and a target delta T of 30 degrees, that gives  me a required flow of .27 gpm.  If I use my boiler circulator as the sole circulator I would never be able to reach that low of a flow.  With a 25 gallon tank it would take about 90 minutes for .27 gallons to work it's way thru the system.  For those 90 minutes, a smart circ would consume 8 watts versus 60 watts (I think) for the grundfos 15-58 at low setting.  I guess that's not really correct because the Grundfos wouldn't even be able to circulate that low of a flow rate so it would take way less than 90 minute to exhaust my 25 gallon buffer tank.  Take what I am saying with a grain of salt...I am just a novice playing around with formulas and have no hands on hydronics experience

Ironman

Boiler

What boiler do you have. Is it piped PRI/sec?

CapeCod

Primary / Secondary?

Hi Bob, Good question...I think that's what I have.  After reading a Caleffi presentation on hydraulic separation I am not too clear on all that stuff: primary/secondary, closely spaced tee's, hydraulic separators.  I drew my system out, maybe you can tell me what I have and where you would put the buffer tank.  I don't think you'll find a simpler system than mine.  Boiler is a Prestige Excellence 110 Btu input

SWEI

you might want a smart circ

If you have zone valves, replacing the internal circ with an Alpha/Stratos/BumbleBee is a good move.  It's a bolt-in change (flanges are the same) but you should configure the circ to receive power all season rather than working on CH demand calls.  The OEM circ can usually be re-purposed for DHW.

CapeCod

replacing the internal circ with an Alpha/Stratos/BumbleBee

SWEI - Just replacing the internal circ would be a simple solution but what about the different flow requirements.  I think I need at least a few gpm thru the boiler to keep the h/x from flashing but one of my zones only needs less than a gallon.  Is there a way to control that?

SWEI

minimum flow

Will probably need that buffer tank.

CapeCod

Will probably need that buffer tank.

Yes, I am heading down the path of the buffer tank.  I would like to get that done in the next few

weeks as I am having someone install a couple more rads at that time.  Did you get a chance to look at the pdf of my

system?  Any comments as where to locate

smart circ?  Still think to replace

existing internal grundfos 15-58 with an alpha or just add on smart circ

between buffer and zone manifolds on supply side?

CMadatMe

Leave The Boiler Circulator Alone

Add the buffer and use the variable speed pump as a system pump. Wish you had those TRV's installed. This should have been a constant circulation system.

CapeCod

trv's

Well, I'm having another couple rads put in and a buffer tank...what's a few hundred more for TRV's?  Probably not...



The more I read the more questions I seem to generate.  I read a couple long forum posts on buffer tanks yesterday and it is amazing how such a simple concept can be applied in so many different ways.  I even had the chance to visit both Boiler Buddy and Caleffi because they are both in my area.  For my system I just don't know if I would benefit from the hydraulic separation aspect and mixing or just an in/out tank which would avoid the mixing.  And then the question of whether I pipe the in/out on the supply side or the return side.  So many questions I feel like blindfolding myself and throwing a dart at the wall...

CMadatMe

I Just Don't Understand

Way back when you started your original post concerning your system you were given recommendations for a buffer tank, you choose not to install it. Now, after installation the collective point comes to the surface and you want to install one. We recommend the preferred valves for the rads and again you choose not in install them. Panel rads like constant circulation not zoning and that condensing boiler will too.

CapeCod

Don't get me wrong

I appreciate everyone's advice.  I haven't ruled out anything at this point.  I had my system installed about 6 months ago and then realized the short cycling issue.  I spent a large amount of money for what I hoped would take me into retirement...maybe to the grave if I am lucky:).  Despite that it turned out less than optimal and I have myself partially to blame for not educating myself properly.  When you first gave me advice to do the buffer tank I just didn't have the money and I also really wanted to understand it myself before committing to it.  So now I am at a point where I have the money and I have convinced myself.  Now it comes down to implementation and the details of how best to pipe it.  I am pretty comfortable with the idea of adding the buffer tank (not sure which one yet) and the alpha circulator (seems to be the best value comparing to Wilo).  If ditching my zone panel, thermostat, and wiring which I already paid for and had installed in favor of a few hundred dollars for TRV's then I am open to it.  I just want to do the right thing.  Again, I do appreciate your comments and I am learning quite a bit.

CMadatMe

The Right

Thing to do is get the system on constant circulation and adjust the TRV's for each rooms wanted comfort level. I assume the installer didn't use radiator valves with built in bypasses in them. What design water temp did you have the panel rads oversized for?

CapeCod

bypass valves

Hi Chris = No bypass valves...everything is piped with Lockshield valves in / out.  I have Myson radiators but I found a great reference pdf on the Dianorm website and went thru the whole thing, from heat loss calculation to circulator sizing.  I have no idea what temperature the installer was planning on running the system at but from what I have figured out with my own calculations, I should be able to run max 170 supply on  a design day with a 30 degree drop (AWT = 155).  This would give me a .53 correction factor for the nominal radiator capacity.  I have all the radiator capacities listed on my piping diagram from earlier (see pdf) but can't remember if I put the water temp on the sheet or not.