Direct cooling which Calorifier is suitable

[Australiandad]

Hi All,

I'm a newbie to the form so I appreciate the patience. I'm wanting to install a calorifier using the cooling system from my 28hp 2003 model Volvo diesel motor. The motor has a direct cooling system and I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a calorifier (and suggest a supplier I'm in Aus, I appreciate postage will be expensive) that will handle the salt water and would like to here about the longevity of these caorlfiers

Kind Regards

 

[RobBrown]

I would guess that most calorifiers for marine use will be OK for both direct and indireclty cooled engines. Manufacturers/distributors could confirm if you are unsure. However, if you want a specific recommendation, just based on my set up,then I have used a Sigmar SS calorifier on my raw water cooled Bukh 20 engine for the last 4 years with no problems whatsoever (retro fit to the engine using a Bukh kit comprising a Johnson pump and tailed take offs for the HW & return using the exisiting drain plugs on the lower engine jacket and manifold). Direct cooled engines, running @ a lower temp (c.60 deg C), will not give such hot water as indirect & slightly slower rate, but I get hand hot water (c.40 deg C) in 30m of running. Avoids need for a thermostat anyway. I would say the circulating pump is a must with a raw water cooled engine. Get the out and return pipeworks the right way round too! (Radiator hose is fine).

Eg link for calorifiers here (tho UK, not Aus) http://www.aquafax.co.uk/html/products.asp?ID=1316

 

[Australiandad]

Calorifier used with Volvo Penta 2003 raw water cooled

Thanks Rob,

In the absence of any further replies it looks like the Sigmar ss calorifier might be the go. I would really like to hear from anyone who has one of these working using a Volvo Penta raw water cooled 2003 motor to heat the water in the calorifier.

Regards

Gus

 

[wotayottie]

I had a 2003 raw water cooled with a calorifier. It never worked properly and when I spoke to Volvo UK technical dept ( they would talk to customers in those days) they said it never would work at all well.

When you look at how the engine pipework runs, you can see why. The water circulation in the engine bypasses the cylinder head until the thermostat opens. Even then, the bypass from the block direct into the exhaust system remains fully open so the flow through the cylinder head via the thermostat is never very great. And it is this flow that is interupted to feed the calorifier.

The result is a low rate of flow through the calorifier and very slow heating up. True this depends on pipe run length to the calorifier and a pal with his calo much nearer the engine had a better experience than I did but still not good.

An el,ectric pump would help but I never found one that was designed for use with hot salt water so their life is pretty short.

My calo was factory installed by Moody yachts. If I ever bought another boat with a raw water cooled engine and no calo, I would not install one. I would go for a gas powered water heater instead

 

[ghostlymoron]

Vyv Cox's website is a good source of information usually link here but the site has lost most of it's photo's at the moment - still worth a look though.

 

[RobBrown]

Re WaYs post. Can't comment on the specific Volvo 2003 aspect, but as said I have had a Calorifier set up on my raw water cooled Bukh for 4 years and I have had sufficiently hot and sufficiently copious quantities of water from this set up for all 4 years. I am not delusional nor do I have low expectations! Equally, as I stated, a circulating pump is appropriate and Johnson at least do make a pump suitable for this application, which Bukh UK supplied as part of their "kit" solution. I know it works and I know it has performed faultlessly in that role for 4 years!

Noted from link to Vyv Cox's site that my set up and pump are as outlined in the first set of photos and commentary on the Bukh paragraphs. He identifies the pump as a "CM10 magnetically driven version, Johnson part number 10-24501-03a"