AU2006203707C1 - Looped system fuel-fired fluid heating/storage device - Google Patents
Looped system fuel-fired fluid heating/storage device Download PDFInfo
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- AU2006203707C1 AU2006203707C1 AU2006203707A AU2006203707A AU2006203707C1 AU 2006203707 C1 AU2006203707 C1 AU 2006203707C1 AU 2006203707 A AU2006203707 A AU 2006203707A AU 2006203707 A AU2006203707 A AU 2006203707A AU 2006203707 C1 AU2006203707 C1 AU 2006203707C1
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- fuel
- plenum
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- collector plenum
- fired
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H1/00—Water heaters, e.g. boilers, continuous-flow heaters or water-storage heaters
- F24H1/22—Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating
- F24H1/24—Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating with water mantle surrounding the combustion chamber or chambers
- F24H1/26—Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating with water mantle surrounding the combustion chamber or chambers the water mantle forming an integral body
- F24H1/28—Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating with water mantle surrounding the combustion chamber or chambers the water mantle forming an integral body including one or more furnace or fire tubes
- F24H1/285—Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating with water mantle surrounding the combustion chamber or chambers the water mantle forming an integral body including one or more furnace or fire tubes with the fire tubes arranged alongside the combustion chamber
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H8/00—Fluid heaters characterised by means for extracting latent heat from flue gases by means of condensation
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B30/00—Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Details Of Fluid Heaters (AREA)
- Instantaneous Water Boilers, Portable Hot-Water Supply Apparatuses, And Control Of Portable Hot-Water Supply Apparatuses (AREA)
Description
S&F Ref: 776237
AUSTRALIA
PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address of Applicant Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Rheem Manufacturing Company, of 405 Lexington Avenue 22nd Floor, New York, New York, 10174, United States of America Ozzie Missoum Gregory M. Welk Qian Zhang Phillip W. Stephens Jeffrey M. Haney Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Looped system fuel-fired fluid heating/storage device The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c LOOPED SYSTEM FUEL-FIRED FLUID HEATING/STORAGE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to fuel-fired fluid heating lo devices and, in representatively illustrated embodiments thereof, more particularly provides a fuel-fired water heater having a specially designed multi-pass condensing type heat exchanger incorporated therein.
Conventional fuel-fired water heaters are typically of a "single pass", non-condensing configuration, meaning that the hot combustion gases used to heat the tank-stored water are subjected to only a single pass through a heat exchanger structure (usually a vertical flue) within the tank before being discharged from the water heater to, for example, an external vent structure, and that flue gas condensation does not occur to any appreciable degree in the heat exchanger structure within the water heater tank. In this conventional type of fuel-fired water heater, the overall thermal efficiency Is typically limited to about 80-85%. Various proposals have been made to provide fuel-fired water heaters with condensing type single-pass heat exchangers in which flue gases condense within the heat exchanger). However, previously proposed single-pass condensing type heat exchange structures incorporated in fuelfired water heaters typically provide the water heaters with thermal efficiencies limited to the 85-90% range.
00 In an attempt to increase this thermal efficiency to above 95%, multi-pass N condensing heat exchangers of varying configurations and types have been proposed for installation within the tank portions of fuel-fired water heaters. While such previously Iproposed multi-pass condensing type heat exchangers have met this thermal efficiency goal, they have also undesirably presented various problems, limitations and disadvantages. These include increased heat exchanger complexity, higher material and fabricational costs, condensate management problems, increased operational noise, and reduced heat exchanger operational life.
It would thus be desirable to provide a fuel-fired water heater, or other type of 1o fuel-fired fluid heating device, with an improved multi-pass condensing type heat exchanger.
It is the object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present invention provides a fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus comprising: a tank having an interior area for holding a fluid to be heated; a heat exchanger disposed in said interior area of said tank, said heat exchanger being submergible in fluid disposed within said interior area of said tank for heating therein by said heat exchanger, the heat exchanger having submergible components, which define within said heat exchanger an interior combustion gas flow path, comprising: a first pass section having an inlet portion and an outlet portion spaced apart from said inlet portion of said first pass section in a first direction, a central collector plenum coupled to said outlet portion of said first pass section, a second pass section having an inlet portion coupled to said central collector plenum and an outlet portion spaced apart from said inlet portion of said second pass section in a second direction opposite from said first direction, a third pass section having an inlet portion coupled to said outlet portion of said second pass section and an outlet portion spaced apart from said inlet portion of said third pass section in said first direction, an outer collector plenum circumscribing said collector plenum and being coupled to said outlet portion of said third pass section, and an exhaust section coupled to said outer collector plenum; and 1080695 I:TCW 00 0a combustion system operative to flow hot combustion gases into said inlet portion of said first pass section and then through the balance of said flow path in a c manner causing the hot combustion gases to make three passes through said heat IDexchanger and thus through said interior area of said tank.
s In a second aspect, the present invention provides a fuel-fired water heater comprising: a tank having an interior area for holding water to be heated; a condensing type heat exchanger disposed within interior area of said tank, said ,Iheat exchanger being submergible in water disposed within said interior area of said tank lo for heating therein by said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger having submergible components comprising: a vertically extending flue having an upper inlet end and a lower outlet end, a central collector plenum coupled to said lower outlet end of said flue, an outer collector plenum horizontally circumscribing said central collector plenum, a plurality of vertically extending inverted U-tubes horizontally spaced around said flue, each said inverted U-tube having a lower inlet end coupled to said central collector plenum, and a lower outlet end coupled to said outer collector plenum, and an exhaust pipe having an inlet portion coupled to said outer collector plenum; and a fuel burner having an outlet coupled to said upper inlet end of said flue, said fuel burner being operative to flow hot combustion gases through said flue and then the balance of said condensing type heat exchange in a manner causing the hot combustion gases to make three passes through said heat exchanger and thus through said interior area of said tank.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides a fuel-fired water heater comprising: a tank having an interior area for holding water to be heated; a transfer plenum disposed exteriorly of said tank at an upper end portion thereof; a condensing type heat exchanger disposed within said interior area of said tank, said heat exchanger being submergible in water disposed within said interior area of said 1080695_ I.DOC:TCW 00 0 tank for heating therein by said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger having submergible components comprising: Sa vertically extending flue having an upper inlet end and a lower outlet IDend, central collector plenum coupled to said lower outlet end of said flue, an outer collector plenum horizontally circumscribing said central collector plenum, a first plurality of vertical tubes horizontally spaced around said flue ,Iand having lower inlet ends coupled to said central collector plenum, and upper outlet ends coupled to said transfer plenum, a second plurality of vertical tubes disposed horizontally outwardly of and horizontally spaced around said first plurality of vertical tubes, said second plurality of vertical tubes having upper inlet ends coupled to said transfer plenum, and lower outlet ends coupled to said outlet collector plenum, and an exhaust pipe having an inlet portion coupled to said outer collector plenum; and a fuel burner having an outlet coupled to said upper inlet end of said flue, said fuel burner being operative to flow combustion gases through said flue and then the balance of said condensing type heat exchanger in a manner causing the hot combustion gases to make three passes through said heat exchanger and thus through said interior area of said tank.
In carrying out principles of the present invention, in accordance with representative embodiments thereof, a fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus is provided that is representatively a fuel-fired commercial water heater, but could alternatively be another type of fuel-fired water heater or another type of fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus such as, for example, a boiler.
In general, the apparatus comprises a tank for holding a fluid to be heated, and a heat exchanger disposed in the tank and having an interior combustion gas flow path defined by a first pass section having an inlet portion and an outlet portion spaced apart from the inlet portion of the first pass section in a first direction, a central collector plenum coupled to the outlet portion of the first pass section, a second pass section having an inlet portion coupled to the central collector plenum and an 1080695_1 .DOC:TCW I outlet portion spaced apart from the Inlet portion of the second pass section in a second direction opposite from the first direction, a third pass section having an Inlet portion coupled to the outlet portion of the second pass section and an outlet portion spaced apart from the inlet 5 portion of the third pass section in the first direction, an outer c-i collector plenum circumscribing the collector plenum and being coupled to the outlet portion of the third pass section, and an exhaust section coupled to the outer collector plenum. Additionally, the apparatus N comprises a combustion system operative to flow hot combustion gases into the inlet portion of the first pass section and then through the c balance of the heat exchanger.
In a first embodiment thereof, the apparatus is a fuel-fired water heater comprising a tank for holding water to be heated, and a condensing type multi-pass heat exchanger disposed within the tank. The heat exchanger includes a vertically extending flue having an upper inlet end and a lower outlet end, a central collector plenum coupled to the lower outlet end of the flue, an outer collector plenum horizontally circumscribing the central collector plenum, a plurality of vertically extending inverted U-tubes horizontally spaced around the flue, each inverted U-tube having a lower inlet end coupled to the central collector plenum, and a lower outlet end coupled to the outer collector plenum, and an exhaust pipe having an inlet portion coupled to the outer collector plenum. The water heater also comprises a fuel burner (which may be either a powered fuel burner or a non-powered burner) having an outlet coupled to the upper inlet end of said flue, the fuel burner being operative to flow combustion gases through the flue and then the balance of the condensing type heat exchanger.
In a second embodiment thereof, the apparatus is a fuel-fired water heater comprising a tank for holding water to be heated, a transfer S plenum disposed exteriorly of he tank at an upper end portion thereof, S and a condensing type multi-pass heat exchanger disposed within the V 5 tank. The heat exchanger includes a vertically extending flue having an upper inlet end and a lower outlet end, a central collector plenum coupled to said lower outlet end of said flue, an outer collector plenum S horizontally circumscribing the central collector plenum, a first plurality of vertical tubes horizontally spaced around the flue and having lower
\O
C) o inlet ends coupled to the central collector plenum, and upper outlet ends coupled to the transfer plenum, a second plurality of vertical tubes disposed horizontally outwardly of and horizontally spaced around the first plurality of vertical tubes, the second plurality of vertical tubes having upper inlet ends coupled to the transfer plenum, and lower outlet ends coupled to the outer collector plenum, and an exhaust pipe having an inlet portion coupled to the outer collector plenum. The water heater also comprises a fuel burner (which may be either a powered fuel burner or a non-powered fuel burner) having an outlet coupled to the upper inlet end of the flue, the fuel burner being operative to flow combustion gases !o through the flue and then the balance of the condensing type heat exchanger.
According to other aspects of the invention a portion of the central collector plenum extends downwardly past the outer collector plenum, the outer collector plenum has vertically sloped lower side having a lowermost portion to which an inlet portion of the exhaust pipe is connected, the bottom side of the central collector plenum has a downwardly domed configuration, and a sloped condensate drain line 00 O extends within the tank from the bottom side of the central collector plenum to an inlet C portion of the exhaust pipe within the tank.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: SFIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view through a representative fuel-fired Cwater heater having incorporated therein a specially designed condensing type multi-pass C heat exchanger embodying principles of the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view through an alternate embodiment of C i 0 the FIG. 1 water heater.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Schematically illustrated in cross-section in FIG. 1 is a looped system fuel-fired fluid heating/storage device embodying principles of the present invention, the device representatively being a fuel-fired commercial water heater 10 having a specially designed condensing type multi-pass heat exchanger 12 submerged in the pressurized stored water 14 in an externally insulated tank portion 16. As used herein the term "commercial" water heater means, as commonly accepted in the water heater industry, a water heater having a firing input rate typically above about 75,000 Btu/Hr., and a heated water temperature of about 180F or above. While the illustrated device 10 is representatively a commercial water heater, it could alternatively be a non-commercial water heater, or another type of fuel-fired fluid heating device, such as for example, a boiler, without departing from principles of the present invention.
During firing of the water heater 10, hot flue gases 18 from a fuel burner 20 atop the water heater are flowed through the heat exchanger 12 to transfer combustion heat, with a thermal efficiency of 95% or above, 1080695_I:TCW to the stored water 14. Burner 20 may be either a powered fuel burner or a non-powered fuel burner. On demand, pressurized heated water 14 c stored in the tank 16 may be withdrawn therefrom through a tankmounted outlet fitting 21. Automatically, the withdrawn water 14 is replaced with pressurized cold water, from a source thereof, through a tank-mounted inlet fitting 23.
r- The heat exchanger 12 is of a three-pass configuration and includes a r- vertical flue portion 22 connected at its upper end to the outlet of the burner 20 and connected at its lower end to an inverted dome-shaped c-i io central primary flue gas collector plenum 24 horizontally circumscribed by c an annular secondary flue gas collector plenum 26 that has a bottom wall which is vertically sloped downwardly and rightwardly as indicated by the slope arrow 27 in FIG. 1. A series of vertically extending inverted U-tubes 28 (only two of which are shown in FIG. 1) are spaced around the central s flue 22. Each inverted U-tube 28 has one leg 28a connected to and communicated with the central plenum 24 and another leg 28b connected to the annular outer plenum 26 as shown. A combustion gas exhaust pipe is connected to the underside of the annular plenum 26 and has, external to the water heater, a condensate drain fitting 32. A submerged o condensate line 34 is interconnected between the underside of the central plenum 24 and an inlet portion of the exhaust pipe 30 as shown.
During firing of the water heater 10, the flue gas 18 discharged from the burner 20 sequentially makes a first pass downwardly through the vertical central flue portion 22, a second pass from the central plenum 24 upwardly through the U-tube legs 28a, and a third pass downwardly through the U-tube legs 28b into the annular outer plenum 26, with condensation 35 from the flue gas 18 being formed within the U-tube legs 28b as shown. Condensate from the annular plenum 26 flows into the I exhaust pipe 30, and any condensate which may be in the central plenum 24 also flows into the exhaust pipe 30 via the submerged, sloped condensate line 34.
The modified water heater 10a shown in FIG. 2 is identical to the FIG.
s 1 water heater 10 with the exception that in the modified heat exchanger 12a the inverted U-tubes 28 (see FIG. 1) are replaced with straight vertical second pass tubes 36 and straight vertical third pass tubes 38. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the second pass tubes 36 are interconnected between the plenum 24 and an upper transfer plenum 40 disposed in insulation 42 o above the top end 44 of the top of the tank 16, and the third pass tubes 38 are interconnected between the plenums 26 and During firing of the water heater 10a, flue gases 18 from the burner sequentially flow downwardly through the vertical central flue portion 22 into the central plenum 24, upwardly from the plenum 24 through the vertical tubes 36 into the top plenum 40, and then downwardly from the top plenum 40 through the vertical tubes 38 into the bottom annular plenum 26 from which they are discharged via the exhaust pipe Condensate 35 formed in the third pass tubes 38 is discharged from the heat exchanger 12a in a manner similar to that previously described in !o conjunction with the FIG. 1 heat exchanger 12.
Compared to conventional multi-pass condensing type heat exchangers utilized in fuel-fired water heaters, the heat exchangers 12,12a representatively illustrated and described herein provide a variety of advantages which may include, for example, the capability of providing their associated water heaters with thermal efficiencies well above simplified heat exchanger configuration, reduced material and fabricational costs, quieter operation, increased heat exchanger life, and improved condensate management.
As will be readily appreciated by those of skill in this particular art, 0 the representatively illustrated heat exchangers 12 and 12a, could have N other orientations within their associated water heaters 10 and S without departing from principles of the present invention. For example, t 5 the heat exchangers 12 and 12a, with minor modifications thereto, could alternatively be horizontally oriented within their associated water heaters 10 and t The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as Sbeing given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope Sio of the present invention being limited solely by the appended claims.
0-
Claims (20)
1. A fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus comprising: a tank having an interior area for holding a fluid to be heated; a heat exchanger disposed in said interior area of said tank, said heat exchanger being submergible in fluid disposed within said interior area of said tank for heating therein by said heat exchanger, the heat exchanger having submergible components, which define within said heat exchanger an interior combustion gas flow path, comprising: a first pass section having an inlet portion and an outlet portion spaced apart from said inlet portion of said first pass section in a first direction, a central collector plenum coupled to said outlet portion of said first pass section, a second pass section having an inlet portion coupled to said central collector plenum and an outlet portion spaced apart from said inlet portion of said second pass section in a second direction opposite from said first direction, a third pass section having an inlet portion coupled to said outlet portion of said second pass section and an outlet portion spaced apart from said inlet portion of said third pass section in said first direction, an outer collector plenum circumscribing said collector plenum and being coupled to said outlet portion of said third pass section, and an exhaust section coupled to said outer collector plenum; and a combustion system operative to flow hot combustion gases into said inlet portion of said first pass section and then through the balance of said flow path in a manner causing the hot combustion gases to make three passes through said heat exchanger and thus through said interior area of said tank. 1080695_1 .DOC:TCW
2. The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim I wherein: o said fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus is a fuel-fired water heater. The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: tf 5 said heat exchanger is a condensing type heat exchanger.
4. The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim I wherein: t said combustion system includes a fuel burner having an outlet coupled to said inlet portion of said first pass section. 0 0 The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: said first direction extends generally downwardly, and said second direction extends generally upwardly.
6. The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim 5 wherein: said outer collector plenum has a vertically sloped bottom side with a lowermost portion, and said exhaust section has an inlet portion coupled to said lowermost portion. 0
7. The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim 6 further comprising: a condensate drain line interconnected between a bottom side portion of said central collector plenum and said exhaust section.
8. The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim 5 wherein: said central collector plenum extends downwardly beyond said outer collector plenum. O 9. The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim 8 wherein: Ssaid central collector plenum has a domed bottom side. 5 10. The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: (-i said central collector plenum extends past said outer collector plenum in said first direction.
11. The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: IND said second and third pass sections are at least partially defined by a N U-tube structure extending parallel to said first pass section and having a first open end coupled to said central collector plenum, and a second open end coupled to said outer collector plenum.
12. The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim 1 wherein: said second and third pass sections are defined by a plurality of U- tube structures circumferentially spaced around and extending parallel to said first pass section, each of said U-tube structures having a first open end coupled to said central collector plenum, and a second open end !o coupled to said outer collector plenum. -11- O 13. The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim I wherein: Nsaid fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus further comprises a transfer plenum disposed exteriorly of said tank, V) 5 said second pass section is defined by at least one straight second pass tube having an inlet end coupled to said central collector plenum and S an outlet end coupled to said transfer plenum, and t said third pass section is defined by at least one straight third pass N tube having an inlet end coupled to said transfer plenum and an outlet 0 o end coupled to said outer collector plenum. c-i
14. The fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus of Claim 13 wherein: said at least one straight second pass tube is a plurality of straight second pass tubes circumferentially spaced around said first pass section, and said at least one straight third pass tube is a plurality of straight third pass tubes circumferentially spaced around said plurality of straight second pass tubes. 00 A fuel-fired water heater comprising: a tank having an interior area for holding water to be heated; a condensing type heat exchanger disposed within interior area of said tank, said IN heat exchanger being submergible in water disposed within said interior area of said tank for heating therein by said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger having submergible components comprising: a vertically extending flue having an upper inlet end and a lower outlet end, a central collector plenum coupled to said lower outlet end of said flue, an outer collector plenum horizontally circumscribing said central collector plenum, a plurality of vertically extending inverted U-tubes horizontally spaced around said flue, each said inverted U-tube having a lower inlet end coupled to said central collector plenum, and a lower outlet end coupled to said outer collector plenum, and an exhaust pipe having an inlet portion coupled to said outer collector plenum; and a fuel burner having an outlet coupled to said upper inlet end of said flue, said fuel burner being operative to flow hot combustion gases through said flue and then the balance of said condensing type heat exchange in a manner causing the hot combustion gases to make three passes through said heat exchanger and thus through said interior area of said tank.
16. The fuel-fired water heater of Claim 15 wherein: said fuel-fired water heater is a commercial water heater.
17. The fuel-fired water heater of Claim 15 wherein: said inlet portion of said exhaust pipe is coupled to a lower side of said outer collector plenum, and said fuel-fired water heater further comprises a condensate line disposed within said tank and interconnected between said inlet portion of said exhaust pipe and a bottom side portion of said central collector plenum.
18. The fuel-fired water heater of Claim 15 wherein: said outer collector plenum has a bottom side that slopes downwardly toward said inlet portion of said exhaust pipe, said bottom side having a lowermost portion to which said inlet portion of said exhaust pipe is coupled.
19. The fuel-fired water heater of Claim 15 wherein: 1080695_1.DOC:TCW 00 0a portion of said central collector plenum extends downwardly beyond said outer collector plenum. The fuel-fired water heater of Claim 19 wherein: IDsaid portion of said central collector plenum has a downwardly domed configuration.
21. A fuel-fired water heater comprising: a tank having an interior area for holding water to be heated; a transfer plenum disposed exteriorly of said tank at an upper end portion thereof; a condensing type heat exchanger disposed within said interior area of said tank, said heat exchanger being submergible in water disposed within said interior area of said tank for heating therein by said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger having submergible components comprising: a vertically extending flue having an upper inlet end and a lower outlet is end, a central collector plenum coupled to said lower outlet end of said flue, an outer collector plenum horizontally circumscribing said central collector plenum, a first plurality of vertical tubes horizontally spaced around said flue and having lower inlet ends coupled to said central collector plenum, and upper outlet ends coupled to said transfer plenum, a second plurality of vertical tubes disposed horizontally outwardly of and horizontally spaced around said first plurality of vertical tubes, said second plurality of vertical tubes having upper inlet ends coupled to said transfer plenum, and lower outlet ends coupled to said outlet collector plenum, and an exhaust pipe having an inlet portion coupled to said outer collector plenum; and a fuel burner having an outlet coupled to said upper inlet end of said flue, said fuel burner being operative to flow combustion gases through said flue and then the balance of said condensing type heat exchanger in a manner causing the hot combustion gases to make three passes through said heat exchanger and thus through said interior area of said tank.
22. The fuel-fired water heater of Claim 21 wherein: said fuel-fired water heater is a commercial water heater.
23. The fuel-fired water heater of Claim 21 wherein: 1080695 1:lzv:TCW 00 said inlet portion of said exhaust pipe is coupled to a lower side of said outer collector plenum, and ;said fuel-fired water heater further comprises a condensate line disposed within IDsaid tank and interconnected between said inlet portion of said exhaust pipe and a bottom side portion of said central collector plenum.
24. The fuel-fired water heater of Claim 21 wherein: Ssaid outer collector plenum has a bottom side that slopes downwardly toward said inlet portion of said exhaust pipe, said bottom side having a lowermost portion to Swhich said inlet portion of said exhaust pipe is coupled.
25. The fuel-fired water heater of Claim 21 wherein: a portion of said central collector plenum extends downwardly beyond said outer collector plenum.
26. The fuel-fired water heater of Claim 25 wherein: said portion of said central collector plenum has a downwardly domed Is configuration.
27. A fuel-fired fluid heating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings. Dated 6 June, 2008 Rheem Manufacturing Company Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON 1080695 I:lzv:TCW
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US11/222350 | 2005-09-08 | ||
| US11/222,350 US20070051359A1 (en) | 2005-09-08 | 2005-09-08 | Looped system fuel-fired fluid heating/storage device |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2006203707A1 AU2006203707A1 (en) | 2007-03-22 |
| AU2006203707B2 AU2006203707B2 (en) | 2008-01-31 |
| AU2006203707C1 true AU2006203707C1 (en) | 2008-11-06 |
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ID=37828919
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2006203707A Ceased AU2006203707C1 (en) | 2005-09-08 | 2006-08-25 | Looped system fuel-fired fluid heating/storage device |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20070051359A1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2006203707C1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2556012A1 (en) |
| MX (1) | MXPA06010145A (en) |
| NZ (2) | NZ549446A (en) |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES2322728B1 (en) * | 2005-11-22 | 2010-04-23 | Dayco Ensa, S.L. | THREE-STEP HEAT EXCHANGER FOR AN "EGR" SYSTEM. |
| AT505134B1 (en) * | 2007-05-02 | 2009-08-15 | Vaillant Austria Gmbh | DEVICE FOR PREVENTING SELF-DRIVEN VIBRATION VIBRATIONS |
| US9004018B2 (en) * | 2010-03-08 | 2015-04-14 | Rheem Manufacturing Company | High efficiency gas-fired water heater |
| US9714774B2 (en) | 2012-08-22 | 2017-07-25 | Rheem Manufacturing Company | Downfired high efficiency gas-fired water heater |
| US10801748B2 (en) * | 2017-12-28 | 2020-10-13 | Rheem Manufacturing Company | Water heater with top water outlet |
| CN110848650A (en) * | 2019-12-13 | 2020-02-28 | 杨振广 | a steam generator |
| CN117398711B (en) * | 2023-12-15 | 2024-02-27 | 山东长信化学科技股份有限公司 | Condensing and separating system for removing light components |
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| US4981112A (en) * | 1989-12-06 | 1991-01-01 | Pvi Industries, Inc. | Potable hot water storage vessel and method of manufacture |
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| US5313914A (en) * | 1991-10-30 | 1994-05-24 | Woollen Donald E | Potable hot water storage vessel and direct-fired heat exchanger |
| US5197415A (en) * | 1992-04-02 | 1993-03-30 | Rheem Manufacturing Company | Wet-base, down-fired water heater |
| US5195502A (en) * | 1992-04-02 | 1993-03-23 | Rheem Manufacturing Company | Down-fired U-tube water heater |
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| US5775268A (en) * | 1996-04-24 | 1998-07-07 | Pvi Industries, Inc. | High efficiency vertical tube water heater apparatus |
| US5699756A (en) * | 1996-10-08 | 1997-12-23 | Rheem Manufacturing Co. | Wet-base, down-fired water heater |
| AUPP616198A0 (en) * | 1998-09-24 | 1998-10-15 | Southcorp Australia Pty Ltd | Natural draft water heater |
| US6161506A (en) * | 1999-09-15 | 2000-12-19 | Harsco Corporation, Patterson-Kelley Division | Pulsed air combustion high capacity boiler |
-
2005
- 2005-09-08 US US11/222,350 patent/US20070051359A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2006
- 2006-08-10 CA CA002556012A patent/CA2556012A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2006-08-25 NZ NZ549446A patent/NZ549446A/en unknown
- 2006-08-25 AU AU2006203707A patent/AU2006203707C1/en not_active Ceased
- 2006-08-25 NZ NZ551184A patent/NZ551184A/en unknown
- 2006-09-06 MX MXPA06010145A patent/MXPA06010145A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4846150A (en) * | 1986-08-21 | 1989-07-11 | Beaumont (U.K.) Limited | Vertical tube water heater |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US20070051359A1 (en) | 2007-03-08 |
| MXPA06010145A (en) | 2007-03-07 |
| NZ551184A (en) | 2008-12-24 |
| AU2006203707A1 (en) | 2007-03-22 |
| CA2556012A1 (en) | 2007-03-08 |
| AU2006203707B2 (en) | 2008-01-31 |
| NZ549446A (en) | 2008-02-29 |
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| FGA | Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent) | ||
| DA2 | Applications for amendment section 104 |
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| DA3 | Amendments made section 104 |
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| MK14 | Patent ceased section 143(a) (annual fees not paid) or expired |