Making a fuel tank from stainless 304

are you planning on using biodiesel?

Definitely not. This is a backup generator. The benefits would be near

zero, but the costs would be comparatiuvely huge. By the way, I saw a

guy a few weeks ago who converted his diesel Chevy to biodiesel.

i

Why don't you look at buying a polyethene tank.

If you already have the tank, why not just keep it? If you are using

anywhere near the capacity of the generator, that's not overkill in my

mind. I don't know the history of this purchase, but whether its gas or

diesel, just treat the fuel with "Stabil" or whatever and forget about

it. It could even be a place to store fuel when the price is right.

Pete Stanaitis

-------------------------

Ignoramus6985 wrote:

Well, I would not store 100 gallons of gasoline regardless of price.

The tank is for diesel fuel only.

I would estimate the average consumption in winter to be 3 kW, and in

summer, if we use A/C, to be 10 kW. The peaks, of course, would be

higher than averages.

I expect the diesel fuel consumption to be between 0.5 to 1.5 gallons

per hour depending on load. Thus a 100 gallon tank, would last 100-200

hours.

I already own eight steel fuel jerry cans full of diesel fuel.

One of them is already serving as a fuel tank, since I added fuel

supply and return to the fill cap. It is not very convenient.

I now think that the most realistic approach to this issue is to buy a

brand new jerry can and tig weld on fittings to the jerry can as

opposed to the screw on fill cap. (something that I could not do

before due to not having a tig).

i

Stainless tanks are hard to make in thin materials. Distortion is a problem

in materials thinner than 3 mm. All seams must be back gassed to prevent

porosity in the seams and both sides of the welds must also be passivated.

Think expensive. If you want such a small tank, go to the bone yard and buy

a used autumotive poly tank for peanuts and they will come with a supply

pump and a sensor. Secondly, your generator sizing is way too small. Please

consider your phase loads, not overall wattage. You will never acheive

balanced coil loading. A single household should typically be supplied with

a 10 -15 KVA unit.

Steve

Don't clean your welds with a carbon steel wire brush, use a stainless one.

Carbon steel will contaminate the tank and cause it to rust.

That tank should out live you many times. One point of caution though, don't

mount it directly on the engine as the vibration can cause work hardening

and cracking after a while.If it is only used on a stand by basis, and

really need to mount it on the engine skid, use some vibration mounts to

isolate it. Email me in 50 years and let me know if I'm wrong. ( don't

expect a quick rely then as I'll be 111 years old, ald probably a little

slow)

100 gallons sounds like a lot, BUT if that rig runs anything like the 25K back-up unit my neighbor has that 100 gallons only handles about 2

days of running.

Ignoramus6985 wrote in news:98c4n5-

snipped-for-privacy@besm6.chudov.com:

Until you've actually measured the fuel consumption rate, don't be in a

hurry to downsize the tank.

I've got a gasoline-fuelled 7KW Onan - a unit far smaller than yours - that

uses about the same as your projection.

Also, you'll need to figure on 24-hour operation: that 1.5 gallon rate of

yours translates to 36 gallons and the 100 gallon tank to not quite 3 days

of use.

All in all, you may want a larger tank.

"Steve W." wrote in news:g7peth$a55$ snipped-for-privacy@aioe.org:

People DO tend to forget to multiply per-hour numbers by 24 for

emergency/backup power generators, don't they?

What ever you use for a fuel tank, be sure to use a water trap and a

very fine particle filter on the output. Diesel doesn't look like it

will absorb moisture, but it does. Also will gel up in the winter

unless some type of additive (kerosene?) is added. A backup generator

won't do you any good in the winter if the filters get plugged!

Paul

I am also afraid of legalities of owning a 100 gallon tank.... but

yes... If shit hits the fan, the 100 gallon tank would definitely be

helpful.

i

Could you just go to a scrapyard and get a tank from a small truck? I

think making a neat tank is probably harder than it sounds.

Nice generator. Is the tank in the pictures? I couldn't see it.

Best wishes,

Chris

The tank is pictured here:

It is still at the seller's place,m but I took a lot of pictures.

i

Wow. Looks the size of a washing machine!

Your generator isn't one of those which has a big flywheel to store

energy and make the output uninterruptable, is it? Now that would be cool.

Is it three phase?

Best wishes,

Chris

We have ranch trucks here with larger tanks than that in the back!

They are often duals in the rear and super duty and drag 20 horse/steer

trailers or a tractor and all implements. Stuff the 'hood' folk don't

normally have in the backyard. :-)

Martin

Martin H. Eastburn

@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net

TSRA, Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.

NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder

IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member.

Ignoramus6985 wrote:

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Quite a bit bigger actually. It is 30 by 30 inches, or in metric

units, 75x75cm and about 4ft/1.2 meters tall.

No, as I said it is the same kind of motor as I fixed two years ago,

it has a flywheel but it is small. The generator rotor is also a

flywheel, but probably not too heavy, maybe 100 lbs.

It is reconnectable to a LOT of voltages and phases, three and

single. 20 kW 20 kVa on single phase, 20 kW 25 kVa on three phase.

i

Iggy,

Do you really need a backup generator? You live in town. Do you have

issues with power there?

Living in the country I have long gotten used to brown/black outs, but

I didn't think that was much of an issue in the metro areas. Most of

our issues are due to the lines touching in high winds (or idiots

running into power poles). Neither of which should be a concern in

town.

And if you are running a generator in town, do you have means of

disconnecting yourself from the mains? I would hate to be a lineman

in your area if you don't.

JW