Heat Exchanger Element and a Water Heater and Heat Pump Utilizing Same

a technology of heat exchanger and element, which is applied in the direction of air heaters, heating types, stationary tubular conduit assemblies, etc., can solve the problems of difficult and therefore relatively expensive production, poor arrangement, and almost 30 times less effective steel as a conductor

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-10-29
DUX MFG
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a heat exchanger element and a water heater that use a cylindrical heat exchanger element with spiralled inner and outer tubes. The entire outer surface of the inner tube is in contact with the entire inner surface of the outer tube, which increases the heat transfer area and improves the efficiency of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger element can be used in a hot water heat pump to improve the performance of the heat pump. The method of forming the heat exchanger element involves crushing the tubes onto each other, annealing them, and bending them into a desired configuration. The heat exchanger element has improved heat transfer efficiency and reduced pressure drop compared to traditional heat exchangers.

Problems solved by technology

However, this arrangement is difficult and thus relatively expensive to produce, particularly the step of rolling the tube around the approximately 600 mm diameter tank.
This arrangement also has relatively poor heat exchanging efficiency, as steel is almost 30 times less effective as a conductor than copper.
This arrangement is also difficult and thus relatively expensive to produce.
It is difficult to ensure the copper tube makes good surface to surface contact with the tube interior, which is required for good heat exchanging efficiency.

Method used

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  • Heat Exchanger Element and a Water Heater and Heat Pump Utilizing Same

Examples

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first embodiment

[0036]FIG. 1A shows a domestic hot water heater 10 according to the present invention. The water heater 10 includes a 250 litre volume, insulated steel cylindrical tank 12 with upper and lower domed ends 14 and 16 respectively. The tank 12 is mounted with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical. The upper domed end 14 has a central necked opening 18 with an external flange 20. In use, the tank 12 is almost completely filled with water.

[0037]The tank 12 also has a first hot water outlet 22 within the upper domed end 14 and a first cold water inlet 24 in the lower domed end 16. The outlet 22 is, in operation, connected to household plumbing. The inlet 24 is, in operation, connected to mains water supply. The tank 12 also has a second hot water outlet 26 and a second cold water inlet 20 which, for example, can be used to connect to the tank 12 in parallel to a solar hot water heater.

[0038]A first embodiment of a heat exchanger element 30 is inserted into the tank interior through ...

third embodiment

[0041]FIG. 3 shows a water heater 310. Like features to those used to describe earlier embodiments are indicated using like reference numerals. The water heater 310 is also very similar in construction and operation to the water heater 10 shown in FIG. 1, except the heat exchanger element 30 has an internal cylinder or tube 44 to increase its conduction area.

fourth embodiment

[0042]FIG. 4 shows a water heater 410. Like features to those used to describe earlier embodiments are indicated using like reference numerals. The water heater 410 is also very similar in construction and operation to the water heater 10 shown in FIG. 1, except the heater exchanger element 30 has external and internal tubes 42 and 44 respectively, to increase its conduction area.

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Abstract

A heat exchanger element (30) formed from an inner copper tube (32) and an outer copper tube (34). The entire outer surface of the inner tube (32) is substantially in contact with the entire inner surface of the outer tube (34).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a heat exchanger element and a water heater and a heat pump utilising same.[0002]The invention has been primarily developed for use in domestic hot water heaters and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, the invention is not limited to this particular use and is also suitable for heating fluid other than water in numerous heat exchanger applications.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Regulatory authorities in many jurisdictions, including Australia, Europe and the United States of America, require heat exchanger elements used in domestic hot water heaters to have two layers of metal separating the heated fluids circulating through the heat exchanger and the water being heated in the hot water tank. This is to ensure that even if one of the layers is compromised, there will be no mixing between the heat exchanger fluid and the water supplied to user.[0004]One known ‘double walled’ hot wate...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): F24H4/02B21D53/02F25B1/00F28D7/10
CPCF24D3/082F24H9/0021F25B39/04F25B2339/047Y10T29/4935F28D20/0034F28F1/003F28F21/085Y02E60/142F28D7/024Y02E60/14
InventorPUSSELL, PATRICK
OwnerDUX MFG