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Thermal and economic analysis of plastic heat exchangers for solar water heating

Conference ·
OSTI ID:20050700
The feasibility of polymer heat exchangers for solar water heaters is examined in terms of thermal performance and cost of tube-in-shell and immersed designs. High temperature nylon and cross-linked polyethylene were identified as suitable polymers for this application. These materials can meet the high temperature and pressure requirements of a domestic potable hot water system. The heat exchanger designs are compared for heat transfer area required to provide 3,000 and 6,000 W. A nylon tube-in-shell heat exchanger, sized for a 3,000 W load, is approximately 80% of the cost of a copper tube-in-shell heat exchanger. For an immersed heat exchanger, a high temperature nylon tube bank design has the lowest cost. The nylon tube bank heat exchanger, sized for a 3,000 W load, is approximately 80% the cost of an immersed coiled copper tube heat exchanger.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
OSTI ID:
20050700
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English