Wood stove with hot water coil...to heat exchanger.

[evanm1089]

I am looking into using my wood stove to create a hot water loop to a heat exchanger in my duct work. So my furnace fan can be set to circulate and move the air. My brother is an HVAC tech and seems to think it can work with the proper safetys in place. Maybe using a glycol instead of water to keep from creating steam. The idea is still very premature but I thought I should ask the professionals here.

I know this has been done many times for domestic hot water in an "open" loop style to keep pressures low.

Any thoughts on this?

Your input is greatly appreciated.

There is a rough diagram attached

 

[peakbagger]

A friend has similar arrangement except his heat exchanger is external. It sits on top of the woodstove with a few patio blocks on top of it. If the power goes out, he can shut off two valves, break two unions and remove the heat exchange. That take care of the concern that he will overheat the loop. He also has a unit heater on the loop that cuts in if it goes over a high setpoint.