Re: Glycerin in the fresh water tank over winter
- From: "Ron Jones" <ron@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2005 19:57:18 -0000
NB Harry wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> We are starting to think about winterising our narrowboat for the
> first year ever, as up until now we have been live aboards.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas on adding Glycerin (common food additive)
> to the fresh water tank? We have searched on Google and found nothing
> at all - but to us it sounds like a reasonable idea.
>
> Mixed around 1 part to 3 parts water, this should have a freezing
> point well below any sustained temperatures we may get in the south of
> England. It is also non-toxic - which would mean if we use the
> narrowboat over winter we can still take a shower! (though perhaps not
> a cup of tea...)
>
> We were just thinking of dropping the water tank level, adding the
> glycerin and running all the taps for a little while.
>
> Anyway, my questions are:
> 1) Is this a stupid idea?
> 2) It lowers the freezing point, but Im not sure about the "burst
> point" or whatever its called. I.e., will it still expand and cause
> bursting?
> 3) Could it all go horribly wrong and clog up all the pipes?
>
> Thanks for any advice. I expect we may just drain the calorifier and
> leave the taps open like people seem to suggest. However, all the
> pipes are copper, so Im worried this may not be enough,
>
> Cheers
> Matt
Interesting thought....
Here's mine...
1) Not *too * stupid. Glycerine (or Glycerol) is non toxic, sweet to the
taste, often a minor component of wine - caused from breakdown of glucose
during fermentation.
2) If it lowers the freezing point (it will) then you just have to decide
what strength you need (i.e guess the coldest temperature we will get).
IIRC 50% glycerol is equal in anti-freeze properties to 33% Glycol (nasty
and toxic!) - so use a car anti-freeze table and multiply by 1.5. Water
always expands when frozen, but with a lot of antifreeze, it doesn't freeze
suddenly, just turns to mush - stick wine in the freezer to see what I
mean - but don't pour off the liquid from the ice, because the C&E men don't
like it (also tends to give *big* hangovers...)
3) It is organic and I can see bacteria/fungi liking a taste for it, but at
high concentrations, then they may die from osmosis (like in jam), or might
grow and clog up - we need a microbiologist for that one. Maybe add some
metabisulfite (as used in wine making) to keep it sterile.
4) Shower - ROTFLMHO - No way... you would end up covered in dilute
glycerol, the water would evaporate off, and the glycerol would be left
(very high boiling), you might just a well rub honey all over you body....
Then you really would be stuck with the wife... ;-)
--
--
Ron Jones
Don't repeat history, see unreported near misses in chemical lab/plant
at http://www.crhf.org.uk
Only two things are certain: The universe and human stupidity; and I'm
not certain about the universe. ~ Albert Einstein
.
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