Energy sustaining water heater
First Claim
1. A water heater comprising:
- a tank for storing water;
a combustion chamber in thermal communication with said tank for heating said water, said combustion chamber containing a pilot burner and at least one main burner;
a flue containing a flue damper to control the passage of exhaust gases from said combustion chamber; and
an electrical control circuit, said electrical control circuit including a thermo-voltaic device proximal to said pilot and said control circuit being connected to said flue damper;
wherein said control circuit is capable of using thermal energy from said pilot to generate electrical power to operate said damper and to balance heat loss from the water in said water heater when said main burners are not fired.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a water heater that sustains energy during the standby mode so that it can power energy saving devices while e minimizing energy loss and controlling the stored water temperature. The present invention may include an outer casing, an insulated tank containing flue tubes, a combustion chamber, a burner rack containing a pilot and thermopile assembly, a flue collector, a damper and a draft diverter. These components are preferrably arranged to enable heat from the main burners to be transferred in an efficient manner to the water when needed and heat loss from the water to be minimized when the main burners are not fired. This may be accomplished without the use of external electric power, and the energy producing and heat transferring components of the water heater are optimally balanced, resulting in a sustained energy level that minimizes heat loss, prevents unwanted increases in water temperature, and enables the use of a damper without external electrical power.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A water heater comprising:
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a tank for storing water;
a combustion chamber in thermal communication with said tank for heating said water, said combustion chamber containing a pilot burner and at least one main burner;
a flue containing a flue damper to control the passage of exhaust gases from said combustion chamber; and
an electrical control circuit, said electrical control circuit including a thermo-voltaic device proximal to said pilot and said control circuit being connected to said flue damper;
wherein said control circuit is capable of using thermal energy from said pilot to generate electrical power to operate said damper and to balance heat loss from the water in said water heater when said main burners are not fired.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A water heater comprising:
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a tank for storing water;
a combustion chamber for heating said water, said combustion chamber having a pilot and at least one main burner;
a flue and flue damper for controlling the passage of exhaust gases from said combustion chamber; and
an electrical control circuit, said electrical control circuit having a thermo-voltaic device proximal to said pilot burner;
wherein said electrical control circuit is connected to control the transfer of heat from said main burner to said water when said main burner is fired, and to control heat loss from said water when said main burner is not fired using said thermo-voltaic device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. In a method for sustaining energy in a water heater having a tank for storing water, a combustion, chamber having a pilot and at least one main burner, a flue and flue damper for controlling the passage of exhaust gases from said combustion chamber;
- and an electrical control circuit having a thermo-voltaic device;
said method comprising using said thermo-voltaic device to controlling the transfer of heat from said main burner to said water when said burner is fired and controlling heat loss from said water when said main burner is fired. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
- and an electrical control circuit having a thermo-voltaic device;
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20. A water heater comprising:
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a tank for storing water;
a combustion chamber in thermal communication with said tank for heating said water, said combustion chamber containing a pilot burner and at least one main burner;
a flue containing a flue damper to control the passage of exhaust gases from said combustion chamber;
a thermo-electric source, said thermo-electric source comprising a plurality of thermo-voltaic devices arranged proximal to said pilot burner to use thermal energy from said pilot to generate electrical power;
an electrical control circuit, said electrical control circuit being connected to said thermo-electric energy source and said flue damper;
wherein said control circuit is configured to operate said damper using said electrical power from said thermo-electric source to balance heat loss from the water in said water heater when said main burners are not fired. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A water heater power source for an electrically operable water heater having a water tank, a main burner, and a flue containing a flue damper comprising:
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a pilot burner for receiving a combustible gas to produce a flame generating thermal energy;
a thermo-electric source comprising a plurality of thermo-voltaic devices electrically connected together and positioned substantially equidistant from said pilot burner on opposite sides thereof to receive said thermal energy from said pilot burner and to generate electrical power therefrom for operating said water heater. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A water heater pilot assembly for an electrically operable water heater comprising:
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a pilot burner for receiving a combustible gas to produce a flame generating thermal energy;
a thermo-electric source comprising a plurality of thermopiles positioned substantially equidistant from said pilot burner on opposite sides thereof to receive said thermal energy from said pilot burner and to generate electrical power therefrom for operating said water heater. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification