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Forums > Green Building Technologies > Geothermal Heat Pumps > Subject: Methanol or Propylene Glycol

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SmileyBurnetteUser is Offline
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08/19/2008 10:53 AM  

How do I tell if my ground loop has Methanol or Proplylene Glycol as the antifreeze?  Which is better?  Is it OK to mix them?

geodeanUser is Offline
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08/19/2008 11:14 AM  

Not sure how you can determine which you have.  Any chance of asking the installer? 


You can not mix them!!!!


 Methanol water has a low frictional pressure drop and a relatively high heat transfer coefficient. However, it is highly volatile, highly flammable, and highly toxic until diluted.  Low cost.


Propylene glycol solution is an alternative with the only true advantage of being less toxic than  methanol. Below about a 20°F freezing point, the viscosity gets excessively high, resulting in high pumping costs.  High cost.



Dewayne Dean
PalaceGeothermal.com
Why settle for 90% when you can have 400%
We heat and cool with dirt!
visit- http://welserver.com/WEL0114/- to see my system
geodeanUser is Offline
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08/19/2008 11:20 AM  
You could tell by checking the specific gravity of the solution. Methanol will be less than 1.0, Glycol will be more than 1.0.

Dewayne Dean
PalaceGeothermal.com
Why settle for 90% when you can have 400%
We heat and cool with dirt!
visit- http://welserver.com/WEL0114/- to see my system
SmileyBurnetteUser is Offline
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08/19/2008 11:24 AM  

Thanks for the quick response!

The geothermal was installed 15 years ago when the house was built.  I just bought the house.  I don't know who the installer was nor did the previous owner.

I guess I'll have to figure out how to do a specific gravity test.

geodeanUser is Offline
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08/19/2008 1:14 PM  
are you worried about the level of freeze protection?

Dewayne Dean
PalaceGeothermal.com
Why settle for 90% when you can have 400%
We heat and cool with dirt!
visit- http://welserver.com/WEL0114/- to see my system
SmileyBurnetteUser is Offline
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08/20/2008 9:40 AM  

 

Yes, freeze protection is the issue.  To accomodate some remodelling, the interior piping was moved.  This resulted in some fluid loss that we replaced with straight water.

geodeanUser is Offline
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08/20/2008 9:46 AM  
Methanol has a pretty strong smell, while glycol is odorless.

Dewayne Dean
PalaceGeothermal.com
Why settle for 90% when you can have 400%
We heat and cool with dirt!
visit- http://welserver.com/WEL0114/- to see my system
engineerUser is Offline
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08/21/2008 2:58 AM  
Low tech test - Methanol should have a distinct alcoholic smell whereas a couple drops of the glycol should feel quite slimy between two fingers, like soap.

Just a thought.

If "some fluid loss" isn't much, water replacement probably OK. If the loss ran to several gallons, then freeze protection likely compromised

Without data, you only have an opinion.
joe.amiUser is Offline
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08/23/2008 12:04 AM  
Where are you located?
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Forums > Green Building Technologies > Geothermal Heat Pumps > Methanol or Propylene Glycol



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