EP1254343B1 - A boiler constructed using a composite material - Google Patents

A boiler constructed using a composite material Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1254343B1
EP1254343B1 EP01931476A EP01931476A EP1254343B1 EP 1254343 B1 EP1254343 B1 EP 1254343B1 EP 01931476 A EP01931476 A EP 01931476A EP 01931476 A EP01931476 A EP 01931476A EP 1254343 B1 EP1254343 B1 EP 1254343B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
boiler
layer
filaments
strips
water
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01931476A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1254343A2 (en
Inventor
Lucio Latini
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Merloni Termosanitari SpA
Original Assignee
Merloni Termosanitari SpA
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Publication date
Application filed by Merloni Termosanitari SpA filed Critical Merloni Termosanitari SpA
Publication of EP1254343A2 publication Critical patent/EP1254343A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1254343B1 publication Critical patent/EP1254343B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H1/00—Water heaters, e.g. boilers, continuous-flow heaters or water-storage heaters
    • F24H1/18—Water-storage heaters
    • F24H1/181—Construction of the tank
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H9/00—Details
    • F24H9/40—Arrangements for preventing corrosion
    • F24H9/45—Arrangements for preventing corrosion for preventing galvanic corrosion, e.g. cathodic or electrolytic means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
    • F24H9/00—Details
    • F24H9/40—Arrangements for preventing corrosion
    • F24H9/45—Arrangements for preventing corrosion for preventing galvanic corrosion, e.g. cathodic or electrolytic means
    • F24H9/455—Arrangements for preventing corrosion for preventing galvanic corrosion, e.g. cathodic or electrolytic means for water heaters

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a polymeric matrix composite material boiler for use, in particular, in a water heater.
  • a first drawback of the metal boilers traditionally used in water heaters is constituted by the phenomenon of electrolytic corrosion which occurs on the internal surfaces of the said boilers.
  • protective systems are adopted, such as the application of suitable internal claddings or special sacrifical or impressed current anodes.
  • a further drawback of the traditional metal boilers is the negative environmental effects caused during the production phase by the use of chemical substances to prepare the metal surfaces.
  • a still further drawback is constituted by the short working life of the traditional metal boilers.
  • the boiler used is manufactured by means of the joining together of two or more components by welding or using adhesives.
  • These solutions which are structurally weak, require suitable adaptations to guarantee the functioning conditions of the article do not create potentially dangerous situations for the user due to the pressure which develops, in particular conditions, inside the boiler during the heating process or when the water is stored in the said boiler.
  • a first aim of this invention is to make it possible to manufacture a boiler made of a synthetic polymeric material as a single body without a structurally weak design.
  • a second aim of the boiler in question in this invention is that the production costs shall be similar to those of a boiler with an identical capacity but made of metal.
  • the said aims are achieved with the least impact on the environment possible during the production phase and with the energy consumption, both during the production phase and when the water heater fitted with the boiler is in use, being extremely low in comparison with the other water heaters available on the market.
  • the boiler in question in the present invention for use, in particular, in a water heater, fitted with a heating element and which is preferably, but not exclusively, electric and of the kind made entirely of a polymeric matrix composite material comprising a first layer made of plastic material having characteristic which make it suitable for contact with water for sanitary purposes and a second layer made of composite material consisting of high-tensile fibres, is characterised in that:
  • a heating element 3 Inside the boiler 2 is a heating element 3, of an electric kind.
  • the number 4 indicates a first layer which comes into direct contact with the hot water or the water to be heated and the number 5 denotes a second layer which is outside the first.
  • the first layer 4 is made of a thermoplastic matrix material constituted of polyolefinic, homopolymeric, copolymeric, metalocenic resins or PET-based resins, or PPE/PPO-based resins or even, a mixture of other compatible polymeric materials or those which have been made compatible, either semi-crystalline ones or amorphous ones.
  • the first layer 4 can also be made of an elastomeric matrix material constituted of PB or PIB-based resins or even a mixture with other compatible polymers or those which have been made compatible, either semi-crystalline ones or amorphous ones.
  • the two layers 4 and 5 both being in a single body, are completely detachable from each other.
  • One layer 6 of the water heater 1 containing the boiler 2 is wrapped around the outside of the said boiler and is designed to provide thermal insulation for the said boiler; the layer 6 being detachable from the external surface of the second layer 5.
  • a first advantage of the boiler in question in the present invention is that the second layer, designed to supply the necessary structural resistance for the said boiler, guarantees, at the least, a bursting value, when hot, of no less than 30 bar at 70°C and a number of mechanical fatigue cycles, from 1 to 8 bar, of more than the 20,000 required by the specific safety standards.
  • a second advantage is constituted by the fact that the industrial cost of the boiler object of the present invention is substantially identical to that of a boiler with the same capacity but made entirely of metal.
  • a further advantage is constituted by the ease with which the single components when ground up or the entire boiler unit in question in this invention can be recycled.
  • a still further advantage is constituted by the low impact on the environment during the production phase and the energy consumption during both the production phase and when the said boiler is in use, which is extremely low in comparison to that of other products available on the market today.
  • the boiler object of the present invention has the further advantage that its heat production levels, as well as its mechanical performance levels, are no lower than those of the metal boilers.
  • a further embodiment envisages the application of a layer composed of a plurality of filaments or strips of synthetic material covered with resins which agglomerate by means of reticulation or fusion outside the said polymeric material boiler, for use, in particular, in a water heater, fitted with a heating element and which is preferably, but not exclusively, electric and characterised by the fact that it is assembled from two or more elements fitted together by welding, adhesive, or another method.
  • the said covering is applied to the said composing elements when fully assembled.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)
  • Fats And Perfumes (AREA)
  • Reinforced Plastic Materials (AREA)
  • Surface Heating Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

The invention falls into the field of boilers made of polymeric matrix composite materials. The said boiler is constituted of two layers composed, in order from the inside to the outside, of a first layer (4) made of thermoplastic or elastomeric matrix material, and a second layer (5) composed of a plurality of filaments or strips of a synthetic material covered with resins which agglomerate by means of reticulation or fusion. The said first laser is built as a single body and is designed to come into direct contact with the water and the said second layer is also built as a single body and is designed to create structural resistance for the said boiler.

Description

Technical field
The invention relates to a polymeric matrix composite material boiler for use, in particular, in a water heater.
Background Art
For some time now, the applicant has been increasingly interested in the use of synthetic polymeric matrix materials as suitable materials for manufacturing components for containing water, for sanitary purposes, heated by either gas or electricity. This interest arises from a number of advantages that these materials have in comparison with the metallic materials used until now.
A first drawback of the metal boilers traditionally used in water heaters is constituted by the phenomenon of electrolytic corrosion which occurs on the internal surfaces of the said boilers. To counteract the said electrolytic corrosion which occurs, protective systems are adopted, such as the application of suitable internal claddings or special sacrifical or impressed current anodes.
A further drawback of the traditional metal boilers is the negative environmental effects caused during the production phase by the use of chemical substances to prepare the metal surfaces.
A still further drawback is constituted by the short working life of the traditional metal boilers.
When selecting materials, the designs proposed until now for the manufacture of synthetic material boilers for water heaters have tended, in general, to prefer materials with particular mechanical features and particular forms of structural strengthening.
The international patent application PCT/IT97/00186, for example, examines the use of alloy polymeric materials modified with other technical polymers since the said materials have positive mechanical stress resistance features, which are due also to the addition of reinforcing agents.
The international patent application PCT/EP98/07982, proposes a way of reaching the considerable mechanical resistance features of a boiler for water heaters made of a synthetic material with structural reinforcing ribs.
In both inventions indicated the boiler used is manufactured by means of the joining together of two or more components by welding or using adhesives. These solutions, which are structurally weak, require suitable adaptations to guarantee the functioning conditions of the article do not create potentially dangerous situations for the user due to the pressure which develops, in particular conditions, inside the boiler during the heating process or when the water is stored in the said boiler.
Disclosure of Invention
A first aim of this invention is to make it possible to manufacture a boiler made of a synthetic polymeric material as a single body without a structurally weak design.
A second aim of the boiler in question in this invention is that the production costs shall be similar to those of a boiler with an identical capacity but made of metal.
Further aims are constituted by the ease with which the components can be recycled and a guaranteed working life of at least ten years.
Furthermore, the said aims are achieved with the least impact on the environment possible during the production phase and with the energy consumption, both during the production phase and when the water heater fitted with the boiler is in use, being extremely low in comparison with the other water heaters available on the market.
The boiler in question in the present invention, for use, in particular, in a water heater, fitted with a heating element and which is preferably, but not exclusively, electric and of the kind made entirely of a polymeric matrix composite material comprising a first layer made of plastic material having characteristic which make it suitable for contact with water for sanitary purposes and a second layer made of composite material consisting of high-tensile fibres, is characterised in that:
  • the first layer can be of elastomeric matrix material;
  • the second layer is composed of a plurality of filaments or synthetic strips wrapped around the first layer, the said filaments or strips being covered with resins which agglomerate by means of reticulation or fusion; the said second layer being manufactured as a single body and designed to create a structural resistance for the boiler;
  • the said first and second layers being detachable from each other only after the said boiler has been destroyed, the said destruction being such as to allow the said boiler to be recycled at the end of its working life.
These and other characteristics will better emerge in the description that follows of a preferred embodiment of this invention provided in the form of an example with accompanying drawings, in which:
  • Figures 1 shows a boiler fitted into an electric water heater;
  • Figure 2 shows, schematically and out of scale, a section of the boiler;
  • With reference to figure 1, the number 1 is used to denote a water heater in which a boiler 2 is fitted.
    • Inside the boiler 2 is a heating element 3, of an electric kind.
    In figure 2, the number 4 indicates a first layer which comes into direct contact with the hot water or the water to be heated and the number 5 denotes a second layer which is outside the first.
    The first layer 4 is made of a thermoplastic matrix material constituted of polyolefinic, homopolymeric, copolymeric, metalocenic resins or PET-based resins, or PPE/PPO-based resins or even, a mixture of other compatible polymeric materials or those which have been made compatible, either semi-crystalline ones or amorphous ones.
    The first layer 4 can also be made of an elastomeric matrix material constituted of PB or PIB-based resins or even a mixture with other compatible polymers or those which have been made compatible, either semi-crystalline ones or amorphous ones.
    The two layers 4 and 5, both being in a single body, are completely detachable from each other.
    One layer 6 of the water heater 1 containing the boiler 2 is wrapped around the outside of the said boiler and is designed to provide thermal insulation for the said boiler; the layer 6 being detachable from the external surface of the second layer 5.
    A first advantage of the boiler in question in the present invention is that the second layer, designed to supply the necessary structural resistance for the said boiler, guarantees, at the least, a bursting value, when hot, of no less than 30 bar at 70°C and a number of mechanical fatigue cycles, from 1 to 8 bar, of more than the 20,000 required by the specific safety standards.
    A second advantage is constituted by the fact that the industrial cost of the boiler object of the present invention is substantially identical to that of a boiler with the same capacity but made entirely of metal.
    A further advantage is constituted by the ease with which the single components when ground up or the entire boiler unit in question in this invention can be recycled.
    A still further advantage is constituted by the low impact on the environment during the production phase and the energy consumption during both the production phase and when the said boiler is in use, which is extremely low in comparison to that of other products available on the market today.
    Other further advantages are constituted by the physical lightness of the unit and the lack of any element designed to combat the corrosion of the internal surface of the boiler.
    Lastly, the boiler object of the present invention has the further advantage that its heat production levels, as well as its mechanical performance levels, are no lower than those of the metal boilers.
    A further embodiment, not shown, envisages the application of a layer composed of a plurality of filaments or strips of synthetic material covered with resins which agglomerate by means of reticulation or fusion outside the said polymeric material boiler, for use, in particular, in a water heater, fitted with a heating element and which is preferably, but not exclusively, electric and characterised by the fact that it is assembled from two or more elements fitted together by welding, adhesive, or another method.
    The said covering is applied to the said composing elements when fully assembled.
    The said layer and the boiler created after the full assembly of the said two or more elements are fitted together in such a way as to allow their total separation.
    In this description, specific reference has been made to a water heater inside which the boiler object of the present invention is fitted, however, the said boiler can naturally also be used beneficially in fields of application other than that of the water heater.

    Claims (9)

    1. A boiler (2), for use, in particular, in a water heater, fitted with a heating element (3) preferably, but not exclusively, of the electric kind, and of the kind made entirely of a polymeric matrix composite material, comprising a first layer (4) made of plastic material having characteristic which make it suitable for contact with water for sanitary purposes and a second layer (5) made of composite material consisting of high-tensile fibres, is characterised in that:
      the first layer (4) can be of elastomeric matrix material;
      the second layer (5) is composed of a plurality of filaments or synthetic strips wrapped around the first layer (4), the said filaments or strips being covered with resins which agglomerate by means of reticulation or fusion; the said second layer being manufactured as a single body and designed to create a structural resistance for the boiler (2);
         the said first and second layers being detachable from each other only after the said boiler has been destroyed, the said destruction being such as to allow the said boiler to be recycled at the end of its working life.
    2. A boiler, according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic matrix material of which the first layer (4) can be produced is constituted of polyolefinic, homopolymeric, copolymeric, metalocenic resins or PET-based resins, or PPE/PPO-based resins or even, a mixture of other compatible polymeric materials or those which have been made compatible, either semi-crystalline ones or amorphous ones; the choice of the said possible thermoplastic matrix materials depending on the resistance, in particular the thermal resistance, that is to be given to the first layer (4).
    3. A boiler, according to claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material of which
      the first layer (4) can be produced is composed of PB- or PIB-based resins or even, a mixture of other compatible polymeric materials or those which have been made compatible, either semi-crystalline ones or amorphous ones; the choice of the said possible thermoplastic matrix materials depending on the resistance, in particular the thermal resistance, that is to be given to the first layer (4).
    4. A boiler , according to claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein the material of the first layer (4), which comes into direct contact with the water, has a high level of resistance to the thermal expansion and the cyclical mechanical warping due to the water pressure.
    5. A boiler, according to claim 1, wherein the filaments or strips of the second layer (5) can be constituted of fibre glass, carbon or even a type of fabric.
    6. A boiler, according to claims 1 and 5, wherein the resin covering made of filaments or strips of synthetic material of the second layer (5) is constituted of a pre-impregnation; the said resins used in the said pre-impregnation can be of either a heat-setting kind or of a thermoplastic matrix kind with suitable fusion points, the selection of the said resin depending on both the mechanical and the thermal resistance that is to be given to the second layer (5).
    7. A boiler, according to claims 1, 5 and 6, wherein the plurality of filaments or strips of a synthetic material is applied according to the most suitable technology, design and thickness for the final performance levels required of the boiler (2); for the sake of an example, depending on the said technology, design and thickness, the said boiler can reach bursting values, when hot, of 38 bar at 70°C and a number of mechanical fatigue cycles due to the inconstant pressure of the water of over one million at 1-6 bar.
    8. A boiler, according to claim 1, wherein a layer (6) of the water heater (1) containing the boiler (2) put to use in the said water heater with the intention of guaranteeing the thermal insulation of the said boiler, is positioned outside the second layer (5) of the said boiler and can be detached from the said second layer; the fact that this is detachable is designed to allow the boiler (2) to be fully disassembled after its destruction, if it is required to be recycled at the end of its working life.
    9. A boiler according to preceding claims, characterised in that the first layer (4) can be made of two or more components, fixed together by welding, adhesive or any other method.
    EP01931476A 2000-02-01 2001-01-30 A boiler constructed using a composite material Expired - Lifetime EP1254343B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (3)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    ITMO000009 2000-02-01
    IT2000MO000009A IT1315587B1 (en) 2000-02-01 2000-02-01 BOILER IN COMPOSITE MATERIAL.
    PCT/EP2001/000949 WO2001057451A2 (en) 2000-02-01 2001-01-30 A boiler constructed using a composite material

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP1254343A2 EP1254343A2 (en) 2002-11-06
    EP1254343B1 true EP1254343B1 (en) 2004-08-25

    Family

    ID=11450329

    Family Applications (1)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP01931476A Expired - Lifetime EP1254343B1 (en) 2000-02-01 2001-01-30 A boiler constructed using a composite material

    Country Status (12)

    Country Link
    EP (1) EP1254343B1 (en)
    CN (1) CN1397002A (en)
    AT (1) ATE274681T1 (en)
    AU (1) AU5824601A (en)
    DE (1) DE60105123T2 (en)
    EG (1) EG22652A (en)
    ES (1) ES2227185T3 (en)
    IT (1) IT1315587B1 (en)
    PT (1) PT1254343E (en)
    SA (1) SA01220037B1 (en)
    TW (1) TW505768B (en)
    WO (1) WO2001057451A2 (en)

    Cited By (1)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    RU169031U1 (en) * 2016-08-11 2017-03-01 Волкаст Лимитед Accumulative, storage water heater

    Families Citing this family (1)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    TWI771168B (en) 2021-08-27 2022-07-11 建準電機工業股份有限公司 Cooling fan

    Family Cites Families (4)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    DE2904908C2 (en) * 1979-02-09 1982-07-29 Stiebel Eltron Gmbh & Co Kg, 3450 Holzminden Water tanks, in particular hot water pressure accumulators
    EP0565782A1 (en) * 1992-04-15 1993-10-20 FILIBERTI S.p.A. Elliptical shaped tank for hot water in domestic plants
    DE4416487C2 (en) * 1994-05-10 1998-02-19 Kulmbacher Klimageraete Method and arrangement for insulating device components
    ATA233494A (en) * 1994-12-14 1996-04-15 Austria Email Waermetech Gmbh INSULATED TANK, ESPECIALLY HOT WATER TANK

    Cited By (1)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    RU169031U1 (en) * 2016-08-11 2017-03-01 Волкаст Лимитед Accumulative, storage water heater

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    SA01220037B1 (en) 2006-09-05
    DE60105123T2 (en) 2005-09-01
    TW505768B (en) 2002-10-11
    AU5824601A (en) 2001-08-14
    EP1254343A2 (en) 2002-11-06
    CN1397002A (en) 2003-02-12
    DE60105123D1 (en) 2004-09-30
    ES2227185T3 (en) 2005-04-01
    WO2001057451A2 (en) 2001-08-09
    ATE274681T1 (en) 2004-09-15
    IT1315587B1 (en) 2003-03-14
    WO2001057451A3 (en) 2002-03-07
    ITMO20000009A1 (en) 2001-08-01
    PT1254343E (en) 2005-01-31
    EG22652A (en) 2003-05-31

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