Combined heating and hot water system
First Claim
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1. A hot water heater comprising:
- an instantaneous domestic water heat exchanger having a plurality of inner flow passages for domestic water flow therethrough and means defining a domestic hot water inlet and outlet communicating therewith, said heat exchanger also having at least one boiler water passage located adjacent to the inner domestic water flow passages and means defining a boiler water inlet and outlet communicating therewith;
a temperature sensor attached to the heat exchanger to sense the temperature of the domestic hot water therein;
a low mass boiler-type heat generator having an internal reservoir defining a boiler water inlet and outlet, a source of heat energy for heating water in the reservoir, and thermostatic means operably connected to the source of heat energy for maintaining the boiler water inside the reservoir between predetermined minimum and maximum temperatures;
a boiler water flow circuit connecting the heat exchanger and the heat generator reservoir in series, said circuit having a supply line for the flow of boiler water from the heat generator reservoir outlet to the heat exchanger boiler water inlet, and a return line for the flow of boiler water from the heat exchanger boiler water outlet back to the heat generator reservoir inlet;
pump means located in the flow circuit and coupled to the domestic water temperature sensor for causing boiler water flow through the heat exchanger upon the domestic water temperature therein dropping below a predetermined temperature; and
the heat generator reservoir being of a size large enough to enable the heat exchanger to supply short term domestic water demand and small enough to avoid excessive downtime energy losses.
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Abstract
A combination domestic hot water and space heating system has an instantaneous domestic hot water heat exchanger and a low mass boiler-type heat generator connected in a series by a boiler water flow circuit containing a circulating pump. The boiler-type heat generator has an internal reservoir containing between 10 and 20 U.S. gallons (37.85 to 75 liters) of boiler water, which is sufficient to enable the heat exchanger to supply normal short term demand, yet avoid excessive downtime thermal losses. A three-way diverter valve in the flow circuit diverts boiler water to a second heat exchanger in an air handler unit for space heating. Priority is given to domestic water heating.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hot water heater comprising:
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an instantaneous domestic water heat exchanger having a plurality of inner flow passages for domestic water flow therethrough and means defining a domestic hot water inlet and outlet communicating therewith, said heat exchanger also having at least one boiler water passage located adjacent to the inner domestic water flow passages and means defining a boiler water inlet and outlet communicating therewith;
a temperature sensor attached to the heat exchanger to sense the temperature of the domestic hot water therein;
a low mass boiler-type heat generator having an internal reservoir defining a boiler water inlet and outlet, a source of heat energy for heating water in the reservoir, and thermostatic means operably connected to the source of heat energy for maintaining the boiler water inside the reservoir between predetermined minimum and maximum temperatures;
a boiler water flow circuit connecting the heat exchanger and the heat generator reservoir in series, said circuit having a supply line for the flow of boiler water from the heat generator reservoir outlet to the heat exchanger boiler water inlet, and a return line for the flow of boiler water from the heat exchanger boiler water outlet back to the heat generator reservoir inlet;
pump means located in the flow circuit and coupled to the domestic water temperature sensor for causing boiler water flow through the heat exchanger upon the domestic water temperature therein dropping below a predetermined temperature; and
the heat generator reservoir being of a size large enough to enable the heat exchanger to supply short term domestic water demand and small enough to avoid excessive downtime energy losses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification