I want to brew using propane in my basement and I need to know what is the best way to vent out carbon monoxide? I know that restaurants run huge numbers of natural gas appliances and no dies. So venting carbon monoxide must be possible, I just haven't found any reasonably priced systems to do it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Ventilation
- Thread starter GRHunter
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Senior_Beer
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If your comfortable losing whatever little heat is down there you could pull air in through a window using box fan blowing in and a second box fan blowing out of another window on the opposite wall. Total bill would be under $30-40. I am by no means an expert though as i live in the deep south about a sea level which keeps me from having a basement. But I am cheap and would try this before spending a lot of money venting system
The box fan idea would work but a window may be a little high meaning that CO is heavier than air and sinks... The bottom 3' of your basement could be deadly CO. Vent in through a window and out through a door.
Uh, CO is about 28 DA, whereas N2, O2, and CO2 are about 28 Da, 32 Da, and 46 Da respectively. Under standard conditions the density of CO is about 1.25 g*L-1, whereas N2, O2 and CO2 are 1.25 g*L-1, 1.43 g*L-1, and 1.98 g*L-1. So no, carbon monoxide is not more dense than air. Add to that the fact that carbon monoxide produced will be at a higher temperature than the surrounding air and that it will be caught in convection currents moving upward and it is inaccurate to say that the carbon monoxide will sink.
That being said, there is a reason that restaurants use updraft hoods. I would not recommend the two box fan idea, as you could still accumulate significant concentrations of dangerous gasses, CO being only one of them, if your airflow is not properly designed. If you are intent on using gas indoors you should consult an engineer. Remember that your one, two, or three banjo burners are cranking out a lot of gas. Whether it burns up or not it's at the least displacing oxygen and is not something that's worth experimenting with.
Senior_Beer
Member
Trigger you sound like you know more than me about this but I have to think that two fans exchanging fresh air would out pace burners, especially if placed on opposite walls or corners. Fans would pull fresh air in while across the room another would push air and gasses out. The updraft currents would help dilute the gasses and fans would pull and push them away from the operator. Some paint booths use the method to clear out paint spray. But once again I am not the subject matter expert and this is only my $.02. I would ask the professionals before trying it out.
RegionalChaos
Well-Known Member
Propane is heavier then air. Most folks will tell you to avoid using propane in a basement.
Rondacker
Well-Known Member
+1
I have 20+ years in industrial HVAC systems automation..Large burners need to have combustion air calculated and then supplied at or very near the burner. This would be in addition to ventilation of moisture produced.
As was said, not worth the risk. Get an engineer.
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