Are there any reasons I should not use and oil tank with oil in it for storage.

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Bear40

Registered:1512174569
Posts: 1

Posted 1512175314	Reply with quote #1

I switched to geothermal heating a few years ago and am using my old oil tank for storage for my backup generator. As it is on the south side of my home I was thinking of building a collect box around it along with a hot air panel above it to heat my basement. I have not seen this on YouTube or the web. So was wondering if there some problem I should be aware of Thanks in advance.

stmbtwle

Registered:1388591029
Posts: 2,766

Posted 1512216754 · Edited	Reply with quote #2

It should work, though I'm not sure how well. The box would have to be insulated. It might be more trouble/expense than it's worth. A sketch would help. __________________ Solar is like the wind. It may be free, but putting it to work isn't! Willie, Tampa Bay

Rick H Parker

Registered:1489180564
Posts: 757

Posted 1512222237 · Edited	Reply with quote #3

Hot air panel and liquid storage tank? You sure your don't mean a hydronic (water) solar panel and not a hot air collector? If you thinking of using the oil tank for storing hot water you would need to add a sacrificial anode to prevent galvanic corrosion of the tank, if it is a metal tank and does not already have cathodic protection. __________________ Rick H Parker Kansas, USA Electronics Engineering Technologist

Gordy

Registered:1362754383
Posts: 137

Posted 1512225533	Reply with quote #4

Rick, The title reads, " Are there any reasons I should not use and oil tank with oil in it for storage" He said, "using my old oil tank for storage for my backup generator" so I assume the tank is full of diesel oil/fuel. Bear40, If I understand what you wrote, there are 2 things against that idea. (1) We build our collector to have as low of a mass in them as possible, this gets the heat in the house where you need it a lot quicker. And gets the heat away from the glazing where it can be lost. (2) Any smell from a spill/leak or venting from the tank as it heats up would be drawn into the house. Gordy __________________ Gordy, Minnesota

stmbtwle

Registered:1388591029
Posts: 2,766

Posted 1512227317 · Edited	Reply with quote #5

I think the idea is to build an "air jacket" around the oil tank to heat the oil, and when needed to extract that heat. Agree on the possible smell issue, the tank would have to be vented to outside the jacket. There could also be a fire hazard. I think it would be a lot easier, cheaper (and more efficient?) to simply duct the air from the collector directly to the basement. Unless that's a REALLY BIG oil tank... __________________ Solar is like the wind. It may be free, but putting it to work isn't! Willie, Tampa Bay

Rick H Parker

Registered:1489180564
Posts: 757

Posted 1512229566	Reply with quote #6

Gordy so I assume the tank is full of diesel oil/fuel. I assumed he intends to convert it to solar thermal storage. Tho I knew this might not be the correct interpretations. That my reason for the questions. Willie Using the oil for mass heat storage might be what he intends. However diesel oil has only about 1/2 the heat capacity of water so good chance it might not be cost effective unless it is a big tank and he keep the volume of oil up. __________________ Rick H Parker Kansas, USA Electronics Engineering Technologist

stmbtwle

Registered:1388591029
Posts: 2,766

Posted 1512230523 · Edited	Reply with quote #7

Rick my point exactly. __________________ Solar is like the wind. It may be free, but putting it to work isn't! Willie, Tampa Bay

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