GB2495496A

GB2495496A - In flue heat exchanger

Info

Publication number: GB2495496A
Application number: GB1117454.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Thomas Barson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-10
Filing date: 2011-10-10
Publication date: 2013-04-17
Also published as: GB201117454D0

Abstract

A heat exchanger l is disclosed which is located as part of a flue-way and has an obstruction, such as a flow diverter h , in the flue which not only forces waste gases to come into closer contact with the heat exchanger but can also be moved to allow cleaning of the flue. Preferably, the obstruction takes the form of plates within the heat exchanger, which may either be raised or lowered on hinges j , or rotated out of the way, to allow access to clean the flue. A metal bar k may be provided for moving the obstruction out of the way. Alternatively, the obstruction can be completely removed from the heat exchanger to provide access for cleaning. In use, the moveable obstruction enables a cleaning device, such as a chimney sweeps brush, to pass up into the flue for cleaning.

Description

I

A heat exchanger This invention relates to a method of recovering heat from a flue-way whilst still providing access to enable sweeping of the flue.

When friel is burnt in a stove or a fireplace, a great deal of the heat is lost up the flue.

Heat exchangers which are positioned in the flue way to recover some of the lost heat are already known, such as is shown in patent GB2308 178. The problem with existing inventions is that either the flue gasses are not diverted to come into contact with the heat exchanger and therefore take the most direct route up the middle of the flue, or if a diverter is provided to force the gasses into contact with the heat exchanger, there is no means to allow a chimney sweep's brush up the flue so cleaning is either difficult or impossible. This invention provides a solution to this problem.

The heat exchanger described has the benefit of being a self contained item which can be added to almost any existing stove. It provides a means of heating either water or air as desired. As the heat exchanger is outside of the stove's combustion area, it has no adverse effect on the efficiency or combustion of the stove.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows the device with the front of the outer case removed to show the heat exchanger without the diverter fitted. Component (a) shows the collar which fits into the outlet on the top of the stove, (g) shows the collar at the exiting end which will connect to the flue pipe. (c) shows the entry to a spiral tube (r) through which the water or air may pass before exiting at (d). (e) shows the direction of the flue gasses from the stove which exit (0 to continue into the flue pipe (not shown). (m) is the outer ease of the device. Although a single spiral tube is shown, two or more tubes could also be used to create a helix shape.

Figure 2 shows the view of the heat exchanger from above. The shape of the outer ease (m) has been chosen for ease of construction, although it is acknowledged that other shapes could also be used.

Figure 3 shows the view from above with the top removed. In this diagram the diverter (h) is in place. The diverter prevents the flue gasses from passing up the centre of the spiral and forces them to come into contact with the tube from which the spiral is constructed. The diverter has been attached to the one of the pipes by a hinged bracket (j).

Figure 4 shown a cross section of the device. In this example two diverters (h) have been used. Each has been attached at one side to the spiral pipe (1) by a hinged bracket (j), and have been attached at the other side by a hinged bracket to a metal bar (k).

Figure 5 demonstrates that when the flue needs sweeping, the bar can be raised which in turn lifts the diverters out of the way allowing passage for the brush. After brushing the bar would be lowered to return the diverters to their operating position. Although two diverters are shown it is acknowledged that one or multiple diverters could be used. In this embodiment, the diverter is in the form of a circular shape although other shapes could equally be used. A good shape would be to use a circular disc (figure 8) which has been bent into a semi-circle along one plane. When raised this would then fit closely to the spiral pipe, easing passage of the brush.

Figure 6 shows a cross section of the device which reveals the cut heat exchanger tubes, three of which have been identified as (1), the diverters (h), the hinges, two of which have been identified as (j), and the bar which supports the diverters (Ic).

In another example (not shown) the diverters could be in the form of shapes attached at one side to a bar., When said bar is rotated, the diverters would move through the tubes of the spiral and so would be out of the way when cleaning.

Figure 7 shows an alternative design where rather than using hinged plates, the centre of the spiral is obstructed by a cylinder (n). If desired the cylinder could be located in place by the use of brackets (p) which could hook onto the spiral or a suitable fixing.

For convenience the cylinder could have a handle (q) to aid in its removal. Any number of shapes could be used in this example.

Preferably the relationship between the sizes of the outer ease (rn), the spiral tube (r and the diverter or diverters (h), should be such that the free air space should not be less than the diameter of the collar exiting the stove. If the free air space is reduced the draw of the flue and the performance of the stove could be adversely affected.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A heat exchanger which is located as part of a flue-way and has an obstruction which not only forces waste gases to come into closer contact with the heat exchanger but can also be moved to allow cleaning of the flue.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A heat exchanger as described in claim 1 where the obstruction takes the form of hinged plates within the heat exchanger which may be raised or lowered to allow access to clean the flue.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A heat exchanger as described in claim 1 where the obstruction takes the form of plates within the heat exchanger which may be rotated out of the way to allow access to clean the flue 4. A heat exchanger as described in claim 1 where the obstruction can be completely removed from the heat exchanger to allow access to clean.</claim-text>