Thermal and economic analysis of plastic heat exchangers for solar water heating
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
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: SOLAR 99, Portland, ME (US), 06/12/1999--06/16/1999; Other Information: PBD: 1999; Related Information: In: Solar 99 conference: Proceedings of ASES annual conference -- Proceedings of 24th national passive solar conference, by Campbell-Howe, R.; Wilkins-Crowder, B. [eds.], 779 pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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