Connecting 2 tanks that run at different temperatures

[BeanAnimal]

You could even go as far as installing an inline heater to the drain pipe to warm the water first before it hits sump but if you can just build a vent or chamber that houses the pvs pipe spiral and use the heat from the chiller you would be more efficient.

That is no different than putting a heater in the sump.


As for using a "heat exchanger" betweem the systems, it makes no difference, as the two bodies are in contact anyway.

Using the hot side of the chiller to heat the water going into the warmer of the two tanks ONLY makes sense, if (and only if) the warmer display needs a heater to stay at temp.

 

[fppf]

A heat exchanger would help a great deal.

Moving the heat FROM the water that goes from the warm tank to the cool tank TO the water that returns from the cool tank back into the warm tank. This will help preserve the heat in the warm tank and reduce the amount of heating in the cool tank from the exchange.

So, yes it makes a difference. Ideally it will reduce the cooling load and heating load in each tank by 50%

I would not suggest any types of plastic for this. To move any real amount of heat would need a lot of tubing. A little titanium or stainless tubing would work good. Liquid to liquid exchangers are not to difficult.

 

[BeanAnimal]

A heat exchanger would help a great deal.
So, yes it makes a difference. Ideally it will reduce the cooling load and heating load in each tank by 50%

Only if one system needs chilling and the other needs heat. If they BOTH needs chilling, then it makes no difference

 

[fppf]

Read the whole thread

 

[BeanAnimal]

Read the whole thread

Kindly, you may want to take the time to read the thread and note that I have not only "read" the entire thread, I have fully participated in the conversation since the first post. You will notice that discussion has somewhat broadened into a general (and rather cordial and informative) discussion of these systems, not just a discussion of the OPs particular system.

With that in mind, please note that my latest contribution to this thread was very clearly in context to the topic and spirit of the discussion and factually correct.

 

[Opcn]

What about a counter current heat exchange? So the cool water coming from the cool tank helps cool down the warm water from the warm tank, and the warm water from the warm tank helps warm up the cool water from the warm tank before they make it across to the other tank. With just a small current I'll bet you could use a piece of laboratory glassware ($60 ish for a double wall glass tube condenser) that would manage 90% recovery.

 

[rwb500]

^ thats what they've been bickering about. except the most you could get is a 50% efficiency increase, i believe.

 

[BeanAnimal]

What about a counter current heat exchange? So the cool water coming from the cool tank helps cool down the warm water from the warm tank, and the warm water from the warm tank helps warm up the cool water from the warm tank before they make it across to the other tank. With just a small current I'll bet you could use a piece of laboratory glassware ($60 ish for a double wall glass tube condenser) that would manage 90% recovery.

It will work if the warm tank needs heated, otherwise (if both tanks need a chiller) then the energy exchange is already happening as the water circulates through the system

 

[Opcn]

Okay, I was thinking that they were bickering about using a heatpump between the two tanks rather than a heat exchanger. To tell the truth once I noticed the bickering I just didn't bother to read what had been written.

BeanAnimal, only the small tank needed a chiller, the large warm tank needed a heater. So the case where both tanks need chilling doesn't matter to this instance.

 

[BeanAnimal]

BeanAnimal, only the small tank needed a chiller, the large warm tank needed a heater. So the case where both tanks need chilling doesn't matter to this instance.

Correct, but the conversation ended up about these systems in general, not just the OP's tank.