Geothermal HVAC

#12

Joined Nov 30, 2010
18,224
For copper work, you need a vacuum pump, a vacuum gauge, the standard gauges, and, if the copper is less than 3/4 inch, you can get by with a turbo-torch on Mapp gas. Bigger than that requires oxy-acetylene. Much like soldering, brazing is 90% preparation. Proper cleaning and fluxing will cause the solder to literally jump into the gap, even if it has to go straight up. Of course, you need a can of refrigerant, a flow controller on a tank of dry nitrogen, and intimate knowledge of how to keep the inside of the copper aseptic.

Try to do it on less than that and you're guessing.
 

tcmtech

Joined Nov 4, 2013
2,867
For copper work, you need a vacuum pump, a vacuum gauge, the standard gauges, and, if the copper is less than 3/4 inch, you can get by with a turbo-torch on Mapp gas. Bigger than that requires oxy-acetylene.
I have all of that in multiples plus some custom designed specialty equipment as well and I know the loopholes in the system that let people get the refrigerants they need legally without hassles.;)
 

tcmtech

Joined Nov 4, 2013
2,867
Well if you guys lived closer I would certainly consider doing loan outs or assisting in repair work. Anything I can do to save a good person a dollar while keeping it out of the hands of the crooks in town is alright justification by me.
 

Thread Starter

inwo

Joined Nov 7, 2013
2,419
Just a joke, I have no intention of learning another trade.

Would it be possible to order my next HP with two heat exchangers plus a desuperheater?

As my system uses both loops and fresh water it would simplify things.
 

Thread Starter

inwo

Joined Nov 7, 2013
2,419
I'm always thinking ahead.
Losing heat is no small problem in the north.

Think I'll contact FHP and see if it's an option.

Do you know of a technical reason why there can't be multiple heat exchangers?

What about the desuperheater? Is that just another HX, but ahead of the change-over valve?

With my good EWT, run mine all year.

On another note.
Noticed my pumps are getting noisy. UP-26-116 X2.
Have a spare, but if I have to break the loop I'll change them both.
Found a replacement cartridge for 1/2 the cost.:)
Looks like everything except the housing and windings.
 

#12

Joined Nov 30, 2010
18,224
Too many abbreviations. Contact Florida Highway Patrol? Frigidaire Heat Pumps? You have a good East-West Treaty?

You have your head too deep in this project to make sense right now. Pull back and remember I can't read your mind about a machine I've never seen.

I suspect that any number of heat exchangers can be used if they are designed properly, but that comes down to math and we have only discussed theory.
 

Thread Starter

inwo

Joined Nov 7, 2013
2,419
Sorry.:p

Did I ever mention that I never learned to type?

FHP Florida Heat Pump.
EWT entering water temperature.
 

#12

Joined Nov 30, 2010
18,224
Is Florida Heat Pump a brand name or corporation where you live? If it is, they would know what they sell better than I would.

Superheat: The excess temperature above the evaporating temperature of the refrigerant which is returning to the compressor after it has absorbed heat from the water loop. To de-superheat would be cooling the gas entering the compressor to nearly its condensing temperature at that pressure. But this is a reversible system so the gas goes through a reversing valve. (So what?) Where would you get something that is colder than the returning gas? Loop back to the beginning of the evaporator with the returning gas? Inject liquid refrigerant into the returning gas line instead of using all of it in the evaporator coil?

That doesn't accomplish any efficiency improvements in the systems I have worked with. I have installed the liquid line snuggled in the same insulation as the return gas pipe but that makes the superheat worse by cooling the liquid line (to avoid bubbles in the liquid). That insures maximum capacity at the expansion valve. De-superheating would encourage maximum capacity of mass flow rate in the compressor. The fact that I am not tracking this means it doesn't work or it doesn't work in Florida or I don't know what you're referring to.

When you get to the nit-pickiest last 1% of efficiency improvements, you have to get really specific. Then there is always the consideration that the government has been riding the manufacturers for higher efficiency for the last 20 years. Do you think you have an idea they didn't try?:confused:
 
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