Author Topic: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?  (Read 14271 times)

BryanDowdy

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Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« on: January 02, 2016, 09:26:54 am »
I am setting up a used waste oil shop heater I bought and have the oil tank outside. During the day the heater runs fine, but at night it trips the flame sensor because the pressure drops. I'm assuming this is due to the oil getting colder at night (around 0°F). Would going to a metered pump solve this issue or must the oil be kept warmer?

Russ

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2016, 11:54:05 am »
Is this a siphon system?  If so, I suppose the oil is thickening up and not flowing inside as quickly as it should when the temp drops and your heater isnt getting enough fuel.

I dont have any experience to say for sure, but I would sure think that putting a metering pump on would help keep the flow of oil consistent even with oil temp fluctuations.

BryanDowdy

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2016, 12:28:56 pm »
The heater is Shenandoah 315,000 and the pump does siphon from the tank. Thank you for the feed back.

I've also thought of fabricating a smaller tank to put in the shop that would stay warm.

doug

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2016, 06:07:09 pm »
http://www.centralohioheaters.com/DSCN9645.JPG

does your heater look like this? where is your pump located?
You can't put it on the internet if it isn't true!

http://wasteoilheaterforum.com/index.php?topic=102.0

BryanDowdy

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #4 on: January 02, 2016, 06:51:12 pm »
Yes, that's the heater I have. The pump is mounted outside on the tank. The suction line is roughly 8' long of 3/4" pipe. The pressure side is roughly 32' of 1/2" pipe.

doug

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2016, 07:25:50 pm »
what regulates your pump? how do you know the oil volume/pressure at the burner. if you look down on the red tank the gray box is a metering pump. I believe it's needed to be used with your burner.
« Last Edit: January 02, 2016, 07:36:08 pm by doug »
You can't put it on the internet if it isn't true!

http://wasteoilheaterforum.com/index.php?topic=102.0

ShopSpecialties

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2016, 08:48:58 pm »
You need a burn tank inside and the bigger the better to make life easy. The pump can pump the cold oil it just cannot pull it through the filters.

BryanDowdy

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2016, 09:09:03 pm »
A regulator at the burner sets the pressure.

So if I move the tank inside, I should be able to use the pump I have?

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #8 on: January 02, 2016, 09:11:36 pm »
Yes and also keep your suction side short and simple.

BryanDowdy

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #9 on: January 02, 2016, 09:15:34 pm »
What's the minimum temp I should keep the oil at? At night I let the shop get down to 38*-40*

Thank you for the help.

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #10 on: January 02, 2016, 09:19:44 pm »
Those temps should be fine.

I know these heaters very well and if you have any questions at all just ask away.

BryanDowdy

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #11 on: January 03, 2016, 08:10:35 am »
What is the normal operating fuel pressure for this burner? I was told 2-5 psi, but in order for mine to achieve the flame length of 1/4-1/3 down the chamber that is called for in the manual; I'm closer to 8-10 psi. Do you know what the temp range is that is normal for the heated air coming out of the blower? Thanks

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2016, 10:41:57 am »
Oil pressure is going to vary depending on a few factors. Weight/temp of oil, inches of vacuum you are pulling at your Lenz filter, how clean the preheat block is, nozzle size. You should always adjust your flame by sight and then look at the gauge to see where it is. Also you should have zero smoke coming out the stack.

Air temp is determined by both the room air temp and size of flame but you should be able to maintain 150*. That firebox design is not very good for hot air temps.

BryanDowdy

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Re: Tank outside, cold affecting psi?
« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2016, 10:51:04 am »
Ok great, thank you.

Yeah, my box temp currently at 6 psi is only 100-105*. I'll get the tank moved inside and get the pressure re-adjusted.