GB1559958A

GB1559958A - Water heating installation

Info

Publication number: GB1559958A
Application number: GB3953/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Parr T K
Current assignee: Parr T K
Priority date: 1978-02-01
Filing date: 1978-02-01
Publication date: 1980-01-30

Description

(54) WATER HEATING INSTALLATION.

(71) I, THOMAS KENNETH PARR, a British subject, of The Lodge, Cropwell Butler, Nottingham NG12 3AG, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention is concerned with a water heating installation for supplying heated water, for example, for domestic purposes, or for small offices or factories.

In such situations, it is usual to provide a fuel-burning boiler, often gas or oil, through which water is circulated from a reservoir. Water from the reservoir can be drawn off when required and a heat exchanger circuit may be connected with the reservoir for heating purposes. Fuel-burnrng boilers produce hot waste gases which escape through an exhaust to a flue. These gases make the exhaust and the flue very hot and, although in some installations, some of this heat may assist in warming a room adjacent the flue, the heat is usually almost totally wasted. The present invention is concerned with conservation of fuel by reducing the heat lost through such an exhaust.

The present invention provides a water heating installation comprising a water supply reservoir, a hot water reservoir connected to receive water from the water supply reservoir, a fuel-burning boiler connected with the hot water reservoir for heating the water therein, an outlet for removal of hot water from the hot water reservoir, the boiler being provided with an exhaust pipe for burnt-fuel gases, and a heat exchanger surrounding a part of the exhaust outlet and connected in a flow circuit leading to the water supply reservoir, so as to preheat the water in the water supply reservoir with heat from the burnt-fuel gases.

Preferably, the flow circuit includes the water supply reservoir, so that the water therein circulates through the heat exchange. The flow circuit may, however, be closed and include a further heat exchanger in the water supply reservoir for heating the water therein.

Reference is now made to the accompany ing drawing, wherein the sole figure is a diagrammatic view of a domestic water heating installation constructed according to the invention. The particular installation shown is of the large-bore type in which water circulates by gravity, this type being shown for simplicity. The invention is equally applicable to other types of installa tion, such as the small-bore types, in which water is circulated by means of one or more pumps.

Referring to the drawing, the installation comprises a water supply reservoir 11, which is located above a hot water reservoir 12.

Cold water can be fed into the water supply reservoir from a mains supply 13 through a valve 14, controlled by a float 15 in the reservoir. A conduit 16 leads from an upper part of the water supply reservoir 11 to an inlet near the bottom of the hot water reservoir 12, so that a head of water is - maintained- above the latter reservoir.

A fuel-burning boiler 20 is provided hav ing an exhaust outlet including an exhaust - pipe 21 leading to a flue 22, which has a flared opening 23, for access of air to ensure oxidation of flue gases. An outlet conduit 25 takes cooler water from the bottom of the hot water reservoir 12 to the boiler and heated water is returned to an upper part of the hot water reservoir by a return conduit 26.

In the arrangement illustrated, a heat radiator 30 is served with heated water from the upper part of the hot water reservoir through a supply line 31. The water is returned to the upper part of the hot water reservoir by a return line 32. Similarly, a hot water supply tap 33 is connected to the supply line 31. The supply line 31 is continued upwardly to terminate in an over flow tube 34 above the water supply reser voir, which allows for expansion in the flow system.

A heat exchanger 40 surrounds the ex haust pipe 21 and, as illustrated, this is in the form of a coil of copper (or other metal) tubing wound around the exhaust pipe. An inlet conduit 41 leads from the bottom of the water supply reservoir 11 to the heat exchanger 40 and a return conduit 42 leads from the heat exchanger to an upper part of the water supply reservoir. In this arrangement, the inner diameter of the tubing used is such that gravity circulation is attained, so that heat from the waste gases is used to pre-heat water in the water supply reservoir 11. A pump may be used, if desired to control circulation. It is envisaged that the heat exchanger coil may be continued along a portion of the flue 22 (or a separate coil provided).

In practice, the heat exchanger coil 40, the conduits 41, 42 and the water supply reservoir 11 would be insulated against heat loss, the top of the reservoir being covered.

It is envisaged that the installation may be linked with a solar heating panel 50, which may alternatively or additionally serve to pre-heat the water in the water supply reservoir 11. In summer, for example, the solar heating panel would be of greater value, whereas in winter, the heat exchanger 40 would be of greater value. Valves, which may be thermostatically controlled, may be provided for controlling flow according to the temperature differentials.

It is also possible to provide a closed circuit including the heat exchanger 40, the conduits 41 and 42, and a further heat exchanger in the water supply reservoir.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A water heating installation comprising a water supply reservoir, a hot water reservoir connected to receive water from the water supply reservoir, a fuel-burning boiler connected with the hot water reservoir for heating the water therein, an outlet for removal of hot water from the hot water reservoir, the boiler being provided with an exhaust outlet for burnt-fuel gases, and a heat exchanger surrounding a part of the exhaust outlet and connected in a flow circuit leading to the water supply reservoir, so as to pre-heat the water in the water supply reservoir with heat from the burntfuel gases.

2. A water heating installation according to.Claim 1, wherein said flow circuit includes the water supply reservoir, so that the water therein circulates through the heat exchanger.

3. A water heating installation according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a coil of metal tubing surrounding the exhaust outlet. - - - - - 4. A water heating installation according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the flow circuit defined between the heat exchanger and the water supply reservoir is a gravity flow circuit.

5. A water heating installation according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, including a solar heating panel in a flow circuit including the water supply reservoir.

6. A water heating installation constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the form of a coil of copper (or other metal) tubing wound around the exhaust pipe. An inlet conduit 41 leads from the bottom of the water supply reservoir 11 to the heat exchanger 40 and a return conduit 42 leads from the heat exchanger to an upper part of the water supply reservoir. In this arrangement, the inner diameter of the tubing used is such that gravity circulation is attained, so that heat from the waste gases is used to pre-heat water in the water supply reservoir 11. A pump may be used, if desired to control circulation. It is envisaged that the heat exchanger coil may be continued along a portion of the flue 22 (or a separate coil provided). In practice, the heat exchanger coil 40, the conduits 41, 42 and the water supply reservoir 11 would be insulated against heat loss, the top of the reservoir being covered. It is envisaged that the installation may be linked with a solar heating panel 50, which may alternatively or additionally serve to pre-heat the water in the water supply reservoir 11. In summer, for example, the solar heating panel would be of greater value, whereas in winter, the heat exchanger 40 would be of greater value. Valves, which may be thermostatically controlled, may be provided for controlling flow according to the temperature differentials. It is also possible to provide a closed circuit including the heat exchanger 40, the conduits 41 and 42, and a further heat exchanger in the water supply reservoir. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A water heating installation comprising a water supply reservoir, a hot water reservoir connected to receive water from the water supply reservoir, a fuel-burning boiler connected with the hot water reservoir for heating the water therein, an outlet for removal of hot water from the hot water reservoir, the boiler being provided with an exhaust outlet for burnt-fuel gases, and a heat exchanger surrounding a part of the exhaust outlet and connected in a flow circuit leading to the water supply reservoir, so as to pre-heat the water in the water supply reservoir with heat from the burntfuel gases.

3. A water heating installation according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a coil of metal tubing surrounding the exhaust outlet. - - - - -

4. A water heating installation according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the flow circuit defined between the heat exchanger and the water supply reservoir is a gravity flow circuit.