The Power-Pipe: Recycling Heat From Drainwater
by Justin Thomas, Virginia 
on 06.13.06
Last year, we noted a device called the GFX that recovered heat from drainwater. This device has been re-dubbed the Power-Pipe, and it was recently launched in a "coil cutting" ceremony in Canada. The Power-Pipe is made of copper, and works by efficiently transferring heat from the falling film of warm drain water on the inside of the pipe to the cold fresh water flowing in the outer coils. "With the residential installation of the pipe, the typical water temperature rise would be from 10 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius," says the inventor, Gerald Van Decker. As a result, less energy is used to heat household water. Customers save 25 to 40 per cent on their energy bills and the environmental impact is decreased. In residential use, it increases your water heating capacity so you won't run out of hot water in the shower.
In terms of "green energy," drain water heat recovery is less glamorous than its well-lauded cousins solar energy and wind power, but Gerald is committed to the smart, energy savings it offers customers and its impact on the environment. "The Power-Pipe saves as much on domestic water consumption as a single solar heating system, at about a quarter of the cost," he says. "It has no moving parts, requires no maintenance and will last over 50 years."
:: Via Hugg via University of Waterloo. See also Power-Pipe's home page at RenewABILITY Energy.
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This is brilliant.
I hate to be doubtful, but aren't the major users of hot water in the average American house the Dishwasher and Washing Machine? These would both be bad choices for heat recovery because they take hot water in and then release it after using it for a cycle. So the delay in heat recovery would make this system unless for that higher volume applications. Actually if someone took a bath they would have the same problem. I like the notion, I'm just not sure it practical except in a handful of applications that I'm having a hard time imagining would yield the kinds of results promised.
On a technical note, could they be used in a horizontal arrangement? I know in my house there is only a 30 inch straight drop before the sewer pipe disappears outside.
Not a new idea
Bob Vila used it years ago.
http://www.bobvila.com/BVTV/HomeAgain/BTS-1002-DrainHeatRecovery.html
http://gfxtechnology.com/bobvilahbb.html
Sixseven,
GFX is the same product as the Power-Pipe. It was renamed.
Justin
Justin I think you may have been confused even though its and old product.. its still an old product..
Nowhere in the old article or the new article did Justin claim this was "new" technology. So Sixseven and Mike, give Justin a break!
Just to mention cause I was figuring which I would purchase for myself when building a home.
Using their tables on https://www.securenet.net/renewability/US-site/
the best kw for your dollar is the R2-60 model with $45.05/kw saved. (I did not see over what duration the kw was based on though)
These things are great. I have one in my house. Not too hard to install and once it is there you never think about it again. You could use it horizontally but it may not work so well. The idea is that as the water runs through it, the water spirals so it actually has a very large surface area take energy from, water doesn't just run straight down a vertical pipe.
It is correct though that is only works for the shower or application where water is being used and drained at the same time.
There are shorter ones for smaller drops.
To set the record straight - Powerpipe is an IMITATION of GFX.
The PowerPipe is a competing product to the GFX. Some would say that the idea was stolen but I wouldn't know. I'd like to find some research that compares the two but at the same time I understand the PowerPipe is much more expensive than the GFX.
This product is excellent to put on your shower drain.
Powerpipe is made with recycled copper from China. The company makes false claims. I purchased 4 units from power-pipe and they were recalled due to lead in the braze. Two of the replaced units were leaking at the joint and 2 others were clogged with metal shavings in the fresh water feed. Highly not recommended. Stick with ECOGFX or any other brand of drain water heat recovery system but stay away from POWER-PIPE.
I have an ECOGFXs installed on my shower since 2004 and I am amazed by its performance. I take showers that last about 10 minutes every day, so do my wife and kids, and I have reduced my electricity bill at least 235$ per year. After two years, the unit is now paid! I recommand the ECOGFX to everyone.
"How does HOMEDEPOT EXPLAIN THIS?
I looked at one of these at RONA and noticed only a UL label on the pipe. No NSF 61 (toxicity tests for potable water) was written on the pipe. I called Renewability and they said they were UL certified for use with potable water. I did some more research and it looks like they make this same claim on several Powerpipe documentation.
When asked if Powerpipe was safe for use with potable water, UL answered...............
"Searching for file number MH29466, I see that the file is held by the company Renewable Energy Inc. It appears that their Power-Pipe Series heat exchangers are listed as Specialty Heating-Cooling Appliance Accessories under UL Category Code MJAT (USA) and MJAT7 (Canada), but they do not appear to be certified to any drinking water safety standards.""
Be carefull!, warm water around 30-40 degree celcius grow a bacteria that is common in all water called leigonella. The water needs to be hotter than 55degrees something to kill the bacteria.