flate plate HX flow direction question

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pybyr

Minister of Fire
Hearth Supporter
Jun 3, 2008
2,300
Adamant, VT 05640
I've got a 5x12 70 plate of one of these to use between my boiler and my unpressurized storage

http://www.flatplate.com/pdf/hydronic/FPbrochure9-99.pdf

I want to use valves to maintain counterflow acrross the HX in both modes of "loading" and "unloading" the tank with heat

which is making me realize that I don't see any markings on the HX as to directions of the flow

can someone fill me in?

i.e. if I push fluid in the same physical direction on both sets of fittings, can I assume that that would be "non-counteflow"

I don't want to make some stupid assumption like thinking that I can intuit flow direction from the outside, and have it be llike some situations, such as the relation (or sometimes lack) between the position of a toggle switch's handle and the actual position of the contacts...

thanks!
 
I am not currently up to speed on your system design, but if you are reversing the flow through the plate hx similar at all to what I did, one of the two directions would not have counterflow. It is a little less efficient transfer without counterflow, but in my application it seems to work fine. Perhaps this isn't an issue with your design. I chose to have counterflow on charging because the temps were going to be closer and harder to transfer heat in the upper end.
 
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