WO2004094913A1

WO2004094913A1 - Hot water assembly for heating an environment

Info

Publication number: WO2004094913A1
Application number: PCT/AU2004/000528
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ziad E. Azzi; Bechara El Skaf
Original assignee: Azzi Ziad E; Bechara El Skaf
Priority date: 2003-04-22
Filing date: 2004-04-22
Publication date: 2004-11-04
Also published as: AU2003203784B1

Abstract

A hot water assembly (10) for heating a convection heater (102) to heat a surrounding environment (100), the hot water assembly (10) including: a water heater (11) having an inlet (18) and an outlet (17), the outlet (17) being provided for connection to the convection heater (102); a water storage tank (14) having an inlet (23) and an outlet (21), the tank outlet (21) connected to the water heater inlet (18), the tank inlet (23) being provided for connection to the convection heater (102) so as to receive water therefrom; and means to cause the water to flow through said heater (11) and tank (14), and including an electric controller module (12) adapted to control the flow of water from the tank (14) to the heater (11) and therefore the flow of water through the heater outlet (17).

Description

Hot Water Assembly For Heating An Environment

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved hot water assembly for heating an environment, such as a building or room interior.

Background of the Invention

Existing hot water assemblies for heating an environment generally include a large boiler tank filled with water. A burner below the tank burns gaseous fuel to heat the water. Alternatively, electric heating elements are disposed inside the tank. Heated water from the tank is then pumped through steel pipes that deliver the heated water to one or more convection heaters that heat the surrounding room or rooms.

The disadvantage of such existing assemblies is that it takes a long time to heat the large volume of water in the tank, and thus a long time to heat the convection heaters.

The tank also uses an excessive amount of fuel for initially heating the water. As the burners must burn fuel at a high rate, this can become a safety issue in the event of damage to parts of the tank. The existing heaters also use an excessive amount of water as the tanks are always filled with water even if not in use and large diameter pipes are used to channel the water.

Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a hot water assembly for heating a convection heater to heat a surrounding environment, the hot water assembly including: a water heater having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being provided for connection to the convection heater; a water storage tank having an inlet and an outlet, the tank outlet being connected to the water heater inlet, the tank inlet being provided for connection to the convection heater so as to receive water therefrom; and means to cause the water to flow through said heater and tank, and including an electric controller module adapted to control the flow of water from the tank to the heater and therefore the flow of water through the heater outlet. Preferably, the flow control means includes a pump having an inlet connected to the tank outlet, and an outlet connected to the water heater inlet to cause the water to move through the assembly, an electric motor drivingly connected to the pump, and wherein said controller module is operatively associated with said motor to thereby control said pump and therefore water flow through said assembly.

In the preferred embodiment, the assembly includes a thermometer for placement in the environment to be heated for measuring a current environment temperature, wherein the thermometer is connected to the controller module such that, in use, the controller module can compare the current environment temperature against a desired environment temperature and control the flow of water from the tank to the heater as required.

Preferably, the assembly includes a cooling means upstream of said tank for cooling the water prior to returning the water to the storage tank, if the water is above a predetermined desired water temperature.

In the preferred embodiment, the cooling means includes: a cooling tank to be substantially filled with water, an inlet pipe connected at one end to the storage tank inlet, the inlet pipe other end to be connected to the convection heater, a cooling pipe branching from the inlet pipe, the cooling pipe extending into the cooling tank and to the storage tank inlet, a valve disposed in the inlet pipe downstream from the cooling pipe, the valve being controllable by the controller module wherein the controller module can close the valve to divert water into the cooling pipe if water temperature in the inlet pipe is higher than a predetermined desired water temperature, and the controller module can open the valve so that water travels through the inlet pipe and into the storage tank if water temperature in the inlet pipe is at or lower than the desired water temperature; and a temperature sensor for determining the water temperature in the inlet pipe, the temperature sensor being connected to the controller module. The preferred said water heater is a demand-type (instantaneous) water heater.

In an embodiment, such a heater includes a plurality of small diameter pipes through which water passes to be heated.

In the preferred present heater assembly, water is only heated when required. This is in contrast to existing assemblies discussed above which store large quantities of water in a tank where the burners heat all of the water at once whether required or not. Brief Description of the Drawing

The figure shows a hot water assembly for heating an environment according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The figure shows a preferred embodiment of a hot water assembly 10 for heating an environment 100 in accordance with the present invention. The assembly 10 includes a demand-type (instantaneous) water heater 11, an electric controller module 12, a pump and electric motor 13, a water holding tank 14 and a water cooling tank 15. The water heater 11 has a gas fuel inlet 16, a water outlet 17 and a water inlet 18.

A gas pipe 19 extends into the heater gas inlet 16 from a gas fuel source (not shown). Heating pipe 101 extends from the heater outlet 17 and into a convention heater 102 in the environment 100 to be heated. A heater inlet pipe 20 extends from an outlet 21 of the holding tank 14 to the heater water inlet 18. The pump and motor 13 are located in the heater inlet pipe 20 for pumping water from the holding tank 14 to the heater 11, which will be explained further below.

From the convection heater 102, the heating pipe 101 is connected to assembly inlet pipe 22 which is connected to an inlet 23 of the holding tank 14. A cooling pipe 24 branches from the inlet pipe 22 and extends into the cooling tank 15. The cooling pipe 24 is coiled inside the cooling tank 15 and is connected to the holding tank inlet 23. Alternatively, the cooling pipe 24 can rejoin the inlet pipe 22. A valve 25 is located in the inlet pipe 22 downstream from the cooling pipe 24, the purpose of which will be explained below. The controller module 12 is connected to a thermometer 26 via wire 12a, to the heater 11 via wire 12b, to the pump and motor 13 via wire 12c, to the holding tank 14 via wire 12d, and to the valve 25 via wire 12e. Water taps 30 are used to maintain the desired water levels in the holding tank 14 and the cooling tank 15 or to fill same as required.

The assembly 10 uses a compact demand-type (instantaneous) water heater 11 which heats water upon demand only. In the water heater 11, water enters and travels through the heater 11 via fine (small diameter) steel pipes where the water is heated in the pipes. The steel pipes can range in diameter from 0.25 inch (0.63 cm) to 1 inch (2.54 cm) depending on the size of the heater 11. The heater 11 uses electricity (wire 12b) and a constant natural gas supply though heater gas pipe 19. The gas pipe 19 has a safety gas valve/switch 19a, which is activated in the event of an emergency. Demand-type water heaters 11 are available commercially, such as the "Rinnai Infinity'' (Trade Mark) water heater.

The method of operation of the assembly 10 will now be described. The temperature of environment 100 is measured regularly by thermometer 26 which is connected to the controller module 12. If the environment temperature is lower than a predetermined desired temperature, the controller module 12 activates the motor and pump 13 to pump water from the holding tank 14 to the heater 11. The heater 11 is also activated by the controller module 12 to burn fuel entering via gas inlet 16 to heat/boil the water. The heated water exits the heater 11 through heating pipe 101 and to the convection heater 102 to heat the environment 100. The water then re-enters the assembly 10 via assembly inlet pipe 22 and back to the holding tank 14. An alternative to the use of the convection heater 102 is to simply use heated pipe 101 to heat the environment 100.

The controller module 12 monitors the temperature of water entering the inlet pipe 22 via a temperature sensor in the valve 25. If the water is warmer than a predetermined desired water temperature, the controller module 12 closes the valve 25 such that water is diverted to the cooling pipe 24 where it is cooled in the cooling tank 15. The cooled water is then directed to the holding tank 14. The water is cooled in order to limit/regulate the temperature of water entering the heater 11. This allows water entering the heater 11 to be maintained at a substantially consistent temperature. As the heater 11 heats water in a plurality of small diameter pipes, cooled water occupies less space in the pipes which provides for easier heating. Using cooled water also protects the heater 11 as heating hot or very hot water may cause same to expand rapidly, which may damage the small diameter pipes of the heater 11. Cooling the water thus maintains the efficiency of the heater 11 , which is preferably continuously operated.

As mentioned, the temperature of environment 100 is measured regularly by thermometer 26. If the environment temperature is at or lower than the desired temperature, the controller module 12 continues the operation of the pump and motor 13 and the heater 11 to continue the environment heating process. The assembly 10 is operated until the desired temperature within the environment 100 is reached. The controller module 12 can also control the volume of water and the timing of flow of water from the holding tank 14 to the heater 11 in order to regulate the temperature in the environment 100 as well as for operating the assembly 10 efficiently. If the environment temperature is above the desired temperature, the pump and motor 13 and the heater 11 can be deactivated by the controller module 12 and the water is kept in the holding tank 14, until the environment temperature falls below the desired environment temperature.

Alternatively to the above, the assembly 10 can be operated manually without using the thermometer 26. In this case, the user can turn the assembly 10 on or off via the controller module 12 as desired.

The holding tank 14 preferably has a 50 litre capacity. The water level in the holding tank 14 can be momtored by the controller module 12 via wire 12d. The holding tank 14 also has a restrictor 27, which is operated by a temperature switch. The temperature switch can be connected to the controller module 12 for allowing or restricting the flow of water into the heater. The restrictor 27 is provided as an additional safety valve. Valves 28 and 29 adjacent the heater inlet 17 and heater outlet 18, respectively, are also provided and are manually operable for adjusting/stopping the water flow in the event of assembly error or for manual flow adjustment.

The heating assembly 10 is an improved design suitable for large environments such as commercial and industrial buildings and the like. The heating assembly 10 provides safety, faster heating, and better fuel and water efficiency. This provides environmental benefits as well as noise reduction due to the small size of the heater 11, contributing to a very cost effective heating assembly. The heating assembly 10 also costs about 70% cheaper to set-up than conventional hot water heaters, due to the smaller size of the heater 11.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to skilled persons that modifications can be made to the above embodiments or that the invention can be embodied in other forms.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A hot water assembly for heating a convection heater to heat a surrounding environment, the hot water assembly including: a water heater having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being provided for connection to the convection heater; a water storage tank having an inlet and an outlet, the tank outlet being connected to the water heater inlet, the tank inlet being provided for connection to the convection heater so as to receive water therefrom; and means to cause the water to flow through said heater and tank, and including an electric controller module adapted to control the flow of water from the tank to the heater and therefore the flow of water through the heater outlet.

2. The hot water assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow control means includes a pump having an inlet connected to the tank outlet, and an outlet connected to the water heater inlet to cause the water to move through the assembly, an electric motor drivingly connected to the pump, and wherein said controller module is operatively associated with said motor to thereby control said pump and therefore water flow through said assembly.

3. The hot water assembly of claim 1 or 2, the assembly further including a thermometer for placement in the environment to be heated for measuring a current environment temperature, wherein the thermometer is connected to the controller module such that, in use, the controller module can compare the current environment temperature against a desired environment temperature and control the flow of water from the tank to the heater as required.

4. The hot water assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the assembly includes a cooling means upstream of said tank for cooling the water prior to returning the water to the storage tank, if the water is above a predetermined desired water temperature.

5. The hot water assembly of claim 4, wherein the cooling means includes: a cooling tank to be substantially filled with water, an inlet pipe connected at one end to the storage tank inlet, the inlet pipe other end to be connected to the convection heater, a cooling pipe branching from the inlet pipe, the cooling pipe extending into the cooling tank and to the storage tank inlet, a valve disposed in the inlet pipe downstream from the cooling pipe, the valve being controllable by the controller module wherein the controller module can close the valve to divert water into the cooling pipe if water temperature in the inlet pipe is higher than a predetermined desired water temperature, and the controller module can open the valve so that water travels through the inlet pipe and into the storage tank if water temperature in the inlet pipe is at or lower than the desired water temperature; and a temperature sensor for determining the water temperature in the inlet pipe, the temperature sensor being connected to the controller module.

6. The hot water assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the heater is a demand-type water heater.