Looking for opinions on tube-in-shell heat exchangers versus plate. A friend of mine has a plate exchanger and is having problems with it plugging. (He removes the plate, cleans it and is good to go for another year or so.) I am assuming that plate exchangers are actually more efficient but obviously this changes if it becomes too plugged.
I am looking to transfer heat from a solar loop to a GARN. I am trying to determine whether to use an external tube-in-shell, a plate exchanger, or build one internal to the GARN made of pex, black steel, or corrugated stainless steel. An internal one would mean that I would only need the solar loop pump but may loss efficiency. There is also the question of whether the increased head would be too much for a single pump. (Currently looking a Laing DC5's - 6-7 gpm at low pressure head).
Comments / suggestions?
I am looking to transfer heat from a solar loop to a GARN. I am trying to determine whether to use an external tube-in-shell, a plate exchanger, or build one internal to the GARN made of pex, black steel, or corrugated stainless steel. An internal one would mean that I would only need the solar loop pump but may loss efficiency. There is also the question of whether the increased head would be too much for a single pump. (Currently looking a Laing DC5's - 6-7 gpm at low pressure head).
Comments / suggestions?