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Thread: heat exchanger question

  1. #1
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    heat exchanger question

    I'm looking at an alternative means of heating an aquaculture tank, approx 4000L, and was just toying with the idea of a heat exchanger similar to what is used in Glind underbonnet shower type setups, can someone please explain how they work?
    The Ugly Duckling-
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  2. #2
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    Very hot water from your radiator passes through copper coils intertwined with a separate circuit for the water to be heated, and transfers the heat to the washing/showering water. The two never mix.

    If you pull apart one of the heat exchangers, they are basically two sets of copper coils squished into a cylinder to make it all compact.

  3. #3
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    Here's a proper description, with a picture of a girl in a bikini too....

    http://www.glind.com.au/htm/default.asp

  4. #4
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    Gday Crump

    I have worked in public aquariums and aquaculture industry for the last 10 years or so what are you planning to keep??? The cheapest way of heating large volumes of water I have found is spa heaters, they are a couple of hundred dollars and will stand salt water for a couple of years before they let go (just watch the electricity meter whizz around when they switch on). Other than that you could try pumping water through some black poly pipe draped over the roof of your house. Insulation is a good idea too, sit the tank on thick foam if possible, cover the sides too.

    Luke

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by 110county
    Gday Crump

    I have worked in public aquariums and aquaculture industry for the last 10 years or so what are you planning to keep??? The cheapest way of heating large volumes of water I have found is spa heaters, they are a couple of hundred dollars and will stand salt water for a couple of years before they let go (just watch the electricity meter whizz around when they switch on). Other than that you could try pumping water through some black poly pipe draped over the roof of your house. Insulation is a good idea too, sit the tank on thick foam if possible, cover the sides too.

    Luke
    why didnt you say so when we met, am looking at a Pig nosed turtle, need to keep it at 22C, looking at a way of heating externally as the thing will bite thru any element in the tank, at $2500 I dont want to fry her, but pool heaters are too damn expensive, so can spa heaters be used in that sort of application??
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  6. #6
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    For my series 3's water heater I wrapped a length of 1/2inch copper pipe around the exhaust pipe, nice and tight then wrapped that in a muffler bandage.

    I plumbed the low side of the tank to the low side of the coil then plumbed the high side of the coil about 4 inches higher than that on the tank. The tank outlet was 2 inches higher again. Wallah, instant convection hot water heater. To me the best part of this setp, apart from nearly no cost to install, is there is no intrusion into the water jacket and it helped keep the passangers side floor a little cooler.

    Dave

    "In a Landrover the other car is your cumple zone."

  7. #7
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    Talking

    You didnt ask!!

    But yes spa heaters are fine should be able to get from any real plumbing supplies place and should come in a few different wattages, they are usually a pvc housing that is 40 or 50mm class 12 they usually have a pressure switch also to stop them cooking themselves if the pump dies. WHen you ring the publing supplies shops always ask for trade price most will give it to you and will save you a bit of cash. They can be mounted outside the tank and just pump water through it that way the pig nose cant bite through it. Is good to have some water flow in the tank too. The heaters used to fail on us after about 2-3 years running seawater through them 24/7 as they have a brass fitting in the top, would last much longer for you in fresh water.

    Good luck

    Luke

  8. #8
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    Does yours look something like this?




    I wont make any crude suggestions about owners looking like their pets then??

    Luke

    PS sorry mate couldnt help myself

  9. #9
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    yep, thats her,15kg, 60cm long, about the size of a Hawksbill, loves Figs and a scratch.
    Looks nothing like me, she has more hair.
    The Ugly Duckling-
    03 Defender Xtreme, now reduced by 30%.


    a master of invisibleness.

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