sucker tank question

[clindberg]

Hi,

I am going to build a sucker tank. I have the option of either an 80 gallon compressor tank or a 60 gallon propane tank. I haven't seen either of them so I don't know what the outlet/inlet options are.
I am assuming the compressor tank has more than one entrance into the tank.

The propane tank probably just has a threaded fitting on the top. Can I still use this without modifying the tank too much?
The 60 gallon tank sounds a lot more manageable in terms of size versus the 80 gallon tanks.

Thanks for the help and advice.

Colin

[Clay]

you will need a fittin gon top, 1/2" or so to connect a scrader valve for compressed air hookup when blowing oil out of the tank as well as a fitting on the same point to connect a vaccume pump to. use a "t" with the scrader valve on one side with a ball valve and on the other side of the "t" is another valve and a connection for your vaccume pump. On top of the "t" is a vaccume/pressure guage.
You will need to have a welder cut and weld in a 2" fitting into the bottom of the tank where you can attach a 2" suction hose, on the end of the hose, i would use a length of 2" PVC like a wand with a ball valve between the hose and pipe so you can walk to the dumpster with the wand, stick wand in the oil and open the valve to begin suckin oil. When you get home, pump 10 lbs or so of complressed air into the tank and use the same wand to empty the tankinto your filtering barrel.

[clindberg]

Clay,

Thanks for the advice.
It sounds like I really need to break down and buy a welder and learn how to use it. It would have been so helpful for me in the past and I am sure I would find many uses for it in the future.

[Marv]

Lindberg, you sound like myself....I'd love to have one too, but I'll be honest and say, I'd have no clue how to use it...lol.

That's on my "list" for one day...buy a good one and figure out how to use it!

[Clay]

of course this fitting you weld needs to be leak free and be able to hold some pressure so this would not be a good learning project really. A good welder will do it for you for probably 25 bucks (half hours wage) and i would reccomend that.

[Marv]

of course this fitting you weld needs to be leak free and be able to hold some pressure so this would not be a good learning project really. A good welder will do it for you for probably 25 bucks (half hours wage) and i would reccomend that.

That's probably really good advice. I'd hate to see the mess that several gallons of pressurized VO would make!!

Not to mention the possibility of flying metal going everywhere if the thing came apart.

[skyskijason]

Please, please use EXTREME caution making sparks or heating a propane tank y'all. If you must weld,cut,etc. any gas tank, rinse then FILL, to the top, FULL of soapy water, (or purge with inert gas and monitor atmosphere in tank).

You could also either flip the tank upside down or drill out the stop in a compression fitting and stick a peice of tubing thru it to bottom of tank for discharge operation.

Here's how I have my WH still set up for pressure/vacuum. The top fitting is a R134a adapter fitting (screws into flare fitting) and the side of that tee has a pressure gauge and air line quick-connect. (I have an A/C vacuum pump)

I used a 40 gal WH for vacuum sucker set up like this for 1.5 yrs and would still be using it, but now collect 2-300 gals at a time... Oh, I push dewatered VO out of my still at 50psi through filters!

[skyskijason]

My 40 gal sucker had 10ft of 1" ID braided vinyl hose and would pull 35 gals of oil in a couple minutes with 25hg vacuum.

It would also collect cold SLUDGE, albeit slowly. I would work the hose down a drum so thick you could nearly stand on it, then go inside and eat lunch while it sucked. Come out and have a load of oil! I would blast it with a weed torch to heat up for transfer/initial filter, but could easily blow the sludge out as is.

(these smilies are fun!)

[FastCote]

I went the air compressor route. I chose a 60 gallon simply because I could get it to sit under my taneau cover. The tank had like 6 different ports on it to chose from, including two 2" ports which REALLY make good suction line ports. I think a two inch hose will suck up oil 5 times faster then a one inch.

You shouldn't have to do ANY welding if you go the air compressor tank route.

Check out my thread for details. There is even a video at the end showing 50 gallons getting sucked up in about a HALF a minute!

http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/bio-diesel-alternative-fuels-supplements/58472-super-sucker-work-progress.html

[FastCote]

Here is a link to the video for those too lazy to go to the other forum:

[clindberg]

Fastcote,

Seeing your video a few months back was what made me start thinking I needed a sucker tank. I have been running most of the winter this year on diesel because I didn't store enough oil this summer. It takes forever pump out barrels with my fil-rite or honda gas pump in the wintertime.

So now I will have a 4th collection method, hopefully a year round one.

I will tell you guys that using 2 guys and two 5 gallon buckets to collect works very quickly. It might be almost as fast as a sucker tank. It is also disgusting and incredibly messy, but fast. I would estimate my flow rate with this method to be 22.5 gallons per minute. :chuckles:

[Jack_Toepfer]

Damn thats fast. Looks pretty.

[billman]

I went with a 420# used propane tank. The trick is to find out where the local propane dealers send their tanks for refurbishing and go to the source. I was able to get a washed (inside) and sandblasted (outside) tank that easily holds 70+ gal for under 15 bucks. I cut a 2" hole in and welded in a fitting to support a 2" hose (20 bucks)and ball valve connected to a pvc elbow and pipe for the wand. I also welded in a 1/4" threaded pipe with a ball valve, press/hg gauge (10 bucks) and quick connect.

I put a vacuum on the tank using a vacuum pump I got from harbor freight. About 30 min of vacuum gives me 25 hg..... enough to pull 70 gal in a few minutes if needed. When I get home I open the ball valve and use my compressor to pump in about 25 psi and blow the oil into a heat/settle tank.

This set up has allowed me to collect oil in single digit temps in the winter when the stuff better resembles cake batter. When it's over 40 degrees It takes me longer to back up to the barrels than it does to collect. I have pics but have had trouble downloading.

[fiveohpatrol]

billman, you can email me the pics at drew.lyons at comcast dot net (replace the at with @ and dot with .) if you'd like me to host them.

Do you pull the tank on a trailer, or do you put in the back of your X? I'm getting ready to make one soon and am not sure which route I'll take.

[billman]

I attached a few pics. the silver tank was how it looked when I bought it from the propane reconditioner for about 15 bucks. The other pics are from when I was collecting in 11 degree temps this winter. I can post more pics and details if you need specifics. I will need to take the picks and upload them but I will be happy to help.