Hi Eugene ...
As you maybe know, I was a combustion engineer for a good number of years, working on a wide variety of oil & gas burners.
Having said that - I never worked on a patio heater, but I'd have a couple of concerns about using one in a relatively confined space like a shed for example.
Firstly - and possibly most importantly, they are realy designed for outdoor use :lol: - obvious as that may sound, there are pretty good reasons for that..
They would appear to be commonly available in outputs from around 5Kw to about 14Kw typically ( 13650 Btu/Hr -- 47750 Btu/Hr ) ...
These are High numbers ! -- they'd need to be, to have any effect in an external environment.
Outputs like these cause two big primary concerns.
1. - The volume of air to support correct combustion is huge. - not a problem outside, of course.. but if the 'shed' has been 'improved' to eradicate draughts and to be 'well-insulated' for use as a workshop, its concievable that the supply of adequate combustion air ( free air ), to keep a burner of that capacity combusting correctly, could be impaired.
This would lead directly to concern number 2 --
A patio heater, (like your SuperSer) has no means of flueing the products of combustion to the outside.
On the super-ser, its not so much of a problem, although it is something thats always worthy of keeping to the forefront of the mind... ( this is because of it's comparitively low output ).
A burner knocking out 5Kw of heat is producing a vast amount of 'nastys' in its flue-gases, and would very quickly become very detremental to a person's health ... it'd make you ill, and it'd achieve it very quickly !
If it were up nearer the top-end output, - a model blasting out 14+ Kw for example, the problem is exacerbated, multi-fold. :shock:
If the thing was already combusting badly ( as per 'concern number #1'), the 'nastys' in the gases are even more likely to be disastrous, with the potential of Carbon Monoxide production being very high indeed.
Thats all before we go near the potential of dust & large naked flames !
:wink: :lol:
In the average 'shed' - heat of that level will dry everything out in no time at all.. including the occupant ! ... it'd literally be unbearable. :lol:
If your 'stock' was in that kind of environment.. I'd guess it would not do it a great deal of good either !.
LPG itself, is a fuel that demands a lot of respect. Liquified Petroleum Gas is denser than air, and any leakage will 'hang around' the floor like a low-level 'cloud' and is potentially very nasty .. one good reason for keeping it out of a shed ! OK, it is used extensively in caravans, boats etc.. but it does warrant a lot of respect, with regards to the storage and subsequent utilisation of it. Its nasty stuff.
It only requires a concentration in air of 2 - 8% of the total volume, and its then 'explosive'. ( Natural gas is 5 - 15 % ). Potentially Really nasty stuff it is. :wink:
Suffice to say... the Patio Heater is given its title as PATIO heater, because thats what it's designed for ...
I'd suggest its probably a very good idea to keep it where it likes to be, outside, and look at alternative methods of supplementing the Super-Ser if its struggling a little bit to heat the space concerned.
All things being 'right' and finances allowing ... where there is the amount of wood dust, shavings and associated debris that a woodworking / woodturning shed is likely to contain ... whenever possible, a heat source that doesn't contain a naked flame, or high temperature surface / source of ignition would definately be preferrable.
The oil-filled electric radiator is ideal ... I know the running costs are horrendous, and that can be a problem for people.. but from a safety point of view, its a good way to go.
Hope that helps .. bit of a long winded answer to the question....
but FWIW, I'd not advise the patio heater to be used anywhere other than a patio ! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
