I know this post is over two months old, but as proof I have been reading about this DHW thing I would like to continue from here:
1. I really can't install a Plate type HX due to well water. (It would scale up).
2. A sidearm sounds good but I'm having a hard time seeing how cold water entering through the bottom, gets hot and returns to the tank by gravity.
http://www.centralboiler.com/Tech/C100.pdfI know there's an option to add a circ pump, but to me that defeats the purpose of reducing my electrical dependance. OK I know it's minor, but geez it's also an added maintenance component.
First, let me say this is for winter time use only. I don't plan on operating my OWB year round.
So bare with me a minute. (Maybe I'm overthinking this). A sidearm is mounted vertical with OWB suppling heated water from bottom to top.
Why can't the Domestic cold water be routed directly into the sidearm at the top and then return to the bottom of the HWH? Isn't this how cold water in normally entered into a HWH, through a long tube to the bottom of the tank inside the HWH?
Is it too much of a load on our OWB's? (I doubt it, but thought I would add this to let you know I was thinking)
Is it because the HWH (in this case 50 gallons) would get cold before use? What if I left the electric on year round. Wouldn't it provide me a faster recovery mounted this way? (when the OWB was running?).
What I was thinking: (NOTE: I have 20" of copper pipe from the house shutoff valves to the top of the HWH.
http://outdoorwoodfurnaceinfo.com/forum/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=35 I would still install a thermostatic valve. I have CPVC pipe through out the house. Not sure how much heat they can take. That and the fact I would not want to scald anyone.
I would add three shutoff valves to the cold water side. One to the sidearm, one to the tank and the one going to thermostatic valve. This way I could control which way the water was going in winter and summer.
I would add three T's. One supply to the sidearm and one supplying the thermostatic valve for the cold domestic water and one for the side arm at the bottom of the tank.
OK-What am I missing?