Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

Outdoor Furnaces - Manufacturers with NON EPA-Certified Models Only => Home Made => Topic started by: dhibbs75 on March 18, 2011, 08:39:15 PM

Title: propane tank owb
Post by: dhibbs75 on March 18, 2011, 08:39:15 PM
Just bought 2 propane tanks tonight....   One 500 gal tank   36 in diameter and 50 gal 24 in diameter tank and this one is full.... going to mount it in my pickup till its empty converting it to propane this weekend.... Some propane in the big tank also.....  Now Ive got to design my setup......I think Ill want a bigger fire box than 24 in.... It is 48 in deep.....  I might use the 500 gal for the fire box and build the water tank out of 1/4 plate...   Does any body have any designs opinions for this set up????
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: martyinmi on March 19, 2011, 06:51:15 AM
Your tank selection should suit you just fine IF you don't mind loading twice/day and sometimes three when it's very cold. I built two boilers 4 years ago using 24 inch for burn chamber (.375 ductile iron well pipe) 4 feet long with baffle 4 inches from rear and 4.5 inches off bottom. The boiler was 36 inch (.250 well pipe) and 5 feet long. The doors are 24 inches and are water cooled. We wish now that we would have made them gasifiers. I've since bought a used gasifier(in Junuary) and found out first hand how much less wood they actually burn.  There are so many variables involved when doing a project like this, such as house sq. ft., windows(single or double), ceiling height, insulation, distance from house, type of insulated pipe used, etc. . Using the diameter pipe you have and making it a gasifier should be about a perfect size for the average house. Do yourself a favor and make sure and buy the very best underground pipe you can find. I'm not a big CB fan, but I think they carry about the best insulated pipe on the market, but it isn't cheap. I think I paid about $13/ft. four years ago. I am on my way to start my next new project(a gasifier twice the size of my Empyre) right now. Wife is not real happy about that. Good luck and keep us posted.
   Marty

 
 
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: RSI on March 19, 2011, 07:35:23 PM
How big is your house and where are you located?
Unless you plan on having an ash pan I wouldn't even consider the 24" You will have to clean it a lot to keep enough space for wood.
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: bruey on March 20, 2011, 02:31:56 PM
i have a 500 tank i would like to get rid of, serial number gone so they wont fill it,  was going to scrap it, what did you pay for yours
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: dhibbs75 on March 20, 2011, 05:44:55 PM
1.Basement 1000sqft, main floor 1100sq ft, upstairs 500 sq ft..    I want to heat my attachted gararge of 900 sq ft and water...... 
2.  Far western Ky.
  I want an ash pan so I think my 24 is out of the ????

3. for both tanks $400..
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: RSI on March 20, 2011, 09:36:33 PM
The 24" would probably work but I think you would regret not making it bigger. You might need to fill it 3 or 4 times a day.
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: dhibbs75 on August 08, 2011, 06:12:50 PM
I just got a water tank this week end for this project...
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: willieG on August 08, 2011, 06:49:28 PM
Just bought 2 propane tanks tonight....   One 500 gal tank   36 in diameter and 50 gal 24 in diameter tank and this one is full.... going to mount it in my pickup till its empty converting it to propane this weekend.... Some propane in the big tank also.....  Now Ive got to design my setup......I think Ill want a bigger fire box than 24 in.... It is 48 in deep.....  I might use the 500 gal for the fire box and build the water tank out of 1/4 plate...   Does any body have any designs opinions for this set up????

i agree the 500 would make a good fire box and as for welded plate for water jacket.. square corners are grat places for build up and corrosion not to mention that pressure of the ater will likley cause somw bowing if you dont brace the walls. i would go back to the scrap yard and look for a larger pipe. for your water jacket (or have your plate rolled at a shop)
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: dhibbs75 on August 08, 2011, 07:48:04 PM
http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b474/dhibbs75/DSCF0384.jpg (http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b474/dhibbs75/DSCF0384.jpg)
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: dhibbs75 on August 08, 2011, 07:50:44 PM
http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b474/dhibbs75/DSCF0383.jpg (http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b474/dhibbs75/DSCF0383.jpg)
http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b474/dhibbs75/DSCF0382.jpg (http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b474/dhibbs75/DSCF0382.jpg)
http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b474/dhibbs75/DSCF0381.jpg (http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b474/dhibbs75/DSCF0381.jpg)
http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b474/dhibbs75/DSCF0380.jpg (http://i1047.photobucket.com/albums/b474/dhibbs75/DSCF0380.jpg)
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: dhibbs75 on August 08, 2011, 07:52:26 PM
Im having problems trying to remeber how to post pics...   CRS syndrome......
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: dhibbs75 on August 08, 2011, 08:05:15 PM
The water tank is 3/16 thick new steel.....Some new parts come in the box and it was left over.....   MY SCORE>>>.....Im having a hard time trying to decide exactly how to put the tank in and work effecient.........I ve drawn on the front to see how it would work and the side.....  I like the side setup plenty deep but not enough/ no water on the sides....36" fire box and 36" tank dont work good....Tank size is 70" tall x 50"  wide x 36" deep.....  With my fire box 36"x 36" and ash pan 12"x12" my water capacity is about 380 gals...   Pretty close to what I Want....  But my stack will have to come out the very back and will not be in the water at all....I plan on putting my stack down in the ash pan.....   Still working on the gasifer part....  Marbles still rolling around in the head..... :bash:
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: RSI on August 09, 2011, 04:41:17 PM
With that size tank you almost need to find a way to make the firebox oval. You need water on the sides or it will boil there. I doubt it is possible to ovalize the rounded end of the tank so the only way to do it would be to cut it off and do a lot more welding.

How thick is your LP tank? If you could find something the shape of a fuel oil tank it would be a much better fit for your water jacket dimensions.
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: rosewood on August 09, 2011, 07:52:40 PM
have you thought about not pushing the tank ''firebox'' all the way in ,say leave it out 4-5'' that will give you the rear of stove submerged  and alittle bit of stack exiting thru as well.why not run stack up thru water ?
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: Airgap on August 12, 2011, 07:24:53 AM
Just bought 2 propane tanks tonight....   One 500 gal tank   36 in diameter and 50 gal 24 in diameter tank and this one is full.... going to mount it in my pickup till its empty converting it to propane this weekend.... Some propane in the big tank also.....  Now Ive got to design my setup......I think Ill want a bigger fire box than 24 in.... It is 48 in deep.....  I might use the 500 gal for the fire box and build the water tank out of 1/4 plate...   Does any body have any designs opinions for this set up????

i agree the 500 would make a good fire box and as for welded plate for water jacket.. square corners are grat places for build up and corrosion not to mention that pressure of the ater will likley cause somw bowing if you dont brace the walls. i would go back to the scrap yard and look for a larger pipe. for your water jacket (or have your plate rolled at a shop)

If I ever build another one, it will not have a square water box....It's a lot more welding, cutting, fitting, etc....

I am happy with mine regardless, but that was a major design mistake for the home builder....
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: dhibbs75 on August 12, 2011, 03:50:02 PM
Im going to run antifreeze in the system being that i can get as much used as I want....  Still playing with the drawings as you seen in the pics......

I thought about pulling the fire box out some but I think I need all 36" inside the water for heat xfer......I dont really want my stack in the fire box because of loosing wood capacity......  I may have to do something different.....  Such as cut it and restart from scratch......
Title: Re: propane tank owb
Post by: beeman on September 02, 2011, 08:10:15 PM
i like your post it sounds the same way i started mine but am not done yet i hope it will at least work i based mine from the shaver unit the door will be from willieg the only change i would have made was a stove that i had seen but cant rember were when you opened the door the ash and feed was all open . wish i could rember were becouse it look to be easer to make than mine with to doors :bash: