Buffer Tank Sizing Calculator (Testing / Experimental)
The large volume of water present in high mass style firetube boilers typically eliminates the need for a buffer tank. In certain unique applications, such as extremely small loops with very brief heat demand periods, a buffer tank may be used to increase system volume.
Input Parameter:
- City: Select the nearest major city to the job location.
- Warm Weather Shutdown: The temperature at which the heating plant is disabled for the summer.
- Boiler Model: Select the boiler model for which you need to calculate the potential buffer tank size.
- Number of Boilers: Provide the number of boilers in the system.
- On/Off Hysteresis Range: The difference in temperature from when the boilers are enabled (on hysteresis) and when the boilers are disabled (off hysteresis) relative to the setpoint. E.g. a 20°F On/Off Hysteresis would indicate that the boiler plant gets enabled 10°F below setpoint and disabled 10°F above setpoint.
- Total System Volume: Specify the number of gallon of water within the hydronic system (do not include boiler volume).
Assumption:
- Temperatures and load profile based on ASHRAE climate data.
- The maximum allowable boiler cycles is 12,000 per year.