Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Plumbing => Topic started by: MD20/20 on February 12, 2019, 09:37:37 AM

Title: Heat exchanger hook up
Post by: MD20/20 on February 12, 2019, 09:37:37 AM: I’m believe I have an issue with how I connected my 80 plate heat exchanger to oil fired furnace. I’m wondering if this is hooked up correctly? Is the attached photo enough info? Thanks for the help.
Title: Re: Heat exchanger hook up
Post by: wreckit87 on February 12, 2019, 06:11:10 PM: Flow direction appears to be correct, orientation of the plate is correct, what seems to be the issue?
Title: Re: Heat exchanger hook up
Post by: MD20/20 on February 12, 2019, 06:31:58 PM: I wasn’t convinced I had “counter-flow” thru the hX. The supply from OWB is on the bottom and the return from the “house side” or oil furnace is on the top side. Just want to make sure I have correct flow.
Title: Re: Heat exchanger hook up
Post by: E Yoder on February 13, 2019, 05:19:32 AM: Just looking quickly it appears like the boiler is heated only during a call for heat with return water flow? Are you wanting a quicker temp rise, if so it could be pumped through the flat plate on its own short loop.
Title: Re: Heat exchanger hook up
Post by: fireboss on February 13, 2019, 03:01:43 PM: I have the a pump on a short loop, i have a question. Which way should be the flow for the zones going to the base board? Does the cold return water come in the bottom? Or does it need to come in the top of the boiler?
Title: Re: Heat exchanger hook up
Post by: wreckit87 on February 13, 2019, 04:55:02 PM: MD that's correct. incoming OWB water is on the bottom, outgoing indoor boiler water from the plate is also on the bottom. Hottest water is in contact with hottest water. Perfect.

fireboss- that'll depend on the boiler. Every boiler has a direction of flow. The Weil McLain like MD has pictured is designed to return to the bottom (pump side) and supply from the top. Whatever you have should be labeled supply and return on the boiler, but if it's not, if you can get me the make and model number I'll find the correct piping direction for you
Title: Re: Heat exchanger hook up
Post by: greasemonkoid on February 13, 2019, 09:08:30 PM: This is bothering me. What the heck is the red cast iron-looking unit on the floor inline with... something.
Title: Re: Heat exchanger hook up
Post by: RSI on February 13, 2019, 09:28:29 PM: Do you mean the fuel oil filter in the picture above?
Title: Re: Heat exchanger hook up
Post by: MD20/20 on February 14, 2019, 07:18:33 AM: I guess the only issue I have is during warmer days, when house doesnt have much heat demand, the oil furnace kicks on when I have hot water demand.
I should reconfigure my hot water heater set up.
Yes, the red thing is the top of the oil filter.
Title: Re: Heat exchanger hook up
Post by: Roger2561 on February 14, 2019, 04:26:22 PM: Quote from: greasemonkoid on February 13, 2019, 09:08:30 PM
This is bothering me. What the heck is the red cast iron-looking unit on the floor inline with... something.

I believe what you're seeing is the top of the fuel filter.
Title: Re: Heat exchanger hook up
Post by: E Yoder on February 15, 2019, 04:55:33 AM: Using a 3 way light switch I've wired the power to the oil burner so it either starts a separate pump that pumps a loop through the flat plate, or runs the oil burner. Can't do both. Manual either-or switch.
Also done the same with a Ranco temp control sensing owb temp.
Basically what I'm saying the oil doesn't have to be kicking on.