copper leaching in solar thermal system [RE-wrenches]

[Tom Lane, Energy Conservation Services]

buried pipe under some situations will cause the outside of the pipes too
corrode however water quality is your problem contact www.cuno.com  800 222
7880 and send then a same too test for free
----- Original Message -----
From: "matthew tritt" <solarone at charter.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 20, 2002 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: copper leaching in solar thermal system [RE-wrenches]


> Todd,
>
> Are the buried pipes insulated/isolated from the earth, and have you tried
> putting an Ohm meter on the pipes and the earth? There's got to be some
kind
> of difference in potential going on. I still wonder about the grounding
> question. It sounds far-fetched, but you might also check for measurable
> voltage between the pipes and ground.
>
> Plenty weird.
>
> Matt
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Todd Cory, Mt. Shasta Energy Services" <toddcory at finestplanet.com>
> To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> Sent: Sunday, October 20, 2002 4:25 PM
> Subject: Re: copper leaching in solar thermal system [RE-wrenches]
>
>
> > Yes, dielectric unions at the water heater, the only place where
> dissimilar
> > metals meet. The rest of the loop is copper, stainless and brass (all
> > compatible). The water has very low total dissolved solids and is not
> acidic
> > (anodes last forever). There are 2 homes on this well and only the home
> with
> > the solar thermal is making the shower green, so I know that is the
cause,
> > for some unknown reason.
> >
> > I wonder how long the water can contain enough copper to make the shower
> > green before the potable side of the loop to the heat exchanger is so
thin
> > it starts to leak. The glycol half loop of the loop is buried to another
> > building where the collectors are located. I have seen PV panels used to
> > apply power to buried natural gas pipes to prevent some kind of
corrosion.
> I
> > am not sure why they do that, nor if this might be more of an electrical
> > (anode/cathode) situation because the glycol part of the loop is buried
to
> > the panels located on a metal roof on another building.
> >
> > Since the plumbing was done right and the water quality is not the
problem
> > that leaves my question about different electrical potentials on one end
> of
> > the glycol loop and the other end of the potable loop. Does anyone have
> any
> > ideas how electrical characteristics with burying copper pipes or having
> > them span possible different electrical potentials might cause them to
> > corrode? You would think if they are copper (a great conductor) there
> could
> > be no dissimilar electrical potential?? This is a mystery to me, but I
> know
> > something is wrong because the pipes are leaching their copper into the
> > water.
> >
> > Todd
> >
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