Skotl's diesel heater garage install thread

[tom2207]

mine have all run off diesel ,, red of course ,, lorry had 100 gallons and my boat had about a thousand gallons , so diesel was never in short supply.

 

[not done it yet]

I’m considering running the exhaust through an EGR cooler. My particular requirement would be to heat a drum of water so that it could steadily lose heat to my (small) workshop overnight, just to reduce my leccy use for dehumidification. I’m not sure of the economics, but I think I may well have a go - just to find out.

The CO monitor/warning device will be ordered shortly.

I used a core drill to gently bore through my garage wall, at an angle, to accept a 28mm copper pipe. As the exhaust will be close-ish to foam insulation, more rock wool will be stuffed around the pipe and the heat removal may well be enough to provide a condensing atmosphere (so acidic water will need to be collected from the exhaust).

 

[tom2207]

I’m considering running the exhaust through an EGR cooler. My particular requirement would be to heat a drum of water so that it could steadily lose heat to my (small) workshop overnight, just to reduce my leccy use for dehumidification. I’m not sure of the economics, but I think I may well have a go - just to find out.

The CO monitor/warning device will be ordered shortly.

I used a core drill to gently bore through my garage wall, at an angle, to accept a 28mm copper pipe. As the exhaust will be close-ish to foam insulation, more rock wool will be stuffed around the pipe and the heat removal may well be enough to provide a condensing atmosphere (so acidic water will need to be collected from the exhaust).

as I often say , dont overthink it , get it up and running in a simple safe manner , then play with it if you dont like the results your getting , I think once its up and going you will be happy enough , they are a mighty bit of kit , make sure you have the draughts sorted out though.

 

[gaz1]

it would take a while to heat a drum of water from cold

if it was on all day then yes it would do so

 

[123hotchef]

I’m considering running the exhaust through an EGR cooler. My particular requirement would be to heat a drum of water so that it could steadily lose heat to my (small) workshop overnight, just to reduce my leccy use for dehumidification. I’m not sure of the economics, but I think I may well have a go - just to find out.

The CO monitor/warning device will be ordered shortly.

I used a core drill to gently bore through my garage wall, at an angle, to accept a 28mm copper pipe. As the exhaust will be close-ish to foam insulation, more rock wool will be stuffed around the pipe and the heat removal may well be enough to provide a condensing atmosphere (so acidic water will need to be collected from the exhaust).

holla if you need a egr cooler mate I have a couple here off my mitsi's

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Having recently bought one of these I just want to know what to run it on? I was just going to buy 20Ltr of Kerosine to get started

I buy ch oil from a neighbour, 5 > 10 litres at a time for all I use.

 

[not done it yet]

as I often say , dont overthink it , get it up and running in a simple safe manner , then play with it if you dont like the results your getting , I think once its up and going you will be happy enough , they are a mighty bit of kit , make sure you have the draughts sorted out though.

I’m not. I’m only considering doing it just to find out if it would work. It will be up and running before I make any changes. But it might provide a fair indication of the efficiency of these things (I’m not expecting more than 4kW from this ”5kW” chinese offering. There are no draughts in my workshop - unless I open the door.

it would take a while to heat a drum of water from cold

if it was on all day then yes it would do so

Fact or a guess? I know it won’t be exactly ‘instantaneous’. My workshop may not need the heater on ‘full whack’ for long, as it is neither large nor poorly insulated/draught-proofed). My guess is it may provide around half a kW when on maximum heat.

25l of water raised by 60 Celsius would require around 2kWh (assuming some heat losses from the drum), but you would know that. Unless I use a metal drum, a 60 degree rise may be more than enough!

holla if you need a egr cooler mate I have a couple here off my mitsi's

Thanks for the offer. They are only a tenner, or so, from epay, delivered. I’ll PM you.

I buy ch oil from a neighbour, 5 > 10 litres at a time for all I use.

I’m guessing that is central heating oil, not ‘chip oil’

I would be adding a small amount of (chip) oil if it is 28s kerosene (to ensure good lubrication of the pump). No bother if 35s gas oil (diesel).

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I’m guessing that is central heating oil, not ‘chip oil’

I would be adding a small amount of (chip) oil if it is 28s kerosene (to ensure good lubrication of the pump). No bother if 35s gas oil (diesel).

Aye, heating variety - I've no idea what type it is.

 

[gaz1]

Fact or a guess? I know it won’t be exactly ‘instantaneous’. My workshop may not need the heater on ‘full whack’ for long, as it is neither large nor poorly insulated/draught-proofed). My guess is it may provide around half a kW when on maximum heat.

25l of water raised by 60 Celsius would require around 2kWh (assuming some heat losses from the drum), but you would know that. Unless I use a metal drum, a 60 degree rise may be more than enough!

your ignoring the mass calculation

for every 2 k you lose 1k to heating the mass its more like 1.5 k loss this changes as the mass heats up

its experience with emersion tanks

theres less mass in a radiator filled with water that goes through piping to an egr or homemade heat exchanger

 

[not done it yet]

I don’t think you quite understand the situation. Some have ‘measured 7-800W with their crappy experiments. It’s a night-store heater simulation, not a radiator per se. Certainly will lose some delta T as the water heats up, but I am not going to worry about that - and can alter the collection method if necessary. Heat loss from the large mass will be overnight at a very steady rate.

I shall try it and see how much heat is sensibly recoverable for my particular set of circumstances. I’ll report back on findings, eventually. If only a sensible experiment, it will be far more enlightening than the rubbish youtube videos, that are about as useful as a chocolate teapot for assessing the efficiency of the heater. I will also calculate the heat balance from gas mass flows, latent heats, etc - as I have the kit and the ability to do so.

 

[northwest]

Can anyone suggest a transfer pump to me? I want to take Diesel from a big tank and put it in a little container@ about 20 litres at a time, would prefer manual as opposed to 12volt and schlepping a battery about. I am no longer enthusiastic about syphoning by mouth!

 

[fizzy]

Having recently bought one of these I just want to know what to run it on? I was just going to buy 20Ltr of Kerosine to get started

Best fuel you can use for them and the cheapest!

 

[Ubique]

Rotary barrel pumps can shift a decent amount once primed

 

[fizzy]

Can anyone suggest a transfer pump to me? I want to take Diesel from a big tank and put it in a little container@ about 20 litres at a time, would prefer manual as opposed to 12volt and schlepping a battery about. I am no longer enthusiastic about syphoning by mouth!

I use one of these

Laser Syphon Pump | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Top up your antifreeze with ease using the Laser Syphon Pump. at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

I also have a Machine Mart 12V transfer pump which is brilliant. Run it off a jump starter.
My main setup is an IBC holding 1000L using gravity feed through a filter and a petrol pump style hose and nozzle.

 

[gaz1]

one of the first ones to try it

 

[James1979]

I use one of these

Laser Syphon Pump | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Top up your antifreeze with ease using the Laser Syphon Pump. at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

I also have a Machine Mart 12V transfer pump which is brilliant. Run it off a jump starter.
My main setup is an IBC holding 1000L using gravity feed through a filter and a petrol pump style hose and nozzle.

I always wrote them off as crap but used one recently and was quite surprised.

I know you don’t want 12v but I’ve a couple that are submersible and powerful- all named after rivers. I think mine is the Amazon

One thing I do if I need to shift fuel is nick a hose and put an air blow gun in and Venturi it. Works well to empty vehicles as it gets past the siphon.

All the above are a bit long winded for 20l at a time though. Can you not fit a tap?

 

[gaz1]

as ive already suggested spin the exhaust as it will throw the heat to the outside (post 31 )

rocket stoves use this method

 

[not done it yet]

one of the first ones to try it

I watched those. He is not that clever, IMO.

 

[addjunkie]

Can anyone suggest a transfer pump to me? I want to take Diesel from a big tank and put it in a little container@ about 20 litres at a time, would prefer manual as opposed to 12volt and schlepping a battery about. I am no longer enthusiastic about syphoning by mouth!

I have an older 240 v version of this in my diesel tank. Often fill jerry cans with it.

Cemo Centri Diesel Dispensing Pump

Cemo Centri Diesel Dispensing Pump Non Self Priming Diesel Pump suitable for all commercially available tanks and drums & the Cemo range of UNI & Multi tanks. Suitable for diesel and bio diesel. Please note flow meter in picture is optional...

www.fueltankshop.co.uk

 

[skotl]

Well...

My mate borrowed my SDS drill last week and was amazed at how much of a difference it was compared to a hammer drill.

Today I borrowed a core drill off my retired-builder neighbour, and am amazed at how much of a difference it is compared to an SDS drill!

Lovely clean hole, with a perfect exit on the render side, which surprised me. Glad his drill has a clutch, though - the core stuck a few times and that would have been no fun at all in a clutchless drill...

Right - hole dug, fuel tank moved, tap ordered