Thermal Analysis of Polymer Heat Exchangers for Solar Water Heating: A Case Study

Author:

Liu Wei1,Davidson Jane1,Mantell Susan1

Affiliation:

1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 111 Church St., S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455

Abstract

The feasibility of reducing the cost of solar water heating systems by using polymer heat exchangers is illustrated by comparing thermal performance and cost of heat exchangers made of nylon, cross linked polyethylene (PEX), or copper. Both tube-in-shell heat exchangers and immersed tube banks are considered. For the thermal analysis, the tube geometry and the arrangement of tubes are fixed and the heat transfer surface areas required to provide 3000 and 6000 W are determined. Thermal performance is estimated using published heat transfer correlations. The nylon heat exchanger outperforms the PEX design, primarily because nylon is a stronger material. Consequently, the ratio of diameter to wall thickness required to withstand the operating pressure is greater and the conduction resistance across the polymer wall is less. The cost of nonoptimized nylon heat exchangers is about 80 percent of the cost of heat exchangers made of copper. Significant additional work is required to optimize the tube arrangement and geometry and to validate our initial estimates of thermal and economic performance. [S0199-6231(00)00802-9]

Publisher

ASME International

Subject

Energy Engineering and Power Technology,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Reference21 articles.

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3. “International Plumbing Code,” 1995, Available from Building Officials & Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), and Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI).

4. Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC), 1995, “Operating Guidelines and Minimum Standards for Certifying Solar Water Heating Systems: An Optional SWH System Certification and Rating Program,” c/o FSEC, 1679 Clearlake Rd., Cocoa, FL.

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