Water Flow - Lochinvar Power-Fin Designer's Manual

Designer's Guide / Power-fin Water Heater
TWO HEATERS / ONE TANK
Upsize the Common Manifold
Reference Drawing A2 – Page 38
Tip
REMEMBER TO SPECIFY STORAGE TANK'S RECIRCULATION TAPPINGS THAT WILL MATCH THE SIZE
OF THE COMMON MANIFOLD.
Now that we've seen some designs, let's consider three important concepts for designing the
domestic water piping system. They are...

WATER FLOW

WATER TEMPERATURE
WATER VOLUME
Basically, a water heater or bank of water heaters has a given range of operation under these
three concepts. A water heater has a water flow rate range. A water heater has a water
temperature range. A water heater has a water volume range. If you design a system that lets
the appliance operate within its comfort zone, it lives a long and prosperous life. If the system
forces the appliance to operate outside any one of the three comfort zones, it suffers.
WATER FLOW
The flow rate concept is easy. The water MUST flow through the Power-fin at a specified flow
rate. Period.
The specified flow rate for the Power-fin 502-1302 models is 75 GPM.
The specified flow rate for the Power-fin 1501-2001 models is 90 GPM.
The idea behind flow rate is to avoid "lime scale" buildup. All water contains minute quantities of
calcium, referred to as water hardness and free floating particulate, referred to as Total Dissolved
Solids (TDS).
When water is heated the calcium precipitates or boils out to become free floating particulate.
This newly released calcium along with other free floating particulate can stick to the inside of the
copper-finned tubes. Over time, lime scale could build up on the inside of the tubes.
ONE HEATER / TWO TANKS
Do not upsize the Common Manifold
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LOCHINVAR CORPORATION
300 MADDOX SIMPSON PKWY
LEBANON, TN 37090
www.lochinvar.com