Franken-tanks

hot_rod

I have been running my solar array and wood boiler into a 160 gallon, former LP tank. I decided to upgrade to a 500 gallon and try a two pipe system.

The circs pump away from the bottom header to the drainback solar array and to the wood boiler, via the Taco DT circ, across the shop.

I'll have a plate HX for DHW pre-heat, mod con boiler input, high temperature for the radiators and an ODR controlled low temperature zone for the radiant.

I think the I-solar MX lite control can run it all. With and expansion module I can run two ODR controlled outputs.

The tank will fill about 3/4 full, the top space becomes the expansion tank and drawback "bubble"

SWEI

Nice headers.

ECM-circs-are-us?

Abracadabra

The black tank is 500G? Did you weld the angle iron for feet? 3 pieces? That's gotta be about 2 tons no?

hot_rod

Abracadabra said:

The black tank is 500G? Did you weld the angle iron for feet? 3 pieces? That's gotta be about 2 tons no?

I thought about that so I'm also putting a ring around the bottom. It will make it easier to insulate also.

tim smith

are you building a still?

MikeG

What type of lifespan do you forsee on an LP tank? I assume thay are just steel with no special coating. Is it no different than any other ferrous compnent in a system? Mike

hot_rod

MikeG said:

What type of lifespan do you forsee on an LP tank? I assume thay are just steel with no special coating. Is it no different than any other ferrous compnent in a system? Mike

I will juice it up with some Rhomar conditioner, it is about 3/16 steel! It should certainly out live any expansion tanks, they seem to be paper thin these days.

I have been using this tank horizontally mounted for about 8 years, when I hole sawed the large holes in the side it was really clean and in great shape.

motoguy128

What's the last circ pump to the right? I recognize the other 3. You testing out each one to see how they perform?

SWEI

Looks like it might be an Armstrong.