FLUID HEATING SYSTEM

• US 20100251973A1
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth A. Dongo, Timothy Curran
• Original Assignee: Kenneth A. Dongo, Timothy Curran
• Inventors: CURRAN, Timothy, DONGO, Kenneth A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,182,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 122/14.100
• CPC Class Codes: F23B 40/08 into pot- or trough-shaped grates
• CPC Class Codes: F23K 2203/202 using screws
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 1/082 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 2225/19 outlet temperature water heat-exchanger
• CPC Class Codes: F24B 1/024 for pulverulent fuels
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 12/02 having more than one heat source using heat pumps, in water central heating systems F24D3/18; in air central heating systems F24D5/12; in systems using heat storage masses F24D11/02
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/0031 with accumulation of the heated water
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/1051 for domestic hot water
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/067 Pellet fired boilers
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/08 Electric heater
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/10 Feed-line arrangements, e.g. providing for heat-accumulator tanks, expansion tanks ; Hydraulic components of a central heating system
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/1083 Filling valves or arrangements for filling
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/202 with resistances
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/205 with furnace tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 2230/00 Solid fuel fired boiler
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/13 for water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/133 Storage heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2057 using solid fuel
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0034 using liquid heat storage material
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 9/005 the plates having openings therein for both heat-exchange media
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 : Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A fluid heat exchange system with a fluid flow circuit having a heat exchange fluid flow loop, a heat absorption component (as in a domestic hot water tank inclusive of small commercial use tanks as in tanks of 20 to 120 gallons), a heat exchanger and preferably also a pump. A controlled and automated fuel supply source based heater (as in a pellet stove) is in heat passage communication with the said heat exchanger. A control unit triggers activation of the pump upon fluid in the heat absorption component reaching or dropping below a preset temperature, and the fluid flow circuit is arranged such that, during times of non-activation of the pump, fluid is free to flow in a unidirectional flow within the fluid circuit based on thermodynamic temperature differentials alone. A retrofitting of a domestic hot water tank is also featured preferably making use of preexisting drain and safety vent porting for in-feed and out-feed porting in the exchange loop side. Also, the flow circuit preferably is free of check valves and steam accommodation equipment.

Claims

1. A fluid heat exchange system, comprising:

a fluid flow circuit comprising a heat exchange fluid flow loop, a heat absorption component in fluid communication with said flow loop, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with said flow loop and a pump;

a controlled and automated fuel supply source based heater in heat passage communication with said heat exchanger;

a control unit which triggers activation of said pump upon fluid in said heat absorption component reaching or dropping below a preset temperature, and said fluid flow circuit being arranged such that during times of non-activation of said pump fluid is free to flow in unidirectional flow fashion within said fluid circuit based on thermodynamic temperature differentials alone.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said heater comprises a pellet stove.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said heat exchanger is mounted within the pellet stove.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said heat exchanger is mounted within a combustion chamber of said pellet stove.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said heat exchanger is a flat plate heat exchanger suitable for heating potable water and has dual inlets and dual outlets.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said heat absorption component is a domestic hot water tank.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said fluid flow loop includes an in-feed section downstream of said heat exchanger that feeds into a base region of said domestic hot water tank.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the in-feed section of said fluid flow loop feeds into a location at the base of said hot water tank originally occupied by a valved release port of said hot water tank.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein an out-feed section of the fluid flow loop exits said hot water tank at a location at a top cover of the hot water tank originally occupied by a safely released component of said hot water tank.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said pump is positioned in line between said heat exchanger and the hot water tank.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein said that water tank has a capacity of 20 to 90 gallons.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein said control unit for said pump comprises a thermostat and a temperature status switch assembly that provides for a domestic hot water temperature level setting of from 90°

to 150°

F. based solely on pellet stove heat.

13. The system of claim 6 wherein said domestic hot water tank comprises an internal heat source which is supplemental by heat provided in said fluid flow loop.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the control unit for triggering activation of said pump includes a thermostat, and said internal heat source is powered on and off based on that thermostat.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said heater is a pellet stove with a hopper and an automated bio-mass pellet fuel supplier to a burn location provided in a combustion chamber of said pellet stove and wherein said heat exchanger is positioned within said combustion chamber.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said heat absorption component is a domestic hot water heater tank.

17. A domestic hot water heating system comprising the fluid heat exchange system of claim 1 and further comprising a heated water circulation system for dispensing water by a user, which heated water circulation system includes the heat absorption component that also is present in said fluid flow circuit and which heat absorption component is in the form of a domestic hot water tank.

18. The domestic hot water heating system as recited in claim 17 wherein said heater is a pellet stove with a hopper and an automated bio-mass pellet fuel supplier to a burn location provided in a combustion chamber of said pellet stove and wherein said heat exchanger is positioned within said combustion chamber.

19. A fluid heating system, comprising:

a fluid heat exchange circuit comprising a fluid flow loop, a hot water tank in fluid communication with said fluid flow loop, and a heat exchanger;

a pellet stove with an automated bio-mass fuel supply, said pellet stove having a combustion chamber within which said bio-mass is combusted, and said heat exchanger being positioned within said combustion chamber, and said fluid heat exchange circuit being arranged such that fluid in said fluid heat exchange circuit flows in uni-directional fashion and in a steam generation avoidance fashion and which is set up to include thermodynamic based freedom of flow in the fluid flow loop.

20. A method of retrofitting a preexisting domestic hot water tank, comprising:

providing a fluid heat exchange system having a heat exchanger and a fluid flow loop, said fluid flow loop having an in-feed section and an out-feed section, said in-feed section being positioned downstream of said heat exchanger and connected to the domestic hot water tank, said out-feed section being also connected to the hot water tank and extending from said hot water tank to said heat exchanger, and

providing a heater which is designed for combustion of bio-mass fuel with an automated feed system for feeding the bio-mass fuel to a combustion chamber of the heater, and wherein the heat exchanger is positioned within the heater, and

wherein said fluid heat exchange system is free of check valves and provides for unidirectional flow exchange based on thermodynamic temperature differences which flow includes passage of fluid from the in-feed section, through the hot water tank and through the out-feed section and heat exchanger.