Not all summer cottages are provided with centralized gas supplies. To heat a house with electricity is expensive. A good alternative is autonomous gasification. If the group of cylinders is not satisfied, then the gas tank, a special tank that is filled with a mixture of liquefied hydrocarbons, will be the way out.
We will help you choose the best gas holder for your summer residence. In the article we presented, all varieties actively exploited in suburban areas are described in detail. A detailed description of the models will give an idea of the features of the installation and use of tanks for autonomous gas supply.
Features of gas tank installation
A gas holder is not only a container for storing the fuel mixture, but also a place where the liquid phase goes into a gaseous state for further supply to the heating main under constant pressure. An important point in the design of an autonomous gas system is the competent choice of a gas tank, for which you need to calculate its technical parameters.
To determine the volume of the tank, the heated area is multiplied by the average amount of fuel consumed by boilers with an efficiency of 60 to 70%. It is approximately 17 liters for winter, when there are few days with very low temperatures.
If the winters are stably severe in the region or there are underfloor heating in the country, the pool, the water in which you need to heat up, the estimated volume is increased. In summer or in the off-season, 3.3 liters is enough to heat 1 m².
Propane-butane, which is used in a separate gas supply system, has a high calorific value, and therefore it emits up to 3 times more heat during combustion than natural gas
For the operation of a mini-gas tank or tank, the volume of which does not exceed 10 tons, no permission from Rostekhnadzor is necessary, provided that the requirements of SNIP regarding installation are met, and the power of the heating devices is not more than 100 kW. If this capacity does not suit you and you need to exceed it, then you will have to get a permit.
It is also not necessary to ask for consent from the owners of neighboring plots if communications will not take place in the immediate vicinity of the boundary. In any case, in order to avoid all kinds of misunderstandings, it is good to have a quality certificate on hand. It must be taken at a company that sold equipment and has a license to install it.
The main components of the gasification project
Not every place on the site is suitable for installing a propane-butane tank. For all conditions to be met, it must have the appropriate dimensions. The main thing is that a free access to the tank is needed, otherwise it becomes impossible to refuel and service it.
When choosing a place for a gas holder, it should be noted that the gas tanker has a hose no longer than 24 m. In accordance with the SNIP, about 2.5 m should be retreated from the perimeter of your home, and if there is a source of water intake, then the norm provides for a distance of 5 m
All communications may only be laid underground. The container itself should not be under a driveway or other road.
The optimal distance from the road to the reservoir is 5 m. At least 8 m should be retreated from household buildings on your site. To the foundation of the house is 10 m, and from the neighbor’s house, 20 m. The plate with factory data should be in sight. The rules for choosing the location for the location of the gas tank are given in the article devoted to this issue.
It is allowed that the installed tank rises above the ground by a maximum of 0.6 m. It must be earthed, and if static voltage is present on the site, measures must be taken to protect against electrochemical corrosion.
In terms of autonomous gasification consists of a tank manufactured and passed all stages of tests in the factory, pressure regulators, protection, gas pipeline. The protection consists of electrodes made of magnesium located at a distance of about 0.35 m from the tank. The purpose of the condensate collector is to collect liquid butane, which then evaporates by itself.
The gas pipeline is assembled from pressure polyethylene pipes. A gas pipeline is laid before entering the house, mounted from metal pipes and equipped with a shut-off valve, and a bellows type compensator. The internal pipeline is equipped with thermal shutoff valves.
To immerse the gas tank, a pit is prepared, at the bottom of which a pillow of sand and gravel is arranged. Next, pour a monolithic base with a height of at least 160 mm. Without this, the unit can be squeezed out of the pit by groundwater. Sometimes the tank is immediately fixed on the finished reinforced concrete slab, and then all together they are lowered into the pit.
After fixing the tank, it is coated with a special lubricant that protects the metal from corrosion. The next stage is the anode-cathode protection device. After that, lay the pipeline, fill it and the pit with soil.
Types of gas holders for giving
Gas holders for autonomous gasification of suburban areas are both stationary and mobile. Fixed-type tanks are divided into aboveground and underground. For a house where they live permanently, a stationary tank is more suitable, and in the case of a cottage intended for seasonal use, it is rational to use the mobile option.
Ground Mount Models
Ground gas holders are characterized by ease of installation, since excavation is not required. The reason for the unpopularity of this option is the fact that the fuel mixture evaporates very slowly at low temperature. Therefore, the tank must not only be insulated, but also equipped with evaporators.
A small ground gas tank is the best temporary option for a cottage even if it is planned to supply a central gas pipeline to it. You can use equipment designed to operate the pipeline in the final version, but you need to configure it for liquefied gas
This is not rational for one country house, but if a large-capacity tank is used to provide fuel for the whole country house, this option is better. This is due to the fact that the decision to dig a gas holder with a volume of up to 6 t. M² into the earth will cost much more.
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Simple quick installation
Minus - Useful Space
Arrangement of a site for installation
Suitable tank for refueling
Underground Options
Underground tanks are placed in the ground below the freezing point.
This solution has advantages:
- site design does not suffer;
- there is no need for additional equipment that supports stable evaporation of the gas mixture.
Underground tanks are used to supply gas to a village consisting of several houses. During underground installation of the gas tank, the minimum distance from the ground level to the top point of the tank is an average of 0.6 m. This parameter is greatly influenced by the climatic conditions of the area.
Since the underground reservoir should serve a sufficiently large period of tens of years, it is important to choose a company with experienced craftsmen for its installation
A high-quality gas tank for underground installation should be equipped with a high neck, which will allow it to be placed at the required depth. This will facilitate the task of periodically checking the walls of the tank and welds for strength.
The tank must have a wall thickness of 6 mm minimum and the thickness of the anticorrosive epoxy polymer shell is not less than 1 mm. The seller of the tank must present a certificate confirming that the product meets all the requirements, as well as the permission of Rostekhnadzor for its use.
The process of installing a gas tank with immersion in the ground includes a number of standard steps:
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Stage 1: Development of the pit and trenches
Stage 2: Cementing the foundation in the pit
Stage 3: Installing the gas tank on the prepared bottom
Stage 4: Connecting the Underground Gas Pipeline
Stage 5: Filling the pit with soil
Step 6: Gas Pipe Inlet Device
Stage 7: Arrangement of the internal gas network
Stage 8: Installation of the chimney system
Features of mobile gas tanks
Mobile tank with a volume of about 500 m3 placed on a caravan. Connecting such a gas tank to the gas main is not difficult, and they perform this operation very quickly.
In fact, this is the same gas cylinder, only of a larger volume and having a gas heating system. This amount of liquefied fuel can heat a small cottage during the winter.
A small mobile gas holder for summer cottages is equipped with all necessary fittings: safety valves, gas station, with a plug, with indicator tube, as well as a pressure gauge. There is also a gearbox with a capacity of 4 kg / h and a level gauge
Such mini-tanks are compact - about 2 m long and 0.6 m in diameter. Their service life is quite long - up to 25 years.
If gas is needed exclusively for cooking, then such a volume of a mobile gas tank is enough for 2 years. To use the house year-round, you will need a tank with a capacity of 2.5 tons, but when you also need to heat household buildings, the size of the storage will have to be increased.
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Compact trailer gas tank
Mobile gas tank
Using a Thermal Insulation Cover
Gas tanker transportation option
Mini tanks and their advantages
If we compare a miniature gas tank with a volume of 500 or 1000 liters with its large analogue, then the following advantages can be noted:
- It is much cheaper, so it has a shorter payback period.
- You can install it yourself.
- The container does not need to be hidden in the ground, and this significantly reduces the installation time.
- There are no strict requirements for the installation site. Clause 8.2.3. SP 62. 13330. 2022 states that you can place a mini-tank directly against the wall of the house.
- Gasification using such a gas tank is very fast - it will take only about 2 hours.
There are many pluses in the case of comparison with a conventional gas cylinder. The main thing is that the gas tank is not explosive. The valves included in its configuration do not allow pressure increase above the established norm.
The presence of measuring instruments ensures that when refueling, more liquefied mixture than expected should not enter the tank. Since the mini-tank in volume replaces a dozen standard 50-liter cylinders, it is infrequently refilled
To replenish the gas mixture is not necessary to visit a gas station. If the gas holder is not installed on the caravan, but simply on the site near the house, then it is possible to refuel it in place.
Unlike a cylinder, it can supply gas not only to a stove, but also to other more powerful equipment. Due to the fact that the tank has a level gauge, you can always find out how much mixture is left in it. This allows you to pre-schedule refueling.
Vertical gas installations
Depending on the design features, underground gas holders for arranging cottages are divided into horizontal and vertical, occupying 3 times less space than horizontal ones.
This option is well suited for suburban housing, with a small local area. Ideally, when it has a high neck, then it is buried to a depth of approximately 4 m. This will help avoid gas condensation during cold weather.
If 2 or more gas holders are connected together by a common pipe, the total amount of gas will increase. Therefore, if the demand for gas increases, it is not necessary to buy a new, larger tank
While the area of gas evaporation decreases with fuel consumption from a horizontal tank, in a vertical gas tank, when the mixture level drops, the mirror area remains constant.
Despite the lower productivity, this is a serious advantage, but due to the considerable height of the tank and the depth of freezing of the earth, it will take a lot of effort to prepare a place for it.
Models of this type are suitable for country houses, the area of which does not exceed 150 m². Good vertical gas tanks are produced in Italy, in particular those produced by Antonio Merloni. They are equipped with a heat-protective layer, which allows you to keep a stable temperature during extreme cold.
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Gas tank 5000 l Antonio Merloni
Development of a trench for the introduction of the gas pipeline
Installation using lifting equipment
Valves for gas tank control
Vertical tanks of the company from Bulgaria CITI GAS are also popular. The lineup consists of capacities of 2700, 4800 and 6400 gas-liters. The gas holders of these two companies differ not only in volume, but also in the color of the tanks and the brand names on them.
Bulgarians paint their gas tanks in blue, put the inscription CITI GAS and volume on them. Italian tanks have a green color
The cost of vertical tanks is higher than that of horizontal samples. They efficiently deliver the gas mixture in the temperature range -40 - + 40⁰. Their service life is 30 years.
Horizontal gas tanks
Horizontal gas tanks are more productive than vertical ones. There is one caveat - this indicator is unstable. As soon as the level of the gas mixture drops to 1/3 of the volume, it begins to fall, so the system cannot function stably without a special gearbox.
Horizontal tanks are effective for heating a house with an area of 200 m² or several buildings at once. To install a horizontal tank, a pit of small depth is prepared.
Its volume must be taken 20% more than the estimated fuel requirement. This is necessary so that the gas is sufficient to maintain productivity after reducing its volume to a critical value.
From a technical point of view, the gas tank has a simple design. Gases are supplied to one of the process openings, and through the second fuel under pressure it goes into the heating system. For giving use the simplest tanks, with a capacity from 0.5 to 10 t. L
The metal body of the gas holder can withstand pressure not higher than 1.8 MPa. Antonio Merloni is also the leader among manufacturers of horizontal units.
On the market there are units of the Czech company Deltagaz, Polish Chemet. The normal functioning of these tanks is possible even in unusual situations and in the most severe winters.
A detailed description of gas tanks of domestic, Czech and Italian production is given here. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with useful information.
Features of refueling gas tanks with a mixture of gases
The frequency of filling tanks with propane-butane depends on their volume and on how intensively it is used. On average, it is 1-3 times a year. The main thing is not to miss the moment when the balance will be about 30%. They fill the tank not to the top, but not more than 85%.
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The easiest and fastest is the refueling of mobile gas tanks. A trailer with them is enough to simply bring to the gas station
One or a group of tanks in mobile systems is rigidly attached either to the frame, which is mounted on a trailer for transportation, or to a trailer on which containers are constantly standing
If instead of one gas tank a group of tanks is used, they are hermetically connected to each other by one pipeline, through which both refueling and consumption are made
All types of mobile gas tanks are equipped with a control system and regulating devices that ensure safe filling and flow.
System manufacturers are clearly considering protecting mobile gas tanks from atmospheric negativity. They are protected from UV, showers, rust, equipped with heating systems.
The trailer for the transportation of gas holders must be registered in the traffic police. The driver must have category B
As a tank for storage and consumption of blue fuel, only factory-made products should be used. The owner needs to register at Rostekhnadzor
The design of mobile gas tanks provides everything that helps minimize labor costs during transportation, make it safe and facilitate transportation
Mobile containers on the trailer
Rigid tank mounting
The relationship of the group of vessels
Box with control valves
Gas tank heating system
Features of carriage on a trailer
Factory-made products
Fixtures for fixing and transporting
The gas mixture supplier must be licensed and have special transport. The easiest way is to fill in mobile modifications of mini gas tanks for servicing summer cottages, since they can be transported on a car trailer. Before filling the gas tank, the indicators of the devices must be checked.
The following article, which we recommend reading, will familiarize you with the cost of installing a gas tank on a private site.
Video # 1. About gas holder installation technology:
Video # 2. About mobile gas tanks:
The purchase and installation of any gas tank must be preceded by calculations of its volume, the payback time of the unit. The calculation results must be compared with alternative types of heating and only then make a decision.
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