Adding a heat exchanger to a non heat exchange truckmount

[IntegrityCarpetCleaningNevada]

I have an old Hydramaster Hydracat that has no heat exchanger. Is it possible to add an exhaust heat exchanger to that unit? I can send pictures of the truckmount if needed. Thank you

 

[hogjowl]

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[Jim Pemberton]

Yes you can do it.

Just remember, you need to have a temperature relief valve to discharge excess heat that builds up in the heat exchanger.

Otherwise, you have a bomb.

Somewhere in Mikeysboard archives there is a picture of the inside of a van that had a heat exchanger explosion.

 

[BIG WOOD]

If you don't have a specified 3-5 gallon water box on your machine to circulate the hot water through an orifice bypass, you will probably want to find a heat exchanger for the blower exhaust only to prevent the explosion that Jim is referring to. The engine's exhaust is too hot when it's not properly circulating the water

 

[Dwain Ray]

I have 2 exhaust heat exchangers im looking to sell if you're interested . But you'll need some sort of heat bypass to make it work

 

[Cleanworks]

Probably the cheapest thing is to add a little giant propane heater.

 

[hogjowl]

Redneck

 

[Joseph Petrichor]

Add a lil giant high psi burner and get the sizzle pop

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Redneck

It's still true!

 

[IntegrityCarpetCleaningNevada]

If you don't have a specified 3-5 gallon water box on your machine to circulate the hot water through an orifice bypass, you will probably want to find a heat exchanger for the blower exhaust only to prevent the explosion that Jim is referring to. The engine's exhaust is too hot when it's not properly circulating the water

Can you please explain how the water is supposed to get circulated? When im cleaning carpet I understand how the water gets circulated. but say im doing a flood extraction and water is not being sprayed through the wand, how would water get circulated?

 

[Dwain Ray]

Can you please explain how the water is supposed to get circulated? When im cleaning carpet I understand how the water gets circulated. but say im doing a flood extraction and water is not being sprayed through the wand, how would water get circulated?

If your doing flood you eighter need to bypass to wastetank and pump or dump or have an exhaust bypass/diverter otherwise if the water is recirculates it will sooner or later reach critical temperatures how soon? depends entirely on the amount of water you have to recirculate.i think the guy that suggested a littl giant heater probably gave you the best and least complicated way to go theres also a diesel version thats used on the El Diablo units that provides a bit more heat but at the cost of diesel fumes and higher maintenance

 

[Dwain Ray]

Can you please explain how the water is supposed to get circulated? When im cleaning carpet I understand how the water gets circulated. but say im doing a flood extraction and water is not being sprayed through the wand, how would water get circulated?

If you're asking this question. To me it appears that you have an idea but not the working knowledge to safely make the modifications necessary to pull it off. My advice is don't go forward with this project

 

[IntegrityCarpetCleaningNevada]

If your doing flood you eighter need to bypass to wastetank and pump or dump or have an exhaust bypass/diverter otherwise if the water is recirculates it will sooner or later reach critical temperatures how soon? depends entirely on the amount of water you have to recirculate.i think the guy that suggested a littl giant heater probably gave you the best and least complicated way to go theres also a diesel version thats used on the El Diablo units that provides a bit more heat but at the cost of diesel fumes and higher maintenance

So would i need fresh water coming in? Or do i have to have the water pump on? I understand the thermal bypass system, when water temp reaches a certain point it gets bypassed into the waste tank or the water box, but my question is what is pumping the bypassed water? I wouldnt be installing the heat exchanger myself im just trying to get an idea of what to expect.

 

[Dwain Ray]

The same pressure that's supplying the heat exchanger in the first place is the same pressure that pushes it out

 

[BIG WOOD]

When you have a bypass orifice set up to a water box, it’s just a y shaped valve connected to your output hose. When you’re not pulling the trigger on the wand, the water keeps flowing back to the water box. The orifice is just a small pinhole disc that doesn’t allow the water to sit. And at that y valve, you’ll have a temp shutoff sensor connected so if the water gets too hot, it’ll shut down the machine.

Pull up a manual for any truckmount like the performer, thermalwave, etc and you can get a good picture of how the water flows

 

[sassyotto]

IDK, we had a Prochem 800A that didnt have a bypass valve and that was one of the simplest machines we ever had.

 

[Bryce C]

When you have a bypass orifice set up to a water box, it’s just a y shaped valve connected to your output hose. When you’re not pulling the trigger on the wand, the water keeps flowing back to the water box. The orifice is just a small pinhole disc that doesn’t allow the water to sit. And at that y valve, you’ll have a temp shutoff sensor connected so if the water gets too hot, it’ll shut down the machine.

Pull up a manual for any truckmount like the performer, thermalwave, etc and you can get a good picture of how the water flows

I learned what this bypass orifice is when I dropped it on the floor of my van when I was cleaning and re-taping all my fittings when I got my TM. Had no pressure and thought I was screwed. Taught me how that part of the system works though.

I'm pretty sure my machine doesn't have a high heat shutdown. I do have a thermal relief valve that dumps fresh water into the waste tank if it exceeds a certain temp. Do these truckmounts typically come with either a thermal relief valve or a high temp shut down?

 

[BIG WOOD]

I'm pretty sure my machine doesn't have a high heat shutdown. I do have a thermal relief valve that dumps fresh water into the waste tank if it exceeds a certain temp. Do these truckmounts typically come with either a thermal relief valve or a high temp shut down?

oops! you're correct. its a temp sender that just reads the temp, not a safety shutoff sensor on the y-valve

 

[BIG WOOD]

So would i need fresh water coming in? Or do i have to have the water pump on? I understand the thermal bypass system, when water temp reaches a certain point it gets bypassed into the waste tank or the water box, but my question is what is pumping the bypassed water? I wouldnt be installing the heat exchanger myself im just trying to get an idea of what to expect.

you'll need a kit on this diagram of the orifice to mount on the output of the y valve
part # 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16

Thermalwave II Vortec

Thermalwave II Vortec Manual Water flow diagram: Heat exchanger assembly:

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