Tank Sizing
Installation
Instructions
ATTENTION
■
The following is supplied for informational purposes
only.
■
Consult your LP gas supplier for specific requirements.
A tank is propane storage container ranging in size from 150
gallons to 10,000 gallons or larger. For agricultural heating
applications, the tank sizes typically used are either 500
gallons or 1,000 gallons with 1,000 gallons being the most
common. The size and quantity of tanks will vary and is
dependent on the total heating load at the site.
In determining tank size and quantity, several factors apply:
■
Total heat load of the building
--- To determine total load, add up the heat input
(expressed in BTUH) for all gas-fired heaters,
pressure washers, water heaters, etc., that will be
drawing vapor from the tanks.
--- The heat input rating is located on the dataplate.
■
The coldest outside air temperature at night that the
tank(s) will be exposed to.
■
Percentage of propane remaining in the tank prior to
refill. Your fuel gas supplier will inform you at what
level a refill will normally occur.
IMPORTANT
■
Minimum vaporization of propane from liquid to vapor
occurs when temperatures are coldest and liquid level
of propane in the tank is lowest.
■
Size the quantity of tanks for the lowest temperature
you can expect in your area.
Refer to the following table to identify the heat output of
tanks at various temperatures and levels of fullness.
EXAMPLE
--- Select 1,000 gallon tank.
--- Total heat load is 1,500,000 BTUH (6-AB250
Heaters).
--- Coldest nighttime temperature is -10º F.
--- Tanks to be refilled by LP gas supplier when liquid
propane level is 30%.
A. In the 1,000 gallon tank sizing chart, locate -10º F.
outside temperature.
B. Locate the column which identifies 30% of propane
remaining in the tank prior to refill.
C. The intersection of these two variables identifies the
heat input. In this example, a 1,000 gallon tank can
supply 276,500 BTUH. (See shaded area in table.)
D. To determine the total number of tanks required:
Total Heat Load of Building
Heat Output of 1,000 Gallon Tank
or
1,500,000 BTUH/Building
276,500 BTUH/Tanks
NOTE:
Always round up fractions or decimals. See example.
(Example: 5.4 tanks = 6 tanks). This will give you some extra
capacity especially in cold weather, in the event your LP gas
supplier cannot refill your tanks immediately.
= 5.4 Tanks
(6 Tanks)
August 1999
2.3-1
1
Tank Size
Outside
Percentage of Liquid Propane
(Gallons)
Temps.
Remaining Prior to Refill
(Heat Input Expressed in BTUH)
º
F.
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0
532,800
488,400
444,000
400,000
355,000
311,000
266,000 200,000
500
-5
399,600
366,300
333,000
300,000
262,500
233,250
199,500 150,000
-10
266,400
244,200
222,000
200,000
177,500
155,500
133,000 100,000
-15
132,200
122,100
111,000
100,000
88,750
77,750
66,500
50,000
0
949,000
870,100
791,000
712,000
633,000
553,000
474,000 356,000
1,000
-5
711,900
652,575
593,250
534,000
474,750
414,750
355,500 267,000
-10
474,600
435,050
395,500
356,000
316,500
276,500
237,000 178,000
-15
237,300
217,525
197,750
178,000
158,250
138,250
118,500
89,000
NOTE: For above table, multiply the results obtained by one of the following factors if nighttime temperatures will
not reach 0
º
F.:
Temperature
Multiplier
+5
º
F.
1.25
+10
º
F.
1.50
+15
º
F.
1.75
+20
º
F.
2.00
