ben686
Mechanical
- Apr 27, 2005
- 4
I need to determine the oil used for two furnaces (and one water heater) connected to a 2000 gallon tank, shared with 4 other furnaces. Although commercial off-the-shelf oil flow meters (eg, mechanical/electro-mechanical) could be used, I was looking for a cheaper solution (especially considering the cost of installation for two in-line fuel flow meters with an accuracy of 1%). The measurement term would be one heating system of roughly 5-6 months, with a continuous 3rd measurement of a hot water heater.
I've been using an hour meter / runtime counter so far to count the number of minutes and hours, etc for a particular furnace and multiplying the count by the nozzle etched 'gallon per hour' rating.
My concern is how accurate the system would be, and what the cause/solution would be to those inaccuracies. I would belive that an accuracy of within 10% should be attainable due to defecencies within the design. Would any in-accuracies be able to be 'averaged' or designed out of the system.
Not sure what extent of info is necessary, but I will try to come up a someone accurate model off the top of my head (might have some oversights, though!):
The entire system consists of a 2000g oil tank on the eastern side of the building, enclosed within a vinyl sided wooden framed building. Copper piping from the tank gradually decends ~5' to a two-stage oil circulating pump and oil filter assembly within 20' of the tank. Pressure is (roughly) 4psi within this loop, with unused oil returning to the tank (and I would assume air or a reduced flow depending on oil demand from the system). Piping extends vertically (~4') and laterally before decending to each of the furnaces. OSV's (oil safety valves) are installed in the vertical section of pipe within 3' of nozzle. The size of the lateral system setup is fairly small, entire system (including furnaces) is roughly 300SF. Design uses 5 oil hot air furnaces and 1 oil hot water heater.
Two of the furnaces are faily old (guessing 1960-1970's) with the following nozzle sizes:
1.75, .85, .65, 1.75, 1.75. From what I recall, the larger nozzles may be of a slightly different type, with a 80deg spray...not sure of all of the specifics.
-Thanks
I've been using an hour meter / runtime counter so far to count the number of minutes and hours, etc for a particular furnace and multiplying the count by the nozzle etched 'gallon per hour' rating.
My concern is how accurate the system would be, and what the cause/solution would be to those inaccuracies. I would belive that an accuracy of within 10% should be attainable due to defecencies within the design. Would any in-accuracies be able to be 'averaged' or designed out of the system.
Not sure what extent of info is necessary, but I will try to come up a someone accurate model off the top of my head (might have some oversights, though!):
The entire system consists of a 2000g oil tank on the eastern side of the building, enclosed within a vinyl sided wooden framed building. Copper piping from the tank gradually decends ~5' to a two-stage oil circulating pump and oil filter assembly within 20' of the tank. Pressure is (roughly) 4psi within this loop, with unused oil returning to the tank (and I would assume air or a reduced flow depending on oil demand from the system). Piping extends vertically (~4') and laterally before decending to each of the furnaces. OSV's (oil safety valves) are installed in the vertical section of pipe within 3' of nozzle. The size of the lateral system setup is fairly small, entire system (including furnaces) is roughly 300SF. Design uses 5 oil hot air furnaces and 1 oil hot water heater.
Two of the furnaces are faily old (guessing 1960-1970's) with the following nozzle sizes:
1.75, .85, .65, 1.75, 1.75. From what I recall, the larger nozzles may be of a slightly different type, with a 80deg spray...not sure of all of the specifics.
-Thanks
