Fieldlines.com || Comments ideas, questions, need imput on SHW and heating water with wood

Front Page - [Homebrewed Electricity-- (wind) (solar) (hydro) (steam) (controls) (storage) (mechanical)] - Classifieds - Site News
Everything - Newbies - [Remote Living-- (housing) (heat) (light) (water)] - Reviews - Diaries - Our Products

ideas, questions, need imput on SHW and heating water with wood | 14 comments (14 topical)

Re: revised idea (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by GaryGary on Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 06:21:23 PM MST

Hi Lance,

One important safety thing. You show two valves that can be used to shutoff the flow to the coil in the wood furnace. You must have a pressure/temperature relief value on the furnace side of those valves. Not having the relief valve on the furnace side of these shutoff valves is exactly how some homes have been blown up.

Otherwise, the only problem I see is that it will be difficult to provide freeze protection for the collector? This kind of system in which water to be heated is pumped directly through the collector is usually limited to climates that don't get freezing weather.

Gary
Gary gary@BuildItSolar.com www.BuildItSolar.com
[ Parent ]

Re: revised idea (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by LanceA0 on Mon Nov 09, 2009 at 04:04:12 PM MST

thanks gary for the imput. i was thinking that a pressure relief should go there for safety too.

as for the collector that will be used only in the summer/warmer months. thats why there is a set of valves and a drain so when it gets cold it can be shut down for the season, and the wood burner will start heating the water.

now that i got the plumbing loop figured out, anyone have any ideas on how to control the pump so it doesnt have to run constantly?

[ Parent ]

Re: revised idea (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by ghurd on Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 05:10:37 AM MST

It will not need a pump if you set it up to thermosiphon.
A friend is running a pumpless system like you show, without the solar, and only one 40 gallon storage tank.
I could try to get a couple photos in a day or 2, if anyone has interest.
G-

[ Parent ]

Re: revised idea (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by LanceA0 on Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 07:47:22 PM MST

yes im always interested in pictures, and other people's set ups.

[ Parent ]

Re: revised idea (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by ghurd on Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 05:36:25 AM MST

Should be tonight.
Added a copper pipe loop in a coal stove so the coal water heater wouldn't need run in winter.
The coal water heater (no pump),
http://ghurd.info/images/Amish/waterheater.jpg

[ Parent ]

Re: revised idea (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by ghurd on Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 06:37:34 PM MST

Hey Lance, Sorry for the delay.

A bit of background:
They run the small coal water heater in warm weather.
The coal stove runs in cold weather. It is the only domestic heat. The silvery tin looking duct stuff around the stove increases air flow and makes the home more evenly heated. That silly thing really get the air moving!

Need that Magic Part thing. Bleeder? Proper name escapes me now. Long day.
Without it, pretty much it ain't gonna work very reliably.

Need lots of safety valves.

Need lots of valves to switch between 'furnace' and the summer 'water heater'.

Need valves with removable handles so grandchildren don't shut off something that causes a serious issue. Again.

Need a plan to take care of the T&P valve, because it WILL Pop-Off a few times before you get the logistics worked out. Hence the CU pipe on the floor going to the floor drain.

Need lots of safety valves.

Pay attention to how level everything is.

I don't show all of them, but Need lots of safety valves.

This area like to use NG water heaters as storage tanks because they have more water ports. I don't quite get it, but thats what they use.

This particular system puts a pipe on the chimney on the NG water heater and gravity feeds warm air to the bathroom. It is removed for summer and the water heater's chimney is stuffed with a few handfuls of fiberglass insulation.
(all my idea, BTW. It may be the only one like that) :)
I REALLY hate cold showers.

Need lots of safety valves. In case I didn't mention that before.
At least 4 T&P valves in this thing. Maybe 6.
It is that serious!

Not sure how organized the pics will show (it says there are 11 though I can only find 10), but they are here,

http://s701.photobucket.com/albums/ww20/ghurd1/Pumpless%20Water%20Heater/

G-

[ Parent ]

ideas, questions, need imput on SHW and heating water with wood | 14 comments (14 topical)

Menu

· create account
· How to use the board
· FAQs
· search the board
· Google search the board

Login

Make a new account

Username:

Password:

You must be a registered user to post here. It's easy and free, and the link is on the upper right side of your page.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Postings are owned by the poster, but may be deleted or moved at the ADMIN's sole discretion. The Rest © 2009 Forcefield.
You can Email the board ADMIN here. PLEASE include the username you signed up with!