use air compressor excess heat for hot water?

bdgWesternMass · 08-31-17, 11:59 AM

Has anyone on this list gotten any ideas on this. A product seems to exist in other hemispheres but no the USA.

https://www.boge.com/en/products/doutherm

It looks like it may just be a heat exchange and plumbing relief valve. I'm sure somebody on this board has already connected the oil lines to a hot water heat exchange.

I think the way to go about it would be to find the oil pressure and temperature range for my compressor.
select a heat exchange that can be used with oil and water and withstand the temperature.

On the water side plumb for pressure relief. My heat exchange will be plumbed into my main heating hot water loop as a heat source.

At that point I can remove the fan blade from the shaft and remove the oil to air heat exchange.

Am I missing something?

Ben

oil pan 4 · 08-31-17, 12:46 PM

The oil doesn't collect a whole lot of heat.
Most of the heat exits the cylinder head and with the discharged air.
So if you had a liquid cooled compressor wirh after cooler heat exchanger you could collect about as much waste heat as your input power.

bdgWesternMass · 08-31-17, 02:55 PM

Thanks for the reply. I understand the gist if not the specifics of your reply. Here are a couple of statements and follow queries.

The Compressor is a Chicago Pneumatic 10 HP QRS rotary scroll. It is on it's own 40 amp 220 volt circuit.

It sounds like the heat is in the hot air not the oil. I think you are recommending that if I pursued this idea to exchange heat with the exhausting air rather then the oil and I shouldn't expect more 7000-8000 watts of heat.

Do I understand? If so I think I will proceed to the next step.

Thanks,

Ben

oil pan 4 · 08-31-17, 06:39 PM

Yeah your only real chance at capturing some heat is on the discharge aND the compressor head it's self.
Just cooling the discharge will net you some heat I just don't know how much.

bdgWesternMass · 08-31-17, 07:14 PM

Great thanks for your guidance. I think I will just focus on water cooling my air compressor head. If that is done adequately the discharge should be minimal.

I will post updates.

Ben

08-31-17, 11:59 AM	#1
bdgWesternMass Lurking Renovator Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Williamstown, MA Posts: 21 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	use air compressor excess heat for hot water? Has anyone on this list gotten any ideas on this. A product seems to exist in other hemispheres but no the USA. https://www.boge.com/en/products/doutherm It looks like it may just be a heat exchange and plumbing relief valve. I'm sure somebody on this board has already connected the oil lines to a hot water heat exchange. I think the way to go about it would be to find the oil pressure and temperature range for my compressor. select a heat exchange that can be used with oil and water and withstand the temperature. On the water side plumb for pressure relief. My heat exchange will be plumbed into my main heating hot water loop as a heat source. At that point I can remove the fan blade from the shaft and remove the oil to air heat exchange. Am I missing something? Ben

08-31-17, 12:46 PM	#2
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	The oil doesn't collect a whole lot of heat. Most of the heat exits the cylinder head and with the discharged air. So if you had a liquid cooled compressor wirh after cooler heat exchanger you could collect about as much waste heat as your input power.

08-31-17, 02:55 PM	#3
bdgWesternMass Lurking Renovator Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Williamstown, MA Posts: 21 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks for the reply. I understand the gist if not the specifics of your reply. Here are a couple of statements and follow queries. The Compressor is a Chicago Pneumatic 10 HP QRS rotary scroll. It is on it's own 40 amp 220 volt circuit. It sounds like the heat is in the hot air not the oil. I think you are recommending that if I pursued this idea to exchange heat with the exhausting air rather then the oil and I shouldn't expect more 7000-8000 watts of heat. Do I understand? If so I think I will proceed to the next step. Thanks, Ben

08-31-17, 06:39 PM	#4
oil pan 4 Land owner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NM Posts: 1,026 Thanks: 12 Thanked 127 Times in 107 Posts	Yeah your only real chance at capturing some heat is on the discharge aND the compressor head it's self. Just cooling the discharge will net you some heat I just don't know how much.

08-31-17, 07:14 PM	#5
bdgWesternMass Lurking Renovator Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Williamstown, MA Posts: 21 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Great thanks for your guidance. I think I will just focus on water cooling my air compressor head. If that is done adequately the discharge should be minimal. I will post updates. Ben