GB2087533A

GB2087533A - Heating installation

Info

Publication number: GB2087533A
Application number: GB8130971A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-11-06
Filing date: 1981-10-14
Publication date: 1982-05-26
Also published as: GB2087533B

Abstract

A heating installation for a building comprises a boiler (10) from which the combustion gases are led to a discharge point (12) via generally horizontal and generally vertical sections (20, 22) of ducting (14) which over the major part of their lengths are enclosed within a water jacket (16) so as to utilise the heat content of the combustion gases fully. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heating installation This invention relates to a heating installation for use in domestic premises, offices, factories and such like.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved heating installation which makes extensive use of the combustion gases generated thereby before such gases are eventually exhausted.

According to the present invention there is provided a heating installation comprising a boiler having a combustion chamber for the combustion of fuel with the consequent production of hot combustion gases, and ducting for leading the combustion gases from said chamber to a discharge point for emission externally of the building in which the installation is installed, characterised in that the ducting includes a generally horizontal section within the building which extends from said chamber to said discharge point either directly or via a generally vertically extending duct section within the building, said generally horizontal section being enclosed within a water jacket for at least the major part of its length such that heat exchange between the contents of the jacket and the interior of the building takes place substantially exclusively through the wall or walls of the jacket.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, the transmission of heat between the combustion gases and the interior of the building is by way of the water jacket which acts as a continuous heat radiator thereby avoiding the need for separate radiators as in conventional heating systems.

Moreover, the combustion gases are in heat exchange relation with the contents of the water jacket over substantial distances in contrast with a conventional heating system employing a boiler appliance where heat exchange between the gases and the water is limited to a short distance before the gases enter the flue and are discharged to atmosphere. The provision of a horizontal duct section serves to reduce the speed of travel of the hot gases thereby increasing their residence time within the ducting and allowing the heat content of the gases to be fully utilised.

in the preferred embodiment, the ducting will comprise a generally horizontal section followed by a generally vertical section terminating at the discharge point, both sections being enclosed within the water jacket. At least part of the generally vertical section preferably deviates from truly vertical disposition in order to impede the upward gas flow in this section. Where a hot water supply is required in addition to heating, the ducting may pass through a holding vessel to allow heat exchange between the hot gases and the water in the vessel. The vessel may for this purpose be associated with the upper part of the generally vertical duct section.

A fan may be located adjacent the discharge point for drawing the combustion gases through the ducting at a controlled rate so as to regulate combustion of the fuel. This may be particularly expedient where solid fuels are to be used.

The ducting and jacket are conveniently elongated in cross section, e.g. rectangular, and arranged so that a major surface thereof is presented towards the interior of the building.

Where the ducting and jacket are to be used to provide underfloor heating they will be disposed with their major cross sectional dimensions generally horizontally. In this event, the cross section of the ducting may include a generally convex lower major face with the object of improving heat exchange. In the preferred embodiment, in the generally horizontal section, the ducting is of triangular cross section arranged with one side presented upwardly and the opposite apex presented downwardly.

It is envisaged that the ducting may be actually located within the confines of the space to be heated, e.g. by running the ducting along the interior faces of a wall or walls of the building. In this case, the ducting and jacket will preferably be disposed with the major faces thereof generally vertical.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the heating installation according to the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are cross sectional views 2-2 and 3-3 as indicated in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the horizontal duct section of an alternative form of ducting used in an underfloor version of the heating installation according to the invention.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3, the heating installation is installed within a building such as a factory, greenhouse or the like and comprises a boiler 10 which in this case is fuelled by solid fuel.

The products of combustion from the combustion chamber of the boiler 10 are fed to a chimney 12 by means of ducting 14 (see Figures 2 and 3) enclosed within a water jacket 16. The boiler 10 may also incorporate a water jacket (not shown) in heat exchange relation with the combustion chamber thereof and the boiler water jacket may be connected to the water jacket 1 6 surrounding the ducting 14.

The ducting 14 comprises a generally horizontal section 20 and a generally vertical section 22 which terminates in the chimney 12.

Adjacent the upper end of section 22, the ducting 14 may incorporate an electrically driven variable speed fan 24 to assist in drawing the combustion gases through the ducting 14 and to regulate burning of the solid fuel. The fan 24 may not be necessary when the boiler is fired by other fuels such as gas. The water jacket 1 6 conveniently terminates just below the fan housing 24.

In the illustrated embodiment, the horizontal section 1 6 is intended to function as a continuous heat radiator and is disposed within the confines of the space to be heated. For example it may run along one or more walls of the building. Both the ducting 14 and the surrounding jacket 1 6 are of elongate cross section, conveniently rectangular as shown for ease of fabrication, and the arrangement is such that, in the horizontal section 20, the major axes of the ducting 14 and jacket 1 6 are generally vertical so that the major faces thereof are likewise generally vertical.

As mentioned previously, at least part of the generally vertical section 22 preferably deviates from a truly vertical disposition in order to impede the upward flow of combustion gases to some extent. At some point along the length thereof (adjacent the upper end of the section 22 in the illustrated embodiment), the ducting 14 may be arranged so as to be in heat exchange relation with a water tank 28 so that part of the heat content of the hot combustion gases can be used for heating water for hot water supply purposes.

To allow periodic cleaning of the interior of the ducting 14, an access portion 1 3 may project beyond the jacket 1 6 adjacent the junction between the sections 20 and 22. The access point 30 will normally be closed by a removabie stop or cover. To allow the water content within the jacket 1 6 to be replenished or replaced from time to time, suitable entry and/or drainage points will be provided for introduction and draining of water from the jacket 16.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the horizontal section 20 of the installation may be arranged as a source of underfloor heating and in this case may be sunk into a channel in the floor. The boiler may likewise be sunk into the floor if desired. In this embodiment, the ducting 14 and jacket 1 6 of the section 20 will be disposed with the major axes thereof generally horizontal so that one major face of the jacket 1 6 is presented upwardly. It may also be advantageous to modify the shape of the ducting 14 so that its lower major face is of outwardly convex shape, for example as illustrated in Figure 4 where the ducting 14 is of triangular cross section with its base disposed uppermost and the opposite apex disposed lowermost.

Experimental work with installations of the kind described above has been found to provide very favourable resuits compared with conventional heating installations.

Although the invention is described herein in terms of its use in a building such as a factory, it is envisaged that the invention can also be applied to other enclosed areas to be heated such as ships and the term "building" is therefore to be construed widely as including within its scope ships and other enclosed areas where there is a requirement for heating.

CLAI MS 1. A heating installation comprising a boiler having a combustion chamber for the combustion of fuel with the consequent production of hot combustion gases, and ducting for leading the combustion gases from said chamber to a discharge point for emission externally of the building in which the installation is installed, characterised in that the ducting includes a generally horizontal section within the building which extends from said chamber to said discharge point either directly or via a generally vertically extending duct section within the building, said generally horizontal section being enclosed within a water jacket for at least the major part of its length such that heat exchange between the contents of the jacket and the interior of the building takes place substantially exclusiveiy through the wall or walls of the jacket.

2. An installation as claimed in Claim 1 in which the ducting comprises a generally horizontal section followed by a generally vertical section terminating at the discharge point, both sections being enclosed within the water jacket.

3. An installation as claimed in Claim 2 in which at least part of the generally vertical section deviates from truly vertical disposition in order to impede gas flow in this section.

4. An installation as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 in which the ducting passes through a holding vessel to allow heat exchange between the hot gases and the water in the vessel for the purpose of providing a hot water supply.

5. An installation as claimed in Claim 4 in which the vessel is associated with an upper part of the generally vertical duct section.

6. An installation as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 in which a fan is located adjacent the discharge point for drawing the combustion gases through the ducting at a controlled rate so as to regulate combustion of fuel.

7. An installation as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 in which the ducting and jacket are elongated in cross section (e.g. rectangular) and arranged so that a major surface thereof is presented towards the interior of the building.

8. An installation as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said generally horizontal section provides underfloor heating within the building and in which the ducting and jacket are disposed with their major cross sectional dimension generally horizontal.

9. An installation as claimed in Claim 8 in which the cross section of the ducting includes a generally convex lower major face.

10. An installation as claimed in Claim 9 in which the ducting is of triangular cross section with one side presented upwardly and the opposite apex projecting downwardly.

11. An installation as claimed in Claim 7 in which the generally horizontal duct section is located within the confines of the space to be heated.

12. An installation as claimed in Claim 11 in which the ducting and jacket of said generally horizontal section are disposed with the major faces thereof generally vertical.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ducting 14 and the surrounding jacket 1 6 are of elongate cross section, conveniently rectangular as shown for ease of fabrication, and the arrangement is such that, in the horizontal section 20, the major axes of the ducting 14 and jacket 1 6 are generally vertical so that the major faces thereof are likewise generally vertical. As mentioned previously, at least part of the generally vertical section 22 preferably deviates from a truly vertical disposition in order to impede the upward flow of combustion gases to some extent. At some point along the length thereof (adjacent the upper end of the section 22 in the illustrated embodiment), the ducting 14 may be arranged so as to be in heat exchange relation with a water tank 28 so that part of the heat content of the hot combustion gases can be used for heating water for hot water supply purposes. To allow periodic cleaning of the interior of the ducting 14, an access portion 1 3 may project beyond the jacket 1 6 adjacent the junction between the sections 20 and 22. The access point 30 will normally be closed by a removabie stop or cover. To allow the water content within the jacket 1 6 to be replenished or replaced from time to time, suitable entry and/or drainage points will be provided for introduction and draining of water from the jacket 16. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the horizontal section 20 of the installation may be arranged as a source of underfloor heating and in this case may be sunk into a channel in the floor. The boiler may likewise be sunk into the floor if desired. In this embodiment, the ducting 14 and jacket 1 6 of the section 20 will be disposed with the major axes thereof generally horizontal so that one major face of the jacket 1 6 is presented upwardly. It may also be advantageous to modify the shape of the ducting 14 so that its lower major face is of outwardly convex shape, for example as illustrated in Figure 4 where the ducting 14 is of triangular cross section with its base disposed uppermost and the opposite apex disposed lowermost. Experimental work with installations of the kind described above has been found to provide very favourable resuits compared with conventional heating installations. Although the invention is described herein in terms of its use in a building such as a factory, it is envisaged that the invention can also be applied to other enclosed areas to be heated such as ships and the term "building" is therefore to be construed widely as including within its scope ships and other enclosed areas where there is a requirement for heating. CLAI MS

1. A heating installation comprising a boiler having a combustion chamber for the combustion of fuel with the consequent production of hot combustion gases, and ducting for leading the combustion gases from said chamber to a discharge point for emission externally of the building in which the installation is installed, characterised in that the ducting includes a generally horizontal section within the building which extends from said chamber to said discharge point either directly or via a generally vertically extending duct section within the building, said generally horizontal section being enclosed within a water jacket for at least the major part of its length such that heat exchange between the contents of the jacket and the interior of the building takes place substantially exclusiveiy through the wall or walls of the jacket.