[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: Solar Water Heater architecture

[Lawrence Lile]

If you are pumping oil, you have to worry about flammability.  Hot oil
is more flammable than room temperature oil.  Most of these oils should
(I'm guessing) have a flash point well above the temperatures found in a
solar water system, but if you are operating anywhere near the flash
point you are taking risks. Most oils probably have flash points above
350 F, IIRC.   

The consequences of a spill are bad, too, if you have very much of it.
Although it is just vegetable oil, gallons of it does not belong in the
sewer system. 

Pumping energy will be higher, because the oil is more visocous than
water.  Also, it is a poorer heat transfer liquid, having lower mass and
lower specific heat, so you'll have to pump more of it to achieve the
same performance.  Also may become more viscous at low temperatures,
increasing puping energy even more. 

But it can't freeze.  

--Lawrence LIle


-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Clarke
Olsen
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2006 8:28 AM
To: Chris Green
Cc: Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
Subject: [BULK] Re: [Greenbuilding] Solar Water Heater architecture
Importance: Low

Certainly should improve pump life.
Clarke Olsen

On Aug 14, 2006, at 12:49 AM, Chris Green wrote:

> wmdorsett at sbcglobal.net wrote:
> And I was wondering if perhaps canola oil or some other vegetable oil 
> might work as the heat-transferring medium? It isn't quite as dense as

> water, but it can withstand temps up to around 360F, and in a closed 
> loop system, it wouldn't be prone to going rancid for a long time. 
> It's also not toxic and won't corrode the plumbing. .
>
> Any thoughts on that?
>
> Chris Green.


_______________________________________________
Greenbuilding email list
List info:
http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/greenbuilding_listserv.repp.or
g
List email: Greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org Managed by BuildingGreen,
Inc. http://www.buildinggreen.com
      publisher of Environmental Building News and GreenSpec(r) Hosted
and archived by REPP / CREST http://www.crest.org