Odd Summer Indirect Op Idea

Mark Eatherton1

Why not think outside the normal American Box (tank).

The American way... Large tank, small heat exchanger, HIGH teperature required across coil.

The UN American way... Medium sized tank filled with numerous parallel conductive copper coils. THe boiler water is run thru the tank, and the potable water is run through the coils. Boiler only has to operate about 5 degrees F hotter than the wanted DHW temperature. Virtualy endless supply of hot water provided that you do not exceed the generators capacity to make hot water.

Here's an American version of the European idea. It's a beta test unit in my own home that Aamtrol made for me. I call it the Posidon. Upsidedown was probably too obvious eh...

ME

Mark Adams

Why not..

If I stick to a hydronic system for my new build, I'll have indirect DHW. Neat. Now here's a cool idea to gain efficiency. In the summer when no space heating is needed, all of 3 weeks in Buffalo :-), why not force a condensing boiler to make output at say 140F, just above what the indirect really needs. This way the boiler is in condensing mode, hence higher efficiency. My family tends to not take long hot showers in the summer so I think I could live with slow recovery. The controller could have a setting which starts this mode when the OA temp is >70F. It would obviously need an override when company comes to stay.

Whatcha think?

Best regards,

Mark

Tony_8

Why ?

In my experience, the boiler will run in full fire for such a short period of time that it hardly ever gets to limit before the end of the call for heat. At least with the Ultra. Also, the DeltaT across the indirect is wider than you think. Return temps will usually be low enough to still condense. I've seen 40+ degrees deltaT.

You CAN over-complicate things past the point of noticeable return

hr

Or add a solar

panel and solar, or indirect tank, before the main water heater, as a preheat.

Even in WNY you will get enough solar energy to make this payback look good.

Along ME line of thought the Ergomax tank works very well with low boiler temperatures. I've got one running with 150 boiler to get 140 DHW. Thermomax and Dunkirk, I believe also have reverse indirects.

Our host, Dan H can attest to the power of reverse indirect. He has put it to the true test with his gaggle of gals

hot rod

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Weezbo

Thats a Hecka Gas Meter for that Munchkin *~/:)

Ok...Which weighs more The Gert Meter o the pinner munchkin ?

Mark Adams

Initially

I looked into a reverse indirect. Even an engineer at Dunkirk tried to talk me out of it. Most people feel more comfortable with the obverse indirect.

Mark