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4 port buffer tank connections
@iraknic I used a thermal imaging camera, and the temperature readings were “inaccurate”. I suppose the water inside the copper pipe will be warmer than the exterior of the copper pipe. I assume your copper pipe readings were lower than the COP readings.
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You need to adjust the surface emmissivity setting of your thermal camera.
Try this, assuming you have a metal kettle with a polished exterior surface and the copper pipe is also polished.
Boil the kettle - the water will be 100C. Point the camera at it's metal outside and adjust the emmisivity setting to get 100C.
Now take a temperature reading of the copper pipe with the same emmissivity setting.
Normally I'm looking at thermal photos with temperatures around 2000F and surfaces that are rough and none polished. The surface finish can make a huge difference to the measured temperature using cameras. The only way to be sure is to use a contact thermocouple and press it against the pipe to get an acurate temperature reading.
But saying that, all you're really interested in is the temperature DIFFERENCE between the four pipes, and that will be unaffected by surface finish and emissivity (provided all the pipes are the same material and surface finish).
Regards
Bob
Posted by: @bobtskutterYou need to adjust the surface emmissivity setting of your thermal camera.
Excellent suggestion. Didn’t even cross my mind to do that. Thank you.
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@iraknic I’m doing a small video on buffers, and am using our badly piped one as an example, but would also like to include yours if possible. If you’re OK with that, can you please send me a video and some photos of your piping and tank, shot vertically, in HD. You can send via WeTransfer.com to editor@renewableheatinghub.co.uk if you’re in.
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@iraknic I just had a very quick look. Is that buffer tank on a roof?
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How Installing a Heating System Became a National Nervous Breakdown
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Rewritten and updated for 2027
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