Old compression tank into two port buffer

Kaos · November 3

After I removed the old head banger gravity piping, I had this compression tank left over and it felt wrong to scrap it.

I've been meaning to do something with it and finally got it installed as a buffer on my A2WHP. It is running as a two port series buffer (volumizer) on the primary loop essentially adding a bit of extra heat capacity to it. I ended up welding a port to the top of the tank to allow me to bleed the trapped air.

It works pretty well for that, about halved the cycles during the shoulder season from about 2 cycles/hour to one. Hard to say if it makes a difference in COP, energy use around this time is too low, but definitely not hurting things as there is no mixing.

EBEBRATT-Ed · November 3

@Kaos

Brand:AnvilSKU:0318912640

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If you want some mixing you could weld another tap on top and make it larger than the pipe you're using. Use a double tapped bushing so you would have a pipe inside the tank extended to the bottom

1-1/2" x 1" x 1" Black Double Tapped Tank Bushing, Class 150, 031891264004 Supply House.

Don't know where that crazy image came from.

hot_rod · November 3

good idea on the compression tank repurpose. Do it run chilled water in the summer also?

Kaos · 1:52AM

@EBEBRATT-Ed The tank has only 3/4" ports, which is just large enough for the 1" pex of my primary loop, there is no room in there for fittings. Initially I though about adding a dip tube, but was easier to just try it as is and it seems to work fine.

The mixing I was reffering it is between primary and secondary flow when a 2/3/4 port parallel buffer is used. This mixing doesn't matter much on modcons but with an A2WHP can really hurt your efficiency.

Since this is series buffer, that is not possible, any mixing inside the tank also doesn't matter as long as the flow is not short circuiting the tank.

@hot_rod My summers are hot and muggy. I have tried radiant cooling but it was not worth the operating cost for the small amount of cooling it actually did. It also cycled the heck out of the heat pump. Sticking to ASHP for cooling.

Old compression tank into two port buffer

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