Oil Pipe Run

[Jez]

Trying to get the heating on for my new build.

I've got an underground oil tank that's set 2m into the ground. The tank is fitted with an Atkinson tank top.

The pipe run comes out of the tank top in 10mm qual pipe and runs fairly flat for 34 meters. It then turns into a setvice pit and over the next 500mm connects to a fire value, filter and tiger loop then drops 4m into the basement to the boiler.

After days of trying we can't get the oil to flow. Atkison's say that it shoukdn't be a problem, but it obviously is. The Oftec installer that I've used says I need to buy an oil lifter. I'd rather not as its electrical and one more thing to break down.

The boiler runs if we rig up a tempory tank before it drops into the basement and using a wet vac we can feel suction down the pipe.

Suggestions please as its getting cold!!

Thanks in advance,
Jez.

 

[EPH]

Can you not get any oil at all to the Tiger Loop?

 

[SimonG]

You have air being pulled innat joints. Redo them all.
Check that you have the flow and return correct on the tiger loop. Try another tiger loop, it could be buggered.

 

[SimonG]

Whats the qual pipe laid in?

 

[EPH]

Try putting the feed pipe to the Tigerloop into a suitable container with oil in, at least you can verify everything after that is working ok.

 

[Jez]

Blimey fast responses, thanks.

qual pipe is run in 50mm ducting and will be back filled in the future.

we put the feed for the tiger loop into a 25litre oil container and it ran fine till the oil ran out.

can't get oil through to the tiger loop.

cheers, Jez.

 

[lame plumber]

did you use flared joints or olive connections with inserts, flared are by far the best option.

Another thought is that you should be using 6mm supply pipe as you have a suction head of 2m to get oil out of the tank over 34m run, which requires a 6mm pipe diameter, I know it then drops another 2m to the basement but I am assuming the fall isnt an issue. So 10mm pipe wont work as theres too much space to get the correct suction effect get your technician too look at his books, section 2.2.6 of tech book 3.

I hope your tank is secured down well in its hole with strapping, if it isnt, youll be amazed how well it floats down the line

 

[Jez]

Pipework was done by the oftec plumber. Normal compressions, no inserts.

Their solution is to buy an oil lifter, but to my mind is the power of a wet vac can't get the oil through I don't see how an oil lifter will.

None of the joints are weeping, but I guess that doesn't mean they are air tight. What the best way t ensure they are air tight?

 

[lame plumber]

reread my other edit re pipe sizing, more likely to be the problem, re checking the pipeline for leaks, it should have been pressure tested as part of the commissioning process!!!!!

 

[tamz]

At the risk of sounding obvious............Bypass screw?