Tank Sizing - L.B. White Pilot Light Ignition Installation And Service Manual

Installation
Instructions

Tank Sizing

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,
Tank Size Outside
(Gallons) Temps.
º F.
0
500 -5
-10
-15
0
1,000 -5
-10
-15
NOTE: For above table, multiply the results obtained by one of the following factors if nighttime temperatures will
F.:
not reach 0º
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.)
2.3-1 1
Percentage of Liquid Propane
(Heat Input Expressed in BTUH)
80% 70% 60%
532,800 488,400 444,000
399,600 366,300 333,000
266,400 244,200 222,000
132,200 122,100 111,000
949,000 870,100 791,000
711,900 652,575 593,250
474,600 435,050 395,500
237,300 217,525 197,750
Temperature
º
+5 F.
F.
+10º
º
+15 F.
º
+20 F.
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.
Remaining Prior to Refill
50% 40%
400,000 355,000
300,000 262,500
200,000 177,500
100,000 88,750
712,000 633,000
534,000 474,750
356,000 316,500
178,000 158,250
Multiplier
1.25
1.50
1.75
2.00
D. To determine the total number of tanks required:
Total Heat Load of Building
Heat Output of 1,000 Gallon Tank
1,500,000 BTUH/Building
276,500 BTUH/Tanks
NOTE:
Always round up fractions or decimals.
(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.
30% 20% 10%
311,000 266,000 200,000
233,250 199,500 150,000
155,500 133,000 100,000
77,750 66,500 50,000
553,000 474,000 356,000
414,750 355,500 267,000
276,500 237,000 178,000
138,250 118,500 89,000
or
= 5.4 Tanks
(6 Tanks)
See example.
August 1999