WO1987004781A1

WO1987004781A1 - Heating exchange for potable water

Info

Publication number: WO1987004781A1
Application number: PCT/US1986/000291
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert John Lauderdale
Original assignee: Robert John Lauderdale
Priority date: 1986-02-06
Filing date: 1986-02-10
Publication date: 1987-08-13
Also published as: EP0256006A1

Abstract

This heated potable water tank makes available an appliance meeting all the requirements for safe potable water, supplying the consumer a device with a high continuous output of hot water, even when demand is high. The efficient means of heat exchange employed will conserve energy over other coded (vented), indirectly heated potable water tanks. The improvements are: [1] Double sided metal heat exchanger sheet or sheets (3) as means to heat the potable water with the sheets being immersed in the boiler water (7) and thus causing a significant increase in temperature of the enclosed supply water. [2] Vented heat exchanger tubes (18) as a means to heat the potable supply water with the large volume of boiler water surrounding the potable water flowing in the pipes (19). [3] A corrugated metal heat exchanger sheet (14, 16) providing a means to transfer the heat from the boiler water through its surface to the stored reservoir potable water (5). [4] A potable water temporarily storage reservoir (5) where the hot tank walls (10) heat the stored water. The properties of the sheet heat exchangers (3) result in a very large area of heat exchange surface in contact with a small volume (20) of potable water flowing over the narrow inner surfaces of large heat exchange plates, and this method results in the highest heat extraction from the externally heated water to the potable water.

Description

HEATING EXCHANGE FOR POTABLE WATER- TECHNICAL FIELD:

My invention relates to heating potable consumption water by an indirect means, with a storage tank to temporarily store the hot water until is is drawn of the reservoir by the consumer.

This invention ensures a constant supply of hot water is available to the consumer by providing the means of a large heat exchanger surfaces, heating the water before it enters and exits the said reservoir, where it receives additional heating from the storage tank walls. BACKGROUND ART:

Prior to this invention the output flow from vented indirect heated potable water tanks was very limited and a long reheating time to heat the replaced used water. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION:

The principle of the invention is to provide large heat exchanger surfaces to heat the potable water before it enters and exits the storage tank reservoir, by using input and output heat exchangers, and heating the stored water, with the reservoir tank walls.

The heat exchange is provided by the means of a vented double sided heat exchanger metal sheet, sheets, vented pipes, pipe or any combination thereto, providing a high constant flow of hot water to the consumer and a short reheat time if the water demand has been very excessive.

The efficiency of the heating methods, removes the need for any other installed heating make up devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:

The details of my invention are described in relation to the accompanying drawings and contained in the embodiments:

Fig 1, Illustrates a plan view of the indirectly heated potable water tank, also referred to as the appliance, the drawing shows the inner tank as the storage reservoir 4, the input heat exchanger, 3, the outer indirect heated water tank, 12, with a boiler water distribution pipe and a return boiler water outlet water pipe, 15, the air space vent tank is indicated by 10.

In Fig 2, is the cross section of the appliance shows how the preheat metal heat exchanger sheet is disposed in in a spiral so that a maximum area of sheet is used.

Fig 3, the input heat exchanger elements contained in in the vent tank.

Fig 4, illustrates a portion of the supply metal heat exchange sheet with a cut away section showing tubes to distribute and collect the potable water.

Fig 5, the partial cross section of the metal supply later heat exchanger metal sheet illustrating a narrow potable water space, 20, and the heat exchange elements, 14, inside of said exchanger sheet.

Fig 6, Shows the method of connecting more than one input or output metal heat exchanger sheets.

Fig 7, and 7a, Illustrates the method of connecting the vent of the vented tubes into the supply heat exchangers and storage reservoir. continuing in the features and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more further described, as illustrated.

Fig 8, is second sectioned view of the indirectly heated water storage tank with vented heat exchanger pipes Fig

7, and 7a, illustrates the method of connecting the heat exchanger tubes into the air space vent tank.

Fig 9, a partial cross section view of a heat exchanger pipe tube showing the triangular heat exchange elements. wherein Fig 10, shows^'a length of heat exchanger pipe tube with a section of the outer sheath removed to show the spiral heat exchange elements.

Fig 11, is a partial cross sectional view of the heat exchanger metal sheet.

Fig 12, shows the heat exchanger metal sheet formed to fit into the air space of the vent tank and the drawing

12a, and 12b, show alternative heat exchanger elements, wherein digits 30 represent the connections of the vent spaces into the potable water flow areas.

Fig 13, and Fig 14, illustrates alternative disposed heat exchanger tubes.

Fig 15, illustrates a combination of the heat exchange coil and metal sheet heat exchangers.

Fig 16, a flow diagram showing the invention connected to the external heating source. Wherein Figure 17, a parallel arrangement which is a means to supply hot water water to different areas or at different temperatures.

Similar references represent corresponding characters in the explanation of the drawings and description. _ _!_

DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:

The invention is further explained with reference to the embodiments and shown in the accompanying drawings:

Referring to the plan view of Fig 1, the illustration comprises of three tanks the innermost potable water reservoir tank, , wherein this tank temporarily storing the heated water and providing additional heat by the heated tank walls. This is surrounded by a vent space tank, 10, providing the means of a safety air gap to separate the fluids contained in the reservoir tank and the boiler water, 7. The outer boiler water tank, 12, surrounding the vent space tank and contains externally heated boiler water providing the sole heating source for the consumption potable water in the said tanks, heat exchangers, pipes and tubes. The said tanks are of any shape or size and disposed on any axis.

The air space vent tank, 10, hereinafter referred as the vent tank requires a means to overcome the insulating effect of the air gap, 11, while still retaining the safety air space, this is achieved by trie insertion of a metal sheet heat exchanger, 16, into the vent tank between the adjacent tank walls as shown.

The metal heat exchanger sheet is comprised of elements that are fully illustrated in Fig 3, and in Fig 12, 12a and 12b, are in flush contact with the adjacent tank walls which provides the means for maximum heat transfer between the fluids by thermal heat transfer.

The metal heat exchanger can be in other configurations. Illustrated in Fig 1, is the input heat exchanger metal sheet, 3, which has a high heat transfer to the potable water flowing through the said heat exchanger, the flow space, 20, is narrow as indicated in a clearer manner by referring to fig 5.

This said flow space results in maximum heat transfer for the cold water as we have a small volume o*f water flowing over large heat transfer surfaces, 18.

The said metal sheet immersed in the boiler water is spirally disposed so that a maximum length is contained within said water tank, a double sided heat transfer surface is shown by, 18, of Fig 4, and 5.

The elements of the heat exchanger sheet shown as, 14, of Fig 4, and in the partial' cross section of Fig 5.

The said input heat exchanger can be disposed in any axis and in any configuration.

The input and outlet of the boiler water tank, 8, and 9, Fig 1, use the means to distribute the water evenly in the tank by the pipes indicated as 15. With the same means used to distribute the water in the heat exchanger sheet, all said pipes have sealed ends with entry and exit water flow holes along the length, the heat exchanger pipes are indicated as 21, and 22, of Fig 4.

The said pipes can be in any configuration and disposed on any axis.

Shown in Fig 8, is the reservoir tank drain tube, 25, and vent tank drain pipe, 26. Encasing the outer boiler water tank, 12, is a coating of insulation, 13, minimizing atmospheric heat loss.

To follow the water flow and the heating function, we we shall commence where the cold supply waters enters the supply input pipe, 1, Fig 1, into the input heat heat exchanger sheet, 3, or input pipe heat exchanger 23, of Fig 8. The input heat exchanger increases the temperature of the supply water by a significant amount before it flows into the said storage reservoir, 10.

The stored water, 5, is additionally heated by the hot reservoir tank walls, when the hot water is drawn off by the user the water exits the said tank to the outside hot water plumbing through outlet pipe, 6.

The externally heated boiler water, 7, enters the outer tank through inlet pipe, 8, exiting the said tank when it requires reheating through outlet pipe, 9. The boiler water is the sole heating source for the potable water requiring the boiler water is kept at a temperature between 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit.

Indirectly heated potable water storage tanks are controlled by codes to protect the consumers health, the requirement is that an air space separate the fluids so that any deterioration of the walls that separate the fluids canno-t cause cross contamination of th-e potable water, said air space is referred to as the vent space and shown as 11 in Fig 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. The digits, 30, indicate the areas where vented pipes are mated into vent space as shown in Fig 7, and 7a. My invention uses a metal heat exchanger sheet with the vent space indicated by, 11, in Fig 5, Fig 3, Fig 2, and the vent tank, 10, enclosing the metal heat exchanger 14.

The partial cross section of the vented input heat exchanger sheet Fig 5, is further explained in the illustration wherein the outside plates, 18, of the said of sheet are immersed in the boiler water. One of the advantages is providing the means to double the area of surface contact with the boiler water for a given length of heat exchanger.

With the narrow potable water flow space shown by, 20, a small volume of water is in contact with the internal surface plates, 19, and the heat transfer elements, 14, have minimum width so that the outer plates, 18, are as close as possible to the inner potable water flow plates ,20, to maximize heat transfer between the fluids.

The input heat exchanger sheet, sheets of Fig 6, or vented input pipes, pipe heat exchangers, 23, or 24 of Fig 8, and Fig 15, can be configured in any shape and disposed on any axis.

This invention does not restrict the art that comprise of a reservoir tank and input and output heat exchangers , the art may be sufficient where the heat exchangers are the only means of heating if an high inital high hot water flow is not needed, and if air space venting is not a desired for supplying the hot potable water, then the art must stand for unvented indirectly heated hot water tanks. Fig 15, the combination of heat exchanger sheet, 3, with pipe heat exchangers, 23, or, 24, either can be used as input or output heat exchangers to suit requirements.

Hereinafter the illustrations shown in Figure 16, and and Fig 17, are flow chart drawings, to describe the installations where the indirectly heated water tank may be used, in which identification of the elements are referred to by alphabetical lettering.

The description of Figure 16, shows the flow of heated water from said heater, H, where the flow follows the arrows as indicated, flowing through the zone valve, J, said zone valve will only allow a water flow to pass if the water contained in the appliance indicated by C, needs heating; the boiler water will return to H, through the circulator pump, I, with this cycle continuing to maintain the temperature of said water C.

The building heaters are indicated by E, the heating is controlled by zone valves can provide different levels of heating to either branch of the building.

The supply consumption water enters the appliance at B and exits to the consumers hot water at A.

Fig 17, the hot water follows the path as described in Fig 16, but the illustration shows the appliance tanks L, M, and K, connected in parallel with each tank provided a water mixing valve indicated as P, Q, and R, which is to supply hot water at different temperatures, or supply other locations to meet if required.

Claims

CLA IMS :

1. I Claim: A device to supply a high output of safe potable hot water by the means of an indirectly heated water tank-, which comprises;

(a) a potable water reservoir tank; as a means for temporarily storing and heating the water; and

(b) a vent tank air space tank; as a means to separate the fluids ; and

(c) a externally heated boiler water tank; as a means to to heat the tank potable water;

(d) a corrugated heat exchanger sheet; as a means to conduct heat to the potable water; and

(e) input metal heat exchanger sheets; as a means to heat the cold supply water; and

(f) output metal heat exchanger sheets; as the means to heat the exiting tank water; and

(g) a inlet boiler water pipe; as a means to distribute the boiler tank water; and

(h) an outlet boiler water pipe; as a means to return the externally heated water; and

(i) a potable water inlet pipe; as a means to distribute the potable water in the heat exchanger; and

(j) a potable water outlet pipe; as a means to obtain an even flow of water from the heat exchanger; and

(k) input heat exchanger pipes; as a means to heat the supply potable water; and

(1) outlet heat exchanger pipes; as a means to heat the potable water as it exits from the reservoir tank; and (m) a drain pipe; as a means to drain the water from the reservoir tank; and

(n) a vent pipe; as a means to drain any water from the vent tank; and

(o) insulation; as a means to reduce heat losses from the tanks to the atmosphere.

2. A reservoir a device of Claim 1, in which is a means to temporarily store the potable wa er comprises:

(a) a reservoir to temporarily store the potable water;

(b) a means to heat the temporarily stored water;

(c) a water inlet through which water enters the said reservoir;

(d) a water outlet for the potable water to exits said reservoir;

(e) a drain pipe outlet at the bottom of the reservoir.

3. A externally heated tank a device of Claim 1, which is the means to heat the potable water in the heat exchangers of the indirectly heated water tank comprises:

(a) a tank to temporarily store the externally heated water;

(b) an inlet for the externally heated water;

(c) an outlet for the externally heated water;

(d) an inlet for the potable supply water pipe;

(e) an outlet for the supply water pipe;

(f) a tank to contain a heat exchanger sheet;

(g) a tank to contain a heat exchanger pipe.

4. A vent tank a device of Claim 1, a means to provide an air safety vent space to separate the fluids, comprises:

(a) a vent tank to separate the fluids;

(b) a vent space to contain a heat exchanger sheet;

(c) a inlet for a water pipe to pass through;

(d) a outlet for a water pipe to pass through;

(e) a outlet for a vent pipe;

5. A corrugated metal sheet a device of Claim 1, a means to transfer heat as a heat exchanger, comprises:

(a) a corrugated metal sheet;

(b) formed to surround the reservoir tank;

(b) installed into the vent tank;

(c) in flush contact with adjacent tank walls.

6. Input metal heat exchanger sheet a device of Claim 1 as a means to preheat the supply water, comprises:

(a) a double sided sheet immersed in the boiler water;

(b) said sheet containing air vents;

(c) said sheet containing heat exchange elements:

(d) a water inlet for said sheet;

(e) a water outlet for said sheet;

(f) a potable water flow space in said sheet;

(g) a water distributor pipe; (h) a water collection pipe. <

7. Output metal heat exchanger sheet a device of Claim 1, comprising:

(a) a double sided sheet immersed in boiler water;

(b) said sheet containing air vents;

(c) said sheet containing heat exchange elements;

(d) a water inlet for said sheet;

(e) a water outlet for said sheet;

(f) a potable water flow space in said sheet;

(g) a water distributor pipe; (h) a water collection pipe.

8. Inlet boiler water pipe a device of Claim 1, a means to distribute the externally heated water in the boiler tank, comprises:

(a) a inlet boiler water distributor pipe;

(b) installed in the outer boiler tank;

(c) pipe having a sealed end;

(d) pipe having holes along its length;

(e) area of holes equal the pipe diameter.

9. Outlet boiler water pipe a device of Claim 1, a means to collect the externally heated boiler tank water when returning it to the external heater, comprises:

(a) a outlet boiler water collection pipe;

(b) installed in the outer boiler tank;

(c) pipe having a sealed end;

(d) pipe having holes along its length;

(e) area of holes equal the pipe diameter.

10. A potable water inlet pipe a device of Claim 1, as a means to distribute the potable water in the metal heat exchanger sheet, comprises:

(a) a potable water distributor pipe;

(b) installed into the metal sheet heat exchanger;

(c) pipe having a sealed end;

(d) pipe having holes along its length;

(e) area of holes equal pipe diameter.

11. A potable water outlet collection pipe a device of Claim 1, a means to collect the potable water, comprises :

(a) a potable water collection pipe;

(b) installed in the metal heat exchanger;

(c) pipe having a sealed end;

(d) pipe having holes along its length;

(e) area of holes equal the pipe internal diameter,

12. Input heat exchanger pipe a device of Claim 1, a means to heat the supply potable water, comprises:

(a) a heat exchanger pipe;

(b) pipe containing air vents;

(c) pipe containing heat exchange elements;

(d) a potable water flo.w tube;

(e) pipe having an outer sheath.

(f) a pipe immersed in the boiler water. -m-

13. Outlet heat exchanger pipe a device of Claim 1, a means to heat the exiting water from the reservoir tank, comprises:

(a) a heat exchanger pipe;

(b) pipe containing air vent spaces;

(c) pipe containing heat exchanger elements;

(d) pipe containing a potable water flow tube;

(e) pipe containing an outer sheath;

(f) pipe immersed in boiler water.

14. A drain pipe a device of Claim 1, a means to drain potable water from the reservoir tank, comprises:

(a) a drain pipe for draining potable water;

(b) a drain pipe fitted into the reservoir tank;

(c) a drain pipe with one end temporary sealed;

(d) a drain pipe passing through vent and boiler tanks;

(e) a pipe that exits to exterior of the indirectly heated water tank.

15. A vent pipe a device of Claim 1, a means to drain any water leaking into the vent tank, and comprises:

(a) a vent pipe;

(b) vent pipe fitted into vent tank;

(c) vent pipe passes through the boiler water tank;

(d) pipe exits to the exterior of the indirectly heated water tank.