Plate exchanger hook up?

[RoyR(MI)]

I have a sidearm heat exchanger hooked to a 50 gal. LP water heater. The sidearm is basically a tube in a tube. The inside tube runs from the drain line on the water heater up to the outlet side of the water heater. This tube is surrounded by a larger tube that the water from the OWB circulates through. As the water in the inside tube is heated, it rises and pulls in cooler water from the bottom of the water heater. The water from the OWB goes to the sidearm first then to the water to air heat exchanger in my furnace. The sidearm heats the water in the water heater to 175 deg. If the fire burns low or goes out, the 50 gallons of hot water in the water heater will transfer heat back to the OWB water going through the sidearm and allow the furnace heat exchanger to transfer that heat to the house. Because the water in the water heater is 175 deg., a mixing valve is a must to prevent scalding.

 

[RodneyG]

Thanks to everyone for the info. it has been very useful.



THANKS, Rodney

 

[mrk585]

?????

can i use a plate type and still just us thermosiphion ?