Energy sustaining water heater

• US 6,684,821 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bradford White Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bradford White Corporation
• Inventors: Lannes, Eric M., Doss, Garrett
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US10/044,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 122/13.01, 122/14.2, 122/14.21, 122/4.A, 122/14.31, 122/19.1, 122/19.2, 126/344, 431/80
• US Class Current: 122/14.2
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 18/00 Small-scale combined heat and power [CHP] generation systems specially adapted for domestic heating, space heating or domestic hot-water supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2101/60 Thermoelectric generators, e.g. Peltier or Seebeck elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/156 Reducing the quantity of energy consumed; Increasing efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/223 in the water storage tank
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/33 Control of dampers
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/36 of burners
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2035 using fluid fuel

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.

Claims

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.

2. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said thermo-voltaic device comprises a plurality of thermopiles.

3. The water heater of claim 2, wherein said plurality of thermopiles are each in the milli-volt range.

4. The water heater of claim 2, wherein said thermopiles are connected in series.

5. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said flue comprises flue tubes and a flue tube collector.

6. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising a draft diverter.

7. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said pilot burner and said damper are capable of balancing standby heat loss against water temperature.

8. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising a pressure switch connected to prevent said flue damper from closing while said main burner is firing.

9. A water heater comprising:

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.

10. The water heater of claim 9, wherein said thermo-voltaic device comprises a plurality of thermopiles.

11. The water heater of claim 10, wherein said plurality of thermopiles are each in the milli-volt range.

12. The water heater of claim 10, wherein said thermopiles are connected in series.

13. The water heater of claim 9, wherein said flue comprises flue tubes and a flue tube collector.

14. The water heater of claim 9, further comprising a draft diverter.

15. The water heater of claim 9, wherein said pilot burner and said damper are capable of balancing standby heat loss against water temperature.

16. The water heater of claim 9, further comprising a pressure switch connected to prevent said flue damper from closing while said main burner is firing.

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.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said pilot burner and said damper are used to balance standby heat loss against water temperature.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein a pressure switch is used to prevent said flue damper from closing while said main burner is firing.

20. 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;

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.

21. The water heater of claim 20, wherein said plurality of thermo-voltaic devices are each in the milli-volt range.

22. The water heater of claim 20, wherein said thermo-voltaic devices are connected in series.

23. The water heater of claim 20, wherein said thermo-voltaic devices comprise thermopiles.

24. The water heater of claim 20, wherein said plurality of thermo-voltaic devices comprise two thermopiles positioned substantially equidistant from said pilot burner on opposite sides thereof.

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:

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.

26. The water heater power source of claim 25, wherein said plurality of thermo-voltaic devices are each in the milli-volt range.

27. The water heater power source of claim 25, wherein said plurality of thermo-voltaic devices are connected in series to operate said water heater.

28. The water heater power source of claim 25, wherein said plurality of thermo-voltaic devices comprise thermopiles.

29. The water heater power source of claim 25, further comprising an electrical control circuit, said electrical control circuit being connected to said plurality of thermo-electric energy source and said flue damper;

wherein said control circuit is configured to operate said flue damper using said electrical power from said thermo-electric source to balance heat loss from the water in said water heater when said main burner is not fired.

30. A water heater pilot assembly for an electrically operable water heater comprising:

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.

31. The water heater pilot assembly of claim 30, wherein said plurality of thermo-voltaic devices are each in the milli-volt range.

32. The water heater pilot assembly of claim 30, wherein said plurality of thermo-voltaic devices are connected in series to operate said water heater.

33. The water heater pilot assembly of claim 30, further comprising at least one electrical connection to an electrical control circuit, said electrical control circuit being connected to said plurality of thermo-electric energy source and said electrically operable water heater;

wherein said control circuit is configured to operate said water heater using said electrical power from said thermo-electric source to balance heat loss from the water in said water heater.