Insulate steel container

[Daniel_N]

I have a steel container, with a plywood bottom. Inside, there will be a compressor and a vacuum cleaner, connected to the house via an insulated duct.

I'm now considering heating and insulation in the container. I want it dry and at least 10 degrees Celsius year-round.

1) What type of heat source should be used? It must tolerate fine dust without posing a fire hazard.

2) Should there be ventilation? If so, how should it be designed?

3) Is it possible to glue foam plastic to the inside of the walls? Or will that cause condensation problems? Only minimal moisture is added internally, no people are present, and there is no water.

4) If condensation and moisture become issues, can they be addressed with a dehumidifier? The container is only about 12m3, so it shouldn't be too difficult to keep it dry?

Completely new to this, so grateful for any input!

 

[daugaard]

should the vacuum cleaner blow air into the container or outside. if it vacuums in, for example, your workshop, it will add humid air to the container.

 

[Daniel_N]

should the vacuum cleaner blow air into the container or outside. if it vacuums in, for example, your workshop, it will add moist air into the container.

The vacuum cleaner should blow the air outside, I thought of making a hole in the wall and leading it out.

 

[daugaard]

1) e.g., sand-filled tube radiators or underfloor heating
2)---
3) I used to have an uninsulated shipping container, and it got so much condensation that it dripped from the ceiling (didn't add more moisture than from the outdoor air). I guess it should be difficult to insulate so that the moisture doesn't reach the metal without risking trapping any moisture between two tight layers. It feels like a container is best suited to be insulated externally?

4) A dehumidifier would probably be good, but how does it work with dusty air?

Is it possible to prevent it from becoming dusty? e.g., bag replacement vacuum cleaner from a screened-off area, or where does the dust come from? It might be good for a potential dehumidifier, heater, and compressor.

 

[Rabbithole]

Spray insulation is what works best in a container. You get a diffusion-tight insulation that fills in the ribs.

The compressor needs intake air, so some fresh air intake is needed.
A regular electric oil radiator should suffice for heating.