I plan to use a flat plate hx for charging and drawing from my storage tank. To maintain stratification, my current plan is to use on the tank side of the hx two pumps and two zone valves to charge and draw in either direction through the same piping. That way when charging the water will come from the bottom and return to the top and when drawing from the top and back to the bottom. (See the system piping tab on my webpage for more details.)
However, I have also been racking my brain wondering if there is perhaps another less expensive way to accomplish stratification. Here is a picture of what I came up with. There are still two pumps, one that draws from the bottom and one from the top, but they both return to the middle of the tank eliminating the need for two zone valves. Any chance this would maintain stratification? If not, how much less efficient would it be? Thanks for the help.
However, I have also been racking my brain wondering if there is perhaps another less expensive way to accomplish stratification. Here is a picture of what I came up with. There are still two pumps, one that draws from the bottom and one from the top, but they both return to the middle of the tank eliminating the need for two zone valves. Any chance this would maintain stratification? If not, how much less efficient would it be? Thanks for the help.