View Single Post
Old 01-18-11, 09:53 AM   #12
Piwoslaw
Super Moderator
 
Piwoslaw's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Posts: 960
Thanks: 188
Thanked 110 Times in 86 Posts
Default

Hello Indyplumber, welcome to ER

Quote:
Originally Posted by Indyplumber View Post
One question I have is would the efficiency be greater is the solar heated liquid circulated through the outside tube instead of the inside tube? Im getting ready to build my own system and thought it would be better that way.
No, it is more efficient when the warmer liquid is circulating inside the cooler liquid. That way the temperature differential through the outside wall is smaller, wasting less heat. In theory, if the heat exchanger was ideally insulated, then this wouldn't make any difference, but no insulation is perfect.
__________________
Ecorenovation - the bottomless piggy bank that tries to tame the energy hog.
Piwoslaw is offline   Reply With Quote