HX Question - Heating a Salt Pool with Central Boiler

[willjayc]

I have a Wood/propane Central Boiler and a salt water pool. The lines are all in for the pool and now I am shopping for a heat exchanger. I have two in mind, one is a CuproNickel design that seems to disassemble for maintenance/inspection, the other is a titanium design that seems to not disassemble. I have found the prices to be similar although one is 240,000 btu (CuproNickel) vs 300,000 btu (Titanium)

Which is better? Titanium or Copper Nickel

Do I really need to be able to disassemble for cleaning?

Thanks!

 

[Bob Rohr]

I have a Wood/propane Central Boiler and a salt water pool. The lines are all in for the pool and now I am shopping for a heat exchanger. I have two in mind, one is a CuproNickel design that seems to disassemble for maintenance/inspection, the other is a titanium design that seems to not disassemble. I have found the prices to be similar although one is 240,000 btu (CuproNickel) vs 300,000 btu (Titanium)

Which is better? Titanium or Copper Nickel

Do I really need to be able to disassemble for cleaning?

Thanks!

Go with the manufacturers suggestions as far as the precautions for keeping the HX clean. Typically a good filter or strainer is upstream of the HX is required. I guess it comes down to how clean the water is going across the HX.

If it is an open system OWF you want to have a strainer or dirt separator protecting that side of the HX also. Install the HX with service/ iso valves and simple union connections should you need to remove it for service.

I dan't have any salt water experience as far as which metal is best.

 

[brant2000]

Based on this compatibility (broken link removed to https://www.haywardflowcontrol.com/images/flowcontrol/PDF/ChemChart.pdf), I would definitely go with the titanium. If you look on page 4, you'll see "chlorine water". Monel is a type of CuNi. Monel is rated a C, whereas Ti is rated an A. It's hard to beat titanium for a number of reasons.

 

[heaterman]

Titanium + a good strainer + pipe it up in a manner that will allow you to pump cleaning chemicals through it without taking the system apart because you will have to do it often.

 

[willjayc]

Thanks all.

Heaterman - I was planning on putting the hx after the pool pump and filter that should suffice for a strainer I assume?

 

[F4jock]

Titaniun. CuproNickel alloy isn't as resistant to chlorides.

 

[heaterman]

Thanks all.

Heaterman - I was planning on putting the hx after the pool pump and filter that should suffice for a strainer I assume?

Definitely.