Adding buffer tank to system

jrv8984 · Post by **jrv8984** » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 7:35 am

So I was thinking that if I added let's say a hundred gallon tank to my system, then the boiler wouldn't have to fire as often. Would this save me some coal? I was going through 5-6 buckets a day in my S260 with that Cold snap we just had.

I am running constant circulation, but was hoping that by adding water volume to the system, that it would consume less coal.
Thoughts?

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 7:42 am

I don't think a buffer tank will save coal. How many pounds of coal is 5-6 buckets? What is it heating? What were the days high and low temperatures on the day(s) it burned 5-6 buckets?

Post by **coaledsweat** » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 7:46 am

No, it wont save coal.

jrv8984 · Post by **jrv8984** » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 10:32 am

30-40 lbs per bucket. Heating house and part of the garage.

McGiever · Post by **McGiever** » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 10:36 am

Only 'saved' coal would be any coal that is not yet burnt...so, NO to buffer tank.
Unless some other value could be discovered, buffer may even be a waste of coal...

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 10:54 am

When you say "constant circulation" do you mean that you have a primary/secondary loop system, or do you mean that the boiler water passes continuously through your various user/radiators?

~190 lbs. per day may or may not be acceptable. It depends upon your heat load and the outside temperatures.

jrv8984 · Post by **jrv8984** » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 10:59 am

Continuously through radiators with trv's.

lsayre · Post by **lsayre** » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 12:06 pm

jrv8984 wrote: ↑
Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 10:59 am
Continuously through radiators with trv's.

That's a good way to do it. To burn 190 lbs. per day, either your house has poor insulation, or it is huge, or both, or your garage is poorly insulated, or huge, or all of this. What amount of fuel were you going through before you switched to coal? Heated garages can seriously chew through fuel.

jrv8984 · Post by **jrv8984** » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 1:33 pm

The house insulation is non existant, in the walls, (16" stone walls which are currently being repointed very slowly) maybe r15-20 in the attic. But I know the house is a problem. (Their are very specific methods of insulating a 230 yr old stone house and slapping up fiberglass insulation on the inside isn't one of them. But their are plans to address it.
The heated section of the garage has r15 walls and by the end of this week r17 ceilings.

Post by **StokerDon** » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 8:04 pm

You have a coal stoker boiler, it is an on demand system. It is a whole lot easier to keep the energy in the coal itself until you need it than to keep it in a water tank where it will escape into the air.

-Don

Post by **Rob R.** » Wed. Jan. 23, 2019 8:54 pm

Don nailed it. You have an efficient boiler that only runs when needed, and it does not need to run for hours at a time to achieve a clean burn.

jrv8984 · Post by **jrv8984** » Thu. Jan. 24, 2019 5:12 am

Thanks guys