System and method for heating fluids, and an adapter for use with a boiler

Abstract

A fluid heating system, comprising: a heater having an inlet and an outlet; a storage vessel; a fluid mixer having a first inlet for receiving fluid stored in or passing through the storage vessel, a second inlet for receiving fluid from a cold fluid supply, and an outlet for supplying fluid to the heater inlet; wherein in a first mode the heater is operable to heat fluid in the storage vessel, and in a second mode the fluid mixer is mixes fluid from or passing through the storage vessel with fluid from the cold fluid supply at a predefined volumetric ratio to provide mixed fluid to the inlet of the heater to be heated further to an output temperature.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to the delivery of hot water and in particular delivery of hot water in heating systems, and an adapter for use with a boiler.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]Hot water demand in domestic heating systems varies considerably during the day. At peak times, for example during mornings and evenings when domestic users require showers and baths, present day heating systems which have been reduced in power output as dwellings have become more highly insulated can struggle to accommodate high demand.[0003]In order to serve peak hot water demand, two alternative approaches are often provided in hot water systems. The first involves having a large tank of water heated via a heat exchanger by a relatively low capacity boiler to an acceptably high temperature. Hot water is then drawn off the top of the tank as and when hot water is required by a user, while cold water is provided to the bottom of the tank to replenish it. Whilst having ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to a system for mixing hot and cold fluids in a heating system. The technical effects of this system include: increased flow rate through the heater, increased quantity of hot water available at any one time without increasing the size of the hot water storage reservoir, and reduced cost and valuable space taken up by the heating system. The invention also provides an adapter that allows a replacement boiler to be installed at the same location as that in which a previous boiler was installed where the previous boiler had a different arrangement of fluid and fuel ports to those of the replacement boiler, and accommodates for differences in inlet / outlet configuration of an old boiler compared to that of a replacement boiler to be installed at the same location.

Problems solved by technology

Secondly, in contrast to prior art hot water tank systems, because hot water from the storage vessel is mixed with the cold water supply, stored hot water is depleted less quickly, thus having the effect of increasing the quantity of hot water available at any one time without increasing the size of the hot water storage reservoir.

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