Internal water tank solar heat exchanger

Abstract

A heat exchanger which is adapted to an existing water tank to allow it to be heated or cooled using a hot or cold toxic or non-toxic liquid. Solar collectors, other heat sources and heat pumps can provide hot or cold liquids. To transfer this heat economically to an existing hot water tank requires a simple, efficient, heat exchanger, which can be easily adapted to the existing tank. The invention recited fills this need by simply screwing into the existing hot or cold water tank and allows heat or cold to be added or extracted via a simple fluid loop which is double wall isolated for toxic and non-toxic heat exchange fluids.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0001] Continuation in part application Ser. No. 10 / 085,174 includes the allowed specifications, claims and figures already a part of the prior application by reference. This patent continuation in part includes three added features, first a union connection to the hot water tank outlet, to allow heat exchanger placement into the tank without rotation, second foldable / bendable fins, pins or foils on the outer surface of the heat exchanger to allow for greater heat transfer area in the between the heat exchangers external surface and the water in the hot water tank, and third the addition of an integral zinc or other suitable material as a built-in sacrificial anode. Natural convection internal, double walled, heat exchangers for existing hot water tanks are needed to adapt in-home hot water tanks to modern solar collector heat sources. This invention pertains to the input or extraction of heat from an existing storage tank, which is plumbed into an existing “...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] In summary, the present invention is a heat exchange adapter that can be screwed into the standard pipe fitting on existing city line pressurized water tanks. These standard pipefittings include the city water inlet, hot water outlet, sacrificial anode port, pressure relief port, and tank drain port. This heated / cooled liquid is pumped through the in-tank heat exchanger, which is surrounded by tank water and transfers heat to the tank via conduction through the heat exchanger walls and then natural convection into the tank water. This invention also includes foldable or flexible / bendable elements attached to the water tank side of the heat exchanger to increase the surface area of heat exchanger in contact with the tank water. The foldable or flexible / bendable elements can extend out to be larger in diameter than the opening into the hot water tank. They will be folded or bent to fit through the opening and then spring back to their original shape / size once inside the hot water tank, allowing greater heat transfer area inside of the hot water tank. This invention may also include a union on the heat exchanger that will allow the heat exchanger to be screwed into the tank without rotating the heat exchanger element. This allows the heat exchanger to be deformed or bent to avoid obstacles inside the tank and not be rotated once inserted into the hot water tank. The wand can be inserted through a side port and be bent from horizontal to vertical to go up or down into the tank. This invention may also include an attached sacrificial anode which makes electrical contact with the heat exchanger in a configuration that will allow it to be inserted into the hot water tank. The heated / cooled liquid is connected to the adapter fluid lines and pumped into the in-tank heat exchanger and then back out of the tank. The heat exchanger adapter may reduce the plumbing water flow in gallons / minute by up to 50%. Water conservation measures, low flow showerheads and appliances, have already reduced hot water flow requirements so the flow reduction will have minimum impact on the homeowner.

[0005] The primary objective of the present invention is to allow existing water tanks to be adapted to take solar heating and other forms of heating without moving or replacing the existing tank. Another objective is to reduce the time and complexity of retrofitting solar energy, or other forms of heating to existing homes with a hot water tank in place.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, the plumbing required to keep the convection loop working requires the buoyancy difference between hot and cold water to drive it.

Hence, heat transfer is less efficient.

Natural convection systems are much less efficient.

However, the pump costs a lot more and disturbs the tank's natural stratification.

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