DHW coil testing

 
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oeespo
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Post by oeespo » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 7:57 pm

Finally just completed installing my DHW coil in my in Hitzer 82FA hand fed hot air furnace. Getting it hot after chasing some leaks. anyone have any experience with thermosiphon? How do I tell how good or bad its working? Top pipe 'hot side' of the coil is too hot to hold your hand on. The cold side from the bottom of the tank is pretty cool. None of the lines are insulated and i'm at the limit on distance about 10' horizontal. 14lf of pipe run.


 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 8:00 pm

I have a thermo siphon set up with my Clayton hand fed furnace. Could you post some pictures?

 
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Post by oeespo » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 8:16 pm

pics attached

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back of stove.jpg
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DHW lines.jpg
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HOT Sloping up to tank.jpg
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Sloping up from bottom of tank.jpg
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Last edited by oeespo on Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 8:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 8:22 pm

oeespo wrote:
Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 7:57 pm
How do I tell how good or bad its working? Top pipe 'hot side' of the coil is too hot to hold your hand on. The cold side from the bottom of the tank is pretty cool.
Mine has about a 25 degree differential between the cold side and the hot side but that's because the tank is close and I used 3/4 inch copper for less flow friction.

Here's a diagram of my hot water system.
"Pardon the crudity I didn't have time to build it to scale or paint it.." :lol:

In coal preheat mode
Valve 1 and 3 are open, valve 2 is closed.
Valve 2 stops flow directly to the electric tank and forces it to go thru the temper tank.

During the off season
Valve 1 and 3 are closed, valve 2 is open
Valve 1 and 3 isolate the tank during the summer so no cold water gets to the coil while I'm not burning coal.
Valve 2 allows cold water to flow directly to the electric tank.

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IMG_3508.JPG
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 8:26 pm

I have two tanks in series, one is looped thru the coal furnace, the other is electric and powered on. The first tank sends preheated water to the electric tank.

Are you using a single tank?

 
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Post by Lightning » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 8:33 pm

Quite honestly, that looks like a lot of distance for a thermo siphon to work out well. I'm guessing the turn over will be pretty slow and you'll have a small volume of water at the top of your tank that will be dangerously hot at the spigot.

Can you hear any boiling in the coil?

 
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Post by oeespo » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 8:46 pm

Running single tnk. I heard or read 10' max for thermosiphon. I'm 14ft 'of pipe' with the hz runs. I just ran downstairs and measured the hot pipe measures 9'-3" the cold measures 9'-1" to the elbow that go to each appliance.

Think it will work?
and other than turning the tank breaker off, how do i tell if its working well. thanks


 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 8:58 pm

Can you secure a meat thermometer to the hot pipe with some electric tape to monitor with?

As I mentioned above, it looks kind of long to me. I don't know how well it will work.

 
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Post by oeespo » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 9:57 pm

Pipe insulation on one or both have an effect?

 
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Post by Lightning » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 9:59 pm

oeespo wrote:
Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 9:57 pm
Pipe insulation on one or both have an effect?
Yes, I would insulate both.

 
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Post by oeespo » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 10:25 pm

I raised the 80 gal tank 12" from the basement floor vertical dimension cold-cold 15-1/2" Hot to hot 23-1/2"

 
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Post by McGiever » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 10:29 pm

oeespo wrote:
Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 9:57 pm
Pipe insulation on one or both have an effect?
Maybe, but if pipe isn't flowing very well insulation is not going to improve that any. ;)

 
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Post by oeespo » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 10:41 pm

Any way to check flow?

 
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Post by McGiever » Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 10:58 pm

oeespo wrote:
Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 10:41 pm
Any way to check flow?
The degrees differential can be an indicator. The lower the differential the better the flow is. ;)
Lightning wrote:
Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 8:22 pm
Mine has about a 25 degree differential between the cold side and the hot side but that's because the tank is close and I used 3/4 inch copper for less flow friction.

 
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Post by oeespo » Sun. Dec. 31, 2017 8:04 am

Lightning wrote:
Sat. Dec. 30, 2017 8:33 pm
Quite honestly, that looks like a lot of distance for a thermo siphon to work out well. I'm guessing the turn over will be pretty slow and you'll have a small volume of water at the top of your tank that will be dangerously hot at the spigot.

Can you hear any boiling in the coil?
I have not heard any boiling in the coil yet. I have kids so your comment about small amt of dangerously hot water at spigot is most concerning to me. I didn't put a tempering valve in


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