DEVICE FOR HEATING A LIQUID

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for heating a liquid. The liquid is, for example, process water.

[0002] It is known in the prior art to obtain thermal energy from the combustion of, for example, propane, butane, or diesel fuel converted into a gaseous state and to transfer it to a liquid, e.g., domestic hot water, via a heat exchanger. It is also known that such devices can additionally serve as air heaters.

[0003] When a heated liquid is introduced into a container, for example to function like a boiler, stratification of the liquid must be taken into account. These stratifications refer to different temperatures of the liquid within the container. This is also relevant when drawing liquid from the container. The goal is to prevent the different temperature layers from mixing as much as possible.

[0004] Distribution structures for liquid containers are disclosed, for example, in DE 20 2006 018 615 U1, DE 20 2012 100 431 U1 or DE 20 2018 101 720 U1.

[0005] Liquid containers with distribution structures are also known from WO 00 / 63624 A1, US 7 570 877 B1, US 4 510 922 A and EP 1 637 816 A1.

[0006] The object underlying the invention is to propose a device for heating a liquid which is characterized by the most optimal possible stratification of the liquid in a container.

[0007] The invention solves the problem by means of a device for heating a liquid according to claim 1.The device comprises an energy unit, a heat exchanger, and a container, wherein the energy unit generates thermal energy, the heat exchanger transfers the thermal energy generated by the energy unit to the liquid, the container receives the liquid, the container has at least one medium inlet and one medium outlet, the container contains at least one injection device and an internal distributor, the injection device introduces liquid entering the container via the medium inlet into an interior of the container, and the injection device and the internal distributor are designed and arranged relative to each other such that liquid flows from the injection device into an interior of the internal distributor and from the interior of the internal distributor into the interior of the container.

[0008] The energy unit generates thermal energy – for example, by burning a fuel-air mixture or by generating electricity – which the heat exchanger transfers to the liquid. In one embodiment, the thermal energy is also transferred to ambient air. The container holds the liquid. This is preferably heated liquid, meaning it has passed through the heat exchanger and absorbed thermal energy in the process. In one embodiment, the container also holds cold liquid and / or liquid to be heated. In one variant, the liquid is thus pumped from the container to the heat exchanger to be heated. In another embodiment, the container also holds air, which is used to remove liquid from an area where it could be heated by the heat exchanger.This occurs, for example, before the device is intended to heat only room air in an air mode.

[0009] For receiving and discharging the liquid, the container has at least one inlet and one outlet. From the inlet, the liquid is fed into the container by the inlet device. From there, it first enters the internal distributor, which is also located within the container, and only then does it flow into the interior of the container itself. Thus, the liquid is directed to a specific area within the container via an intermediate step (i.e., through the internal distributor).

[0010] The liquid flows from the feed device into the internal distributor and then from the internal distributor into the interior of the container itself. Since the internal distributor is located inside the container, the liquid is initially indirectly within the container's interior. Once the liquid leaves the internal distributor, it is directly within the container's interior. Thus, the liquid first enters a sub-section of the container's interior. Therefore, the internal distributor can also be called a premixer or, depending on its geometry, a premixing pot. The amount of liquid entering the internal distributor and the amount flowing directly into the container's interior depends, among other things, on the liquid level in the container and the pressure at which the liquid is fed through the feed device.

[0011] The interior of the internal distributor is smaller than the interior of the container. Therefore, the newly added liquid only comes into contact with a smaller quantity of liquid that may already be present in the internal distributor. Consequently, during operation of the device, the temperature difference between the new liquid and the liquid already present in the internal distributor is also smaller than the temperature difference between the newly heated liquid and the liquid in the interior of the container.

[0012] Furthermore, the container has at least one side wall and a transverse axis, wherein the dispensing device has a free end located in the interior of the container, the free end of the dispensing device being directed towards the side wall of the container, the internal distributor having an open side, the open side of the internal distributor being directed towards the side wall, and the open side of the internal distributor being located further away from the side wall along the transverse axis than the free end of the dispensing device. Thus, the liquid exits from a free end of the dispensing device that is directed towards a side wall and therefore also towards an interior wall of the container. The internal distributor is located behind the free end of the dispensing device, extending from the side wall. The internal distributor is therefore located more towards the center of the container than the free end.The internal distributor has an open side through which liquid can enter the interior of the distributor. This open side also faces the side wall. The free end and the open side are arranged one behind the other along a transverse axis of the container.

[0013] Additionally, a deflection device is provided in the container, wherein the free end of the insertion device is directed towards an interior of the deflection device, and wherein an inner diameter of the interior of the deflection device is smaller than an inner diameter of the open side of the inner distributor.

[0014] One embodiment of the heat exchanger device consists of a liquid inlet for the liquid to be heated and a liquid outlet for the heated liquid, and the medium inlet of the container and the liquid outlet of the heat exchanger device are connected. In this embodiment, the container is downstream of the heat exchanger device and receives the heated liquid from it. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger device has an actual heat exchanger, into which, for example, flue gas is introduced, and a duct structure through which the liquid flows to absorb the thermal energy of the flue gas. In another embodiment, the heat exchanger device additionally has an electric heating element. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the heat exchanger device has inlets and outlets for the ambient air to be heated.

[0015] In one embodiment, the free end and the open side are arranged concentrically. In an alternative embodiment, the free end is arranged eccentrically, but is still in a projection of the open side.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the liquid leaves the free end of the dispensing device against gravity. The liquid then flows downwards and thus through the open side into the inner distributor, which is located lower than the free end.

[0017] In one embodiment, the area of ​​the free end is smaller than the area of ​​the open side. This means that the edge of the free end lies within the open side. Therefore, if the liquid follows gravity after leaving the free end, it enters the inner distributor.

[0018] In one embodiment, the deflection device has a rim. In one variant, the deflection device is designed as a ring or as a lid with a surrounding rim. If the deflection device is ring-shaped, it is preferably located on the side wall of the container, so that this wall forms the base of the deflection device.

[0019] One embodiment consists of a dispensing device in the container, whereby the liquid flows via the dispensing device to the outlet, and a free end of the dispensing device is connected to an interior space of the internal distributor, allowing liquid to flow from the interior of the internal distributor into the dispensing device. In this embodiment, the liquid flows from a region within the container's interior to the outlet via a dispensing device. The dispensing device is connected to the interior of the internal distributor and draws the liquid from there. The liquid is thus indirectly drawn from the container by being discharged directly from the internal distributor.Insofar as the liquid enters the larger interior of the container via the internal distributor and therefore only comes into contact with a smaller, and thus warmer, quantity of liquid, the advantage arises during operation of the device that the liquid drawn from the internal distributor is warmer than the remaining liquid in the interior of the heat distribution device. In one embodiment, the inflow and outflow rates are coordinated in such a way that the extraction device essentially draws the supplied liquid directly. Thus, the liquid flows virtually through the container without mixing with the liquid already present.

[0020] One embodiment provides for a liquid passage between the free end of the dispensing device and the internal distributor, through which liquid from the dispensing device and / or the internal distributor enters the interior of the container. In this embodiment, the transition between the dispensing device and the internal distributor is therefore not completely sealed, allowing liquid to escape. This serves as protection against the risk of freezing.

[0021] The following design takes into account that introduced liquid can spread along the inner wall of the container and therefore may not reach the internal distributor.

[0022] The deflection device according to the invention is intended to limit the lateral movement of the liquid. By having a smaller inner diameter than the inner distributor, the deflection device ensures that the liquid striking the edge of the deflection device subsequently flows into the inner distributor. If the deflection device were larger, the liquid would flow past the inner distributor.

[0023] One embodiment provides that the deflection device is arranged near the side wall, and that the deflection device is located closer to the side wall along the transverse axis than the free end of the insertion device. In one embodiment, the deflection device is located above the free end of the insertion device, which is located above the internal distributor. In another embodiment, the deflection device, the free end, and the internal distributor are arranged coaxially one behind the other. In a further embodiment, the deflection device and the free end are located in a projection of the internal distributor toward the side wall, and the free end is located in a projection of the deflection device away from the side wall.In this configuration, the surfaces of the three components relevant to the liquid overlap, so that the liquid is guided from the free end to the deflector and from the deflector to the internal distributor. In one embodiment, the deflector is located above the free end of the injection device, against the force of gravity.

[0024] One embodiment involves positioning the free end of the dispensing device essentially in a central area along a longitudinal axis of the container. In this embodiment, the liquid is dispensed into a central region of the container. As a result, even a slight tilt of the container has little effect on the interaction between the components involved.

[0025] One embodiment provides that the container has at least one secondary medium inlet, that an inlet device is present in the container, that the inlet device introduces liquid entering the container via the secondary medium inlet into the interior of the container, that the inlet device has a free end located in the interior of the container, and that the free end of the inlet device is directed towards the side wall of the container. In this embodiment, liquid enters the container via an additional, and thus second, medium inlet. This occurs via an inlet device whose free end is directed towards a side wall of the container. In one embodiment, the free end of the inlet device is directed towards the lowest level of the container. In another embodiment, this results in the liquid supplied via the inlet device collecting in a bottom layer.

[0026] One embodiment involves the free end of the inlet device and the free end of the dispensing device pointing in opposite directions. In one embodiment, one free end points upwards and the other downwards, relative to a transverse axis of the container. In this embodiment, the transverse axis essentially runs in the direction of gravity. Thus, warm liquid is preferably dispensed towards the top and cold liquid towards the bottom of the container. In this embodiment, the top and bottom are the upper and lower sections of the container's side wall, respectively, when the container is lying on its side during use.

[0027] One embodiment provides that the container further comprises an end face, and that the medium inlet and / or the medium outlet and / or the secondary medium inlet are located on the end face. In one embodiment, three openings are located in an end face of the container, from which the insertion device, the extraction device, and the inlet device extend into the interior.

[0028] One embodiment consists in the container further comprising an end face, and the free end of the inlet device being arranged closer to the end face than the free end of the feed device. In this embodiment, the liquid from the feed device is introduced further into a central section of the container than the liquid from the inlet device.

[0029] One embodiment provides that the heat exchanger transfers the thermal energy generated by the energy unit to the liquid and to the ambient air. The device includes an ambient air inlet, an ambient air outlet, and a fan. The fan transports ambient air from the ambient air inlet through the heat exchanger to the ambient air outlet. In this embodiment, the device serves to heat both the ambient air and the liquid. Therefore, a fan draws the ambient air through the device, past the heat exchanger, and thus heats it.

[0030] One embodiment involves the container having an elongated shape. In this case, the longitudinal axis is significantly longer than any transverse axis. In another embodiment, the container—for example, within a housing—is arranged such that the transverse axis runs along the axis of gravity. The container preferably has a side wall extending around the longitudinal axis and two end faces from which the side wall originates or terminates.

[0031] An alternative or supplementary embodiment consists in the introduction device being essentially tubular or hose-shaped. An alternative or supplementary embodiment consists in the extraction device being essentially tubular or hose-shaped. An alternative or supplementary embodiment consists in the supply device being essentially tubular or hose-shaped. Depending on the embodiment, the liquid is thus guided through tubular or hose-shaped structures within the interior of the container. The free ends are located within the interior, and the other ends are connected to the corresponding openings, e.g., liquid inlet, liquid outlet, or secondary medium inlet.

[0032] An alternative or supplementary design consists of the internal distributor being essentially pot-shaped. In one exemplary embodiment, the pot is circularly cylindrical.

[0033] An alternative or supplementary embodiment consists of the deflection device being essentially ring- or pot-shaped. In one embodiment, a circular cylindrical shape is provided. If the deflection device does not have its own base plate, it is preferably attached to the side wall of the container, thus creating a base for the deflection device.

[0034] One embodiment provides that the insertion device and / or the extraction device and / or the inflow device are essentially guided parallel to each other, at least in sections.

[0035] One embodiment involves using process water. In this embodiment, the individual components and their compounds are therefore suitable for drinking water.

[0036] One embodiment provides that the energy unit generates thermal energy by burning a fuel-air mixture and / or by converting electrical energy. In this embodiment, the thermal energy is generated by burning a fuel, e.g., combustible gas or diesel fuel converted into a gaseous state, or by converting electrical energy.

[0037] In detail, there are numerous possibilities for designing and further developing the device according to the invention. Reference is made, on the one hand, to the claims subordinate to claim 1, and on the other hand, to the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a device according to a first variant and Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the container as part of the device according to a second variant.

[0038] The Fig. 1 Figure 1 schematically shows the structure of a device for heating a liquid and ambient air. In the depicted version, the thermal energy for heating is generated by the energy unit 1 through the combustion of a fuel-air mixture and transferred by the heat exchanger 2 to the liquid and the ambient air. A fan 12 moves the ambient air from the ambient air inlet 10 through the heat exchanger 2 to the ambient air outlet 11. The liquid enters the liquid inlet 20 of the heat exchanger 2 to be heated. The liquid then exits the heat exchanger 2 via the liquid outlet 21 and enters the container 3 via the medium inlet 30. The heated liquid is introduced deeper into the interior space via the feed device 4. A pump 22 removes the liquid from the container 3.The liquid passes through the dispensing device 7 to the medium outlet 31 and exits the device. In an alternative embodiment – ​​not shown here – the pump device is positioned upstream and pumps in cold water. In the illustrated embodiment, the medium inlet 30 and the medium outlet 31 are located on opposite end faces of the container.

[0039] In the detailed description of an alternative design of container 3 of the Fig. 2 The medium inlet 30 and the medium outlet 31 are arranged on the same end face 34. The container 3 has a generally elongated basic shape, to which two end faces are attached. The container 3 is oriented such that the transverse axis 33 runs in the direction of the gravitational field or the Earth's gravity.

[0040] The heated liquid is introduced into the interior of the container 3 from the medium inlet 30 via the injection device 4. The free end 40 of the tubular injection device 4 is directed against a side wall – in this case, the longitudinal side – of the container 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid is thus dispensed upwards and then flows downwards. The essentially straight tubular injection device 4 has an upward-facing bend before its free end 40.

[0041] To prevent the liquid from spreading too far along the side wall 32, a lid-shaped deflector 6 is provided on the side wall 32. Its rim prevents the liquid from spreading laterally out of the interior 60 before it flows down due to gravity. It can be seen that the inner diameter of the interior 60 of the deflector 6 is smaller than the inner diameter of the open side 50 of the inner distributor 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the deflector 6 and the inner distributor 5 are, by way of example, designed as circular cylinders. Due to the matched inner diameters, essentially all the liquid from the feed device 4 enters the interior of the inner distributor 5.

[0042] The liquid then flows directly out of the open side 50 of the internal distributor 5 into the interior of the container 3.

[0043] Thus, the heated liquid from the inlet device 4 first enters the deflector device 6 and thereby indirectly enters the interior of the container 3, thereby focusing the liquid jet. From there, the liquid enters the interior of the inner distributor 5 and thus again indirectly enters the interior of the container 3. If the inner distributor 5 is sufficiently filled or the liquid has sufficient kinetic energy, the liquid flows directly from the inner distributor 5 into the interior of the container 3.

[0044] The internal distributor 5 offers at least two advantages: It contains less liquid with which the newly introduced liquid mixes. Therefore, a smaller temperature difference, or degree of cooling caused by the existing liquid, is to be expected. Furthermore, this reduces the kinetic energy of the newly introduced liquid. This reduces the risk of different liquid layers mixing or of the newly introduced, heated liquid reaching a cold liquid layer.

[0045] The liquid is drawn from the container 3 via the straight, tubular extraction device 7 and the medium outlet 31. The free end 70 of the extraction device 7 is connected to the interior of the internal distributor 5. The liquid thus exits the interior of the container 3 indirectly by being drawn from a sub-compartment – ​​namely, the interior of the internal distributor 5. A gap or space exists between the internal distributor 5 and the extraction device 7, which is essentially tubular, serving as a liquid passage 71. This allows liquid to escape and mitigates the risk of frost damage.

[0046] Overall, it can be seen that the deflecting device 6, the free end 40 of the insertion device 4, and the internal distributor 5 are located coaxially with each other along the transverse axis 33. This ensures that the liquid is introduced into and drawn from a central area of ​​the interior of the container 3.

[0047] Along the longitudinal axis 36, the inlet device 8 – which is also essentially tubular – opens with its free end 80 in such a way that it is positioned upstream of the central region of the container 3. Thus, the inlet device 8 also opens upstream of the feed device 4. Here, the free end 80, following a bend in the inlet device 8, is directed towards the side wall 32 and, in the illustrated embodiment, introduces cold liquid from the secondary medium inlet 35 into the container 3. Due to the orientation of the container 3, a lower layer of cold liquid is formed. The secondary medium inlet 35 is also located on the end face 34, which already carries the medium inlet 30 and the medium outlet 31.

[0048] It can be seen that the bends of the insertion device 4 and the inlet device 8 are aligned such that their respective free ends 40 and 80 point in opposite directions. This applies to the application shown here, in which the container lies on its longitudinal side.

Claims

1. A device for heating a liquid, comprising an energy unit (1), a heat exchanger device (2), and a tank (3) which has at least one lateral wall (32) and a transverse axis, wherein the energy unit (1) generates thermal energy, wherein the heat exchanger device (2) transfers the thermal energy generated by the energy unit (1) to the liquid, wherein the tank (3) takes up the liquid, wherein the tank (3) has at least one medium inlet (30) and one medium outlet (31), wherein at least one introducing device (4) and one internal distributor (5) are present in the tank (3), wherein the introducing device (4) introduces liquid entering the tank (3) via the medium inlet (30) into an interior space of the tank (3), wherein the introducing device (4) and the internal distributor (5) are configured and arranged relative to each other such that liquid moves from the introducing device (4) into an interior space of the internal distributor (5) and from the interior space of the internal distributor (5) into the interior space of the tank (3), wherein the introducing device (4) has a free end (40) located in the interior space of the tank (3), wherein the free end (40) of the introducing device (4) is directed towards the lateral wall (32) of the tank (3), wherein the internal distributor (5) has an open side (50), wherein the open side (50) of the internal distributor (5) is directed towards the lateral wall (32), wherein along the transverse axis (33), the open side (50) of the internal distributor (5) is located further away from the lateral wall (32) than the free end (40) of the introducing device (4), characterized in that a deflecting device (6) is present in the tank (3), wherein the free end (40) of the introducing device (4) is directed towards an interior space (60) of the deflecting device (6), and wherein an inner diameter of the interior space (60) of the deflecting device (6) is smaller than an inner diameter of the open side (50) of the internal distributor (5).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the deflecting device (6) is arranged near the lateral wall (32), and wherein along the transverse axis (33), the deflecting device (6) is located closer to the lateral wall (32) than the free end (40) of the introducing device (4).

3. The device according to either of claims 1 and 2, wherein a withdrawal device (7) is present in the tank (3), wherein the liquid reaches the medium outlet (31) via the withdrawal device (7), and wherein a free end (70) of the withdrawal device (7) is connected to an interior space of the internal distributor (5) so that liquid from the interior space of the internal distributor (5) enters the withdrawal device (7).

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein a liquid passage (71) is present between the free end (70) of the withdrawal device (7) and the internal distributor (5), via which liquid moves from the withdrawal device (7) and / or the internal distributor (5) into the interior space of the tank (3).

5. The device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tank (3) has at least one secondary medium inlet (35), wherein a supply device (8) is present in the tank (3), wherein the supply device (8) introduces liquid entering the tank (3) via the secondary medium inlet (35) into the interior space of the tank (3), wherein the supply device (8) has a free end (80) located in the interior space of the tank (3), and wherein the free end (80) of the supply device (8) is directed towards the lateral wall (32) of the tank (3).