[Bioconversion] Lister Installation - was Fireball Express

[Ken Boak]

Jeff & list,

For my hot water pipes I was going to use 3/4"  (22mm)  PEX tube, with a 1"
thick slide-on insulation.  The insulated pipe was then going to be enclosed
in a 3" diameter plastic drainpipe - to give it some mechanical strength and
resistance to being disturbed later by fork or spade.

The next question is the depth to place the pipes, we have no problem of
ground freezing here - so I thought that 12" depth might be sufficient.

Regarding the outer insulation layer, I think that straw would probably rot
in time, and cause the trench to settle.

My favourite option would be vermicellite,  but  rockwool or polystyrene
packing chips (peanuts)  would also be suitable.  It might be possible to
make a rigid square section duct from slabs of 2" thick polystyrene.

At the same time I would include a 4" drainpipe to allow power and control
cables to be pulled through,  as well as a cold water supply for the
workshop.

I also have a woodfired boiler, which whilst not suitable for installing in
the house, would be ideal for the workshop.  The same hot water pipes would
be used to transfer heat backto the house - in the same manner as Jeff's
"heat-hut".




Ken