Reuse heat from conservatory.

grumpycrab

Hi, I've been looking at an easy way of moving heat from warm rooms (eg conservstory) to cold rooms.

I have a theoretical design which is as follows. A portable device with a fan in the middle of 2 extendable vent hoses.

Questions:-
1. does this already exist?
2. the extendable vent hoses would be something like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260841409407
BUT they'd need to be longer; says 6m
3. how much of the heat would be lost in the pipes? would there be condensation?
Cheers!

mart.vader

grumpycrab wrote: »

Hi, I've been looking at an easy way of moving heat from warm rooms (eg conservstory) to cold rooms.

I have a theoretical design which is as follows. A portable device with a fan in the middle of 2 extendable vent hoses.

Questions:-
1. does this already exist? Yes, It's called "a fan in the middle of 2 extendable vent hoses"
2. the extendable vent hoses would be something like this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260841409407
BUT they'd need to be longer; says 6m OK
3. how much of the heat would be lost in the pipes? would there be condensation? Don't know, depends on difference in temperature between the rooms and the humidity.
Cheers!

It's a great idea, and so simple !

Actually, now I come to think of it it's called a heat exchanger - Wickes used to sell them.

System

i've messed about with something like this before, why do you want it to be portable? what you might want to consider is having two pipes - a high level vent to get the heat from the conservatory, then a low level return to get the cooler air from the space you are trying to heat so there is plenty of air movement... but might not be too practical for a portable unit
also, consider using a computer fan for blowing, takes very little power to run!

grumpycrab

Portable because 1. a permanent fixing will be ugly 2. may want to transfer heat from/to different rooms.
A computer fan is crap. Need something like (after a very quick look) http://www.hydroponicseurope.com/dual-speed-inline-extractor-fan10cm-145-190m3-hr.html

Innys

From what I've heard and experienced, conservatories tend to lose more heat than other rooms ina typical household.

So................are you sure you don't want the exchanger to move heat in the opposite direction to the one you are proposing?

grumpycrab

Conservatories.. when ours is hot its very hot. When its cold I keep the doors shut.

EDIT: might concept prove with something cheap like this
http://www.gil-lec.co.uk/products/Extractor%20Fans/Inline%20Ceiling%20Fans/Manrose%20Primero%20Inline%20Duct%20Fan%20100mm/3190476677

System

grumpycrab wrote: »

Portable because 1. a permanent fixing will be ugly 2. may want to transfer heat from/to different rooms.
A computer fan is crap. Need something like (after a very quick look) http://www.hydroponicseurope.com/dual-speed-inline-extractor-fan10cm-145-190m3-hr.html

and here was me thinking you were asking for advice on your theoretical design - but clearly you have already tried all the "crap" alternatives...

grumpycrab

the_r_sole wrote: »

and here was me thinking you were asking for advice on your theoretical design - but clearly you have already tried all the "crap" alternatives...

Sorry - I used the wrong word. I meant "underpowered". Or perhaps not? What sort of computer fan?

System

you can get lots of different fans, the benefit really is in power consumption and noise levels - they don't actually need to push that much air to make it work - i had a few computer case fans kicking around so used them, as an example one like this will push something like 60+m3/hr

Jonesya

Another thing to consider - if you're going for a permanent installation you can get low profile, flat-channel type duct-work so less conspicuous than the regular circular type if you're trying to hide it in the room. These guys have quite a good range:

http://www.bes.co.uk/

Toolstation stock 225 type ducting:
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Electrical/Ducting/d190/sd3083