Hot water heating system

• US 4,350,144 A
• Filed: 08/18/1980
• Issued: 09/21/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stanford Associates, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stanford Associates, Inc.
• Inventors: Beckwith, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US06/179,066
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 126/427, 126/420, 126/421, 126/430, 126/436, 126/437, 126/435, 126/417, 126/452, 236/1 EA, 236/1 ER
• US Class Current: 126/586
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/0068 with accumulation of the heated water
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/165 using fluid fuel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies

Abstract

A system for heating domestic hot water includes solar collectors for raising the temperature of the water in the usual hot water storage tank. When a tap is opened, the water is drawn out of the tank and directed through a mixing valve which checks the temperature of the water and, if necessary, adjusts the temperature to an intermediate temperature somewhat below the temperature at which the water is to be used. The water then passes through a heater in which the temperature of the water is quickly raised to the elevated temperature at which it is normally used in households.

Claims

1. In a hot water system for heating water to a desired temperature and in which water is heated by the use of solar heating elements and stored in a tank, the improvement which comprises first means including the solar elements for heating water to a first temperature at or below the desired temperature;

and auxiliary means including a conduit for drawing water from said tank, control means in said conduit for restricting flow therethrough to water having a temperature equal to or less than said desired temperature, auxiliary heating means associated with said conduit and arranged when energized to heat water in said conduit, said auxiliary heating means including a plurality of separate burner sections, said control unit having means for sensing the temperature of water in said conduit and energizing said burner sections independently to quickly heat the water in said conduit to said desired temperature in accordance with the difference between the desired temperature and the temperature in said conduit.

2. In a solar heating system of the type wherein water is preheated by use of solar heat and stored in a tank for subsequent removal from the tank through a conduit, an improvement for bringing the water to a predetermined temperature comprising a first control unit for restricting flow of water in said conduit to water having a temperature equal to or less than the desired temperature, and a second control unit having sensing means in said conduit downstream from said first control unit, heating means associated with said conduit and arranged when energized to heat water in said conduit, the sensing means of said second control unit being arranged to energize said heating means when the temperature of the water in said conduit is below the desired temperature.

3. A system for bringing water to a desired temperature comprising a water storage tank, solar means for preheating water to a first temperature and directing it into said tank, a conduit for removing water at the first temperature from said tank, a source of cooling water at a temperature below the desired temperature, a mixing valve in said conduit and connected to said source of cooling water and arranged to add cooling water to the water in said conduit only if said first temperature is above the desired temperature while permitting water at the desired temperature to pass, auxiliary heating means effective when energized to raise the temperature of the water in said conduit, and a control device operatively connected to said auxiliary heating means and having means for sensing the temperature of the water in said conduit and energizing said auxiliary heating means only if the temperature is below the desired temperature.