Adapter for hot water cylinder with diffuser

Abstract

An adapter 1 for connecting a hot water cylinder 45 to a heat source, the adapter configured to be secured at the top of the cylinder. The adapter includes a heat exchanger 3 having a first inlet 10 f

Claims

1. An adapter for connecting a hot water cylinder to a heat source, wherein the adapter comprises:a heat exchanger having a first inlet for receiving hot working fluid from a heat source and a first outlet for returning the cooled working fluid to the heat source after the working fluid has passed through the heat exchanger, and having a second inlet for receiving water for heating from the hot water cylinder and a second outlet for returning the heated water to the hot water cylinder after the water from the hot water cylinder has passed through the heat exchanger;a pump for pumping water from the hot water cylinder through the heat exchanger and back to the hot water cylinder; anda tube having a proximal end in fluid communication with the second outlet of the heat exchanger, and wherein the tube comprises a diffuser at or near to its distal end,2. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the diffuser comprises one or more separate parts configured to be attached to the distal end of the tube.

3. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the diffuser is formed integrally with the tube portion.

4. An adapter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the diffuser is tubular and has the same or similar diameter as the tube.

5. An adapter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the diffuser is a pipe or tube having slots or outlets formed therein.

6. An adapter according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the diffuser has at least two outlets located proximally of the distal end of the diffuser.

7. An adapter according to claim 6, wherein the outlets are located at or about the same distance from the distal end of the diffuser.

8. An adapter according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the outlets are spaced equidistantly from each other around the circumference of the diffuser.

9. An adapter according to claim 8, wherein the outlets comprise a first group of outlets and wherein the diffuser further comprises a second group of outlets, the second group of outlets being located closer to the distal end of the diffuser than the first group of outlets.

10. An adapter according to claim 9, wherein the outlets of the second group are spaced equidistantly from each other around the circumference of the diffuser.

11. An adapter according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the diffuser further comprises at least a third group of outlets, the third group of outlets being located doser to the distal end of the diffuser than the first group of outlets and the second group of outlets.

12. An adapter according to any of claims 9 to 11 wherein the diffuser has a bore having a cross sectional area that varies along the length of the diffuser, the cross sectional area of the bore gradually decreasing from the first group of outlets located furthest from the distal end of the diffuser to the last group of outlets located closest to the distal end of the diffuser.

13. A cylinder adapted for connection to a heat pump, the cylinder comprising an adapter according to any of the preceding claims.s