4.3 Connecting Seawater to Heat Exchanger

Refer to Figure 25 for typical seawater plumbing arrangement.

1. Connect seawater pump to Seakeeper dedicated through-hull fitting. A strainer and seacock valve should generally be installed between the seawater inlet and the pump.
2. Connect seawater from the installer-supplied pump to the lower 3/4 in. (19 mm) hose barb on the heat exchanger. Use the same practices as for other below-waterline seawater plumbing.
3. Connect seawater discharge to the overboard drain. Use the same practices as other seawater plumbing below the waterline.
4. The required flow rate is 2 GPM (7.6 LPM) minimum and 6 GPM (22.7 LPM) maximum.
5. In addition to initial operation at the dock, new Seakeeper installations should be checked for a minimum 2 GPM (7.6 LPM) flow while the vessel is at speed and when backing down.
   
   1. If no other method of confirming flow is available, the discharge line may be temporarily diverted to a bucket. Flow is calculated from time to fill a known volume.
   2. Flowrates in excess of 6 GPM (22.7 LPM) could affect heat exchanger life.
6. Inspect raw water plumbing during sea trial for any signs of leakage.