hot water

[capta]

Is there any reason why I can't hook my hot water heater's plumbed circulating water heating from the main engine to my Onan 8kw (with the 3 cylinder Kuboda diesel) instead?
We rarely run the ME, but run the generator at least 3 hours daily. There is nothing mentioned in either manual (Onan or Raritan water heater) on this.
I just do not see a problem, but..........

 

[dparilla]

Is the generator fresh water or raw water cooled? That could be the only issue that I see. I personnallywould not want to pump raw water through the hot water tank heat exchanger unless the manual specifies that it is ok. Other than that, I will defer to other opinions as I see no issues with it.

Dan

 

[Stu Jackson]

It's simple heat transfer. If you do, it might make sense to add shutoff valves so that when you run the generator it only goes through the water heater and not through the engine, too. It'd be an either/or deal. Do they use the same freshwater coolant?

 

[capta]

hot h2o

Thanks for the replies.
The Onan & main engine have separate fresh water cooling systems. I have never seen a generator hooked up to a water heater this way, but possibly this is because there's plenty of power to run the water heater when it runs.
I can use the power other where now that I've added a water maker, etc.

 

[kloudie1]

Capta, should be absolutely no problem .. use the same fittings that are used when that engine is used as a main propulsion unit.. Interesting idea since you'd be using waste heat generated while making electricity for other use instead of burning fuel just to make electricity and then using that electricity to make hot water. Let us know how it turns out.. Should save a little fuel.

 

[capta]

Thank you, all.
I can see no reason why this won't work, but as I said above, I have never seen it done before, on any boat I've operated or been aboard.
I appreciate the input & will try it soon, but right now the goal is to get out of the hurricane zone before one sets it's sights on St. Thomas.