The only installation method I've seen in manuals on gasification boilers has the water moving through the boiler's heat exchanger in the same direction as the combustion gases (up). This forms a co-current heat exchanger configuration. Has anyone ever tried a counter current setup? All one would have to do is to pump the water in the top of the boiler and out the bottom.
It is well known that the counter current configuration is more effective (more heat transfer per unit area of heat exchange surface) than the co-current configuration (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countercurrent_exchange).
I know that the combustion gas temperature must be maintained above the dew point of the water in the combustion gases to prevent condensation and therefore corrosion on the inside surfaces of the heat exchanger.
In my case however, the outside surface of my single wall stove pipe is about 250°F to 350°F, and my water temperature has a hard time reaching 195°F. The combustion gas temperature must be quite a bit higher, so I think I'm losing heat out my chimney.
The only problem I can imagine is that the little Taco 007 (3 speed pump) that I have might not provide enough flow to force the warmer, bouyant water down.
Anyone ever tried this?
It is well known that the counter current configuration is more effective (more heat transfer per unit area of heat exchange surface) than the co-current configuration (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countercurrent_exchange).
I know that the combustion gas temperature must be maintained above the dew point of the water in the combustion gases to prevent condensation and therefore corrosion on the inside surfaces of the heat exchanger.
In my case however, the outside surface of my single wall stove pipe is about 250°F to 350°F, and my water temperature has a hard time reaching 195°F. The combustion gas temperature must be quite a bit higher, so I think I'm losing heat out my chimney.
The only problem I can imagine is that the little Taco 007 (3 speed pump) that I have might not provide enough flow to force the warmer, bouyant water down.
Anyone ever tried this?