My
calorifier does a great job of providing piping hot showers to several people every morning when we're cruising.
As long, that is, as we have used the immersion
heater either from
shore power or
generator power.
Running the
engine doesn't seem to heat up the
calorifier, although I have checked and double checked the valves.
Is it simply a matter of temperature? The
water in the calorifier is held at a very high temperature, I would guess about 90C, and is mixed with cold
water to provide "hot water", thus stretching the capacity. The
engine fresh water
cooling circuit doesn't run at 90C, so maybe it just doesn't create the same temperature?
Or is something else wrong? The calorifier has pressure relief valves or thermostats on the
heat exchanger loops (see photo) which look like the ones you see on hydronic radiators. I don't know why such devices are needed. Maybe I've got them set wrong? Anyone have any ideas?