The lack of a stable heating system forces many owners of summer cottages and country houses to organize autonomous gasification. Having such a source of fuel, it is possible to ensure the all-season operation of the boiler or boiler plant with the expectation of providing hot water. It remains only to determine the technical solution of the problem. In many respects, a ground-based gas tank turns out to be beneficial, which can be located within the site by connecting it to home communications.
What is a gas tank?
This is a tank for containing gaseous mixtures, characterized by increased protection of the structure and the presence of special coatings. A low-carbon steel alloy with anti-corrosion inclusions is used as a manufacturing material. Simpler technologies involve the usestructural carbon steel without alloying additives. Household gas tanks for a country house are equipped with devices to control fullness. Modern designs are provided with automation, which can be introduced into the infrastructure for controlling equipment that consumes gas.
When choosing such storage, it is important to correctly calculate the volume. For domestic use, models are offered with a capacity of 100 to 5000 liters. In a summer cottage with an irregular consumption of the fuel mixture, you can install a ground gas tank for 500 liters. However, the full supply of a country cottage may require 3000-5000 liters. According to experts, in a residential building with an area of up to 200 m22 an average consumption of 20 liters per 1 m22. For one heating season at this flow rate, about 4000 liters will be required.
What kind of gas is needed for a gas tank?
In principle, the design of the tank can store not only gaseous, but also air mixtures in a wide range. Depending on operational tasks, it can be filled with natural gas, liquefied mixtures, biogas, oil fumes, air, etc.
For domestic needs, propane-butane mixtures in a suitable fraction are usually used. Liquefied gas for the gas tank is supplied approximately once a year. Refueling is carried out by special vehicles or mobile stations. Through a connected hose with a pump, the mixture is injected into the container. The latest equipment eliminates even the slightest gas emissions into the atmosphere when performingrefueling.
Varieties of designs
The entire segment of gas tanks can be divided into two types according to the principle of fuel content. There are storages of variable and fixed volume. In the first case, the internal tank can change its volume depending on the filling with gas - this happens due to membrane water vessels with a rising control bell. Typical gas tanks for a country house usually have a constant volume at pressures up to 1.8 MPa.
Designs also differ in location and installation configuration. Horizontal underground models are more commonly used. In this case, a ground-type gas tank is considered, which can be both vertical and horizontal. There is also a special category of mobile gas tanks. Such designs are usually used in industry and at remote construction sites where there is no possibility of connection to the central supply lines.
Advantages of above ground gas reservoirs
Although the underground way of keeping hazardous mixtures seems safer, this is only partly true. One of the main advantages of ground installation of equipment is the minimization of corrosion processes. Particularly highly saline soils negatively affect metal surfaces and these threats are incomparable to the impact of precipitation on the surface of the earth.
More importantly, the ground gas tank is always available for maintenance and diagnostic operations. The samecorrosion centers are quickly detected and eliminated. There is also a financial benefit. The absence of the need to dig a pit to immerse the tank and, in general, the minimization of installation work saves significant amounts. Another thing is that a gas tank of this type by itself can cost a little more than an underground one.
Disadvantages of ground gas tanks
The main disadvantage of structures of this type can be called freezing in the winter. At negative temperatures, natural evaporation of butane occurs, which is dangerous for the operation of the equipment. The solution may be to additionally equip the structure with a high-mouth evaporator - often ground-based models contain such devices in the base device. Another option to minimize evaporation is to fill the container with a propane mixture that is not sensitive to temperature fluctuations.
Another disadvantage is related to the urban design of the tank. However, a ground-based gas tank for a summer residence is calculated to a lesser extent for decorating the territory. In addition, for irregular seasonal use, it is not always advisable to invest in a tank with an underground installation.
Conclusion
The presence of a gas tank as part of home engineering is a good alternative to the main supply networks. Even if we are not talking about the impossibility of connecting to a central hot water or gas supply line, it is worth considering the option of autonomous provision of resources. Properly selected ground gas tankwill cover all the needs of a private house in heat and hot water, while requiring small expenses. The unpleasant moments of maintaining such equipment are associated only with maintenance.
The design of the gas tank, for obvious reasons, requires increased attention. It is necessary to regularly check passive and active protective systems, audit the state of the external anti-corrosion coating, etc. Moreover, it is desirable that complex maintenance be carried out by specialists using professional equipment. So, a mandatory measure for checking the condition of a gas tank is the diagnostics of its design for continuity and porosity. A similar operation is performed using a spark flaw detector, which allows you to identify problem areas on the surface of the tank.
