Pool Heat pump, Strainer only?

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Austintatious

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Oct 13, 2014
84
DFW Texas
I bought a heat pump. This one https://s3.amazonaws.com/AWSProd/sites/raypakcom/documents/241909.pdf

The system has 2 pumps. A main pump that feeds the filter then a propane spa heater. The second pump can feed either or both a waterfall or just a big jet.

I need to plumb in this heat pump... I am not sure what would be best. But I think what I want to do is have it work off the second pump. But this would be a strainer only and no DE filter. The heat exchanger in the heat pump looks like it is pretty simple and does not have small passages like what a propane spa heater would have. In other words, I THINK that any small debris that got past the strainer would simply pass through the heat pump.

Am I wrong? Can I have just a strainer before the heat pump or does it need to be downstream of the DE filter?

Thanks
 
Heat pump water coils are smaller then a gas heat exchanger coils.

You need a filter before the Heat Pump.

You will find having both a gas heater and Heat Pump in the water flow creates a lot of restriction or "head" and you will need a powerful pump to get decent water flow GPM through your system.

What is the minimum and recommended flow rate for your gas heater?

What pump do you have?

Post pictures of your equipment pad.

I suggest you have a Heater Bypass - Further Reading on both heaters.
 
ajw22 said:
Heat pump water coils are smaller then a gas heat exchanger coils.

You need a filter before the Heat Pump.

You will find having both a gas heater and Heat Pump in the water flow creates a lot of restriction or "head" and you will need a powerful pump to get decent water flow GPM through your system.

What is the minimum and recommended flow rate for your gas heater?

What pump do you have?

Post pictures of your equipment pad.

I suggest you have a Heater Bypass - Further Reading on both heaters.
Click to expand...

I have an older Raypoalk heater... sort of like This but green and a little more primitive

I don't see where the passages are small in this Heat pump. I can see a 2" PVC coil inside the unit and it appears to have penetrations at each end that accommodate what is likely just a titanium tube for the refrigerant to expand in. You can see it on page 48. I certainly do not want to mess it up, but it just seems to me that the strainer would be enough. Of course ideally it would be behind the DE filter, I know, but I am adding this to an existing setup rather than starting from scratch and I am afraid some compromise will be required.

I am definitely worried about the restriction you mention, this is exactly why I am considering putting the HP on a different pump or splitting flow. That and it would be much simpler to control the system. If I split the flow between the two heaters off the one pump, to stay controllable via remote, I will need about 1000 dollars worth of additional components; 2 electric valve controllers and an expansion card for the intellicenter. If I run the HP off the 2nd pump, I need none of that.

I have a 3HP intelliflow pump. Even with fresh DE charge in the 70 SQft filter I cannot quite run it on full power or the pressure goes too high. I run it at 3250 RPM.

Like I said, If going off the 2nd pump and only a strainer is not going to be reasonable, then I think I will split the flow from the main pump/filter with a Flow splitter and put valves (either manual or electric) on those lines so I can control flow rates, and coincidentally it would allow me to bypass either the heater or the HP if I put in check valves.

The HP says 20 GPM flow rate and as best as I can tell, the Raypak needs 25 GPM for a total of 45 GPM. The Intelliflow 3hp can flow way more than this and does so at my 3250 setting.
 
Last edited:
Austintatious said:
The HP says 20 GPM flow rate and as best as I can tell, the Raypak needs 25 GPM for a total of 45 GPM. The Intelliflow 3hp can flow way more than this and does so at my 3250 setting.
Click to expand...


Flows are not additive when all the equipment is on one plumbing loop.

You run the flow to satisfy the device that needs the most flow.

You should run your Raypak heater at more then the minimum flow rate. More like 40 GPM.

If running your Intelliflo at 3000+ rpm works for you then go for it. It will show in your electrical bill.
 
ajw22 said:
Flows are not additive when all the equipment is on one plumbing loop.

You run the flow to satisfy the device that needs the most flow.

You should run your Raypak heater at more then the minimum flow rate. More like 40 GPM.

If running your Intelliflo at 3000+ rpm works for you then go for it. It will show in your electrical bill.
Click to expand...

Yes, however if I split the flow they are additive.

I get free electricity from 8pm until 5am. And I have a large solar array. So I run 100% at night when the power is free, then I go on low speed during the solar day when I am making my own power.
 
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