U.S. patent application number 11/618258 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-08 for gas water heater.
This patent application is currently assigned to INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE. Invention is credited to Jing-Lyang Jeng, Wen-Bin Lo, Kuo-Kuang Wu.
Application Number | 20070256647 11/618258 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39709118 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070256647 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lo; Wen-Bin ; et
al. |
November 8, 2007 |
Gas water heater
Abstract
A gas water heater is disclosed. The gas water heater comprises
a combustion chamber, a pipe assembly, a heat exchange device, and
a plurality of heat conductors. The combustion chamber provides a
gas flow. The heat exchange device is disposed above the combustion
chamber. The heat conductors are disposed in parallel in the heat
exchange device. Each heat conductor comprises a body, a plurality
of trough holes, and a first flange. The body has an oblique side
facing the gas flow. The through holes are disposed on the body.
The first flange is formed along the oblique side of the body for
collecting condensed water.
Inventors: |
Lo; Wen-Bin; (Taichung City,
TW) ; Wu; Kuo-Kuang; (Hsinchu City, TW) ;
Jeng; Jing-Lyang; (Hsinchu County, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUINTERO LAW OFFICE, PC
2210 MAIN STREET, SUITE 200
SANTA MONICA
CA
90405
US
|
Assignee: |
INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
INSTITUTE
Hsinchu
TW
|
Family ID: |
39709118 |
Appl. No.: |
11/618258 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11379836 |
Apr 24, 2006 |
|
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11618258 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
122/19.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02B 30/00 20130101;
Y02B 30/102 20130101; F24H 1/41 20130101; F24H 8/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
122/19.1 |
International
Class: |
F24H 9/00 20060101
F24H009/00 |
Claims
1. A gas water heater, comprising: a combustion chamber, providing
a gas flow; a pipe assembly; a heat exchange device disposed above
the combustion chamber; a plurality of heat conductors disposed in
parallel in the heat exchange device, each heat conductor
comprising: a body having an oblique side facing the gas flow; a
plurality of through holes disposed on the body accommodating the
pipe assembly therethrough; and a first flange formed along the
oblique side of the body for collecting condensed water.
2. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body
comprises a surface, the through holes disposed on the surface.
3. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first
flange is disposed at both sides of the surface.
4. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first
flange is disposed at one side of the surface.
5. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 2, wherein the surface
comprises a plurality of scratches, guiding the condensed
water.
6. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
direction of the scratches is substantially vertical to that of the
gas flow.
7. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
direction of the scratches is substantially parallel to that of the
gas flow.
8. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
direction of the scratches is parallel to the first flange.
9. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat
exchange device further comprises a case, covering the heat
conductors.
10. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 9, wherein the case
comprises a second flange disposed at the edge of the case,
corresponding to the first flange.
11. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 9, wherein the case
comprises a drain, disposed at the edge of the case, corresponding
to the first flange and the second flange.
12. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat
exchange device further comprises a first heat exchanger and a
second heat exchanger, and the first heat exchanger is disposed
between the second exchanger and the combustion chamber.
13. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat
conductors are heat fins.
14. A gas water heater, comprising: a combustion chamber, providing
a gas flow; a pipe assembly; a heat exchange device disposed above
the combustion chamber; a plurality of heat conductors disposed in
parallel in the heat exchange device, each heat conductor
comprising: a body with a V-shaped side facing the gas flow; a
plurality of through holes disposed on the body accommodating the
pipe assembly therethrough; and a first flange formed along the
V-shaped side of the body for collecting condensed water.
15. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 14, wherein the body
comprises a surface, the through holes disposed on the surface.
16. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first
flange is disposed at both sides of the surface.
17. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first
flange is disposed at one side of the surface.
18. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 15, wherein the
surface comprises a plurality of scratches, guiding the condensed
water.
19. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 18, wherein the
direction of the scratches is vertical to that of the gas flow.
20. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 18, wherein the
direction of the scratches is substantially parallel to that of the
gas flow.
21. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 18, wherein the
direction of the scratches is substantially parallel to the first
flange.
22. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 14, wherein the heat
exchange device further comprises a case, covering the heat
conductors.
23. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 22, wherein the case
comprises a second flange disposed at the center of the case,
corresponding to the first flange.
24. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second
flange is V-shaped.
25. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 14, wherein the case
comprises a drain disposed the center of the case, corresponding to
the first flange and the second flange.
26. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 14, wherein the heat
exchange device comprises a first heat exchanger and a second heat
exchanger, and the first exchanger is disposed between the second
heat exchanger and the combustion chamber.
27. The gas water heater as claimed in claim 14, wherein the heat
conductors are heat fins.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The invention is a Continuation-in-Part Application of
application Ser. No. 11/379,836, entitled WATER HEATER AND METHOD
OF OPERATING THE SAME, filed on Apr. 24, 2006, the disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all
purposes as if fully set forth herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a gas water heater, and more
particularly to a gas water heater for discharging condensed water
and recycling thermal energy.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional water heater
10. Referring to FIG. 1, the water heater 10 comprises a combustion
chamber 12, a pipe assembly 14 and a heat exchanger 15. Burning
fuel in the combustion chamber 12 generates a high temperature gas,
including carbon dioxide (CO2) and vapor. Passing through the heat
exchanger 15, cold water from an inlet 14a of the pipe assembly 14
is heated by high temperature gas. Hot water is then provided from
an outlet 14b of the pipe assembly 14. The heating efficiency of
the water heater ranges between 72% and 83%. Thus, a considerable
amount of heat energy generated during the heating process is
dissipated, generally in the form of waste gas. Moreover, the vapor
may condense into water, which adversely affects combustion, and
may erode pipe assembly 14 and the heat exchanger 15.
[0004] Thus, a gas water heater capable of recycling waste gas and
discharging condensed water, improving heat efficiency is
desirable.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention provides a gas water heater with heat
conductors. Heat conductors comprise a special flange for guiding
the condensed water.
[0006] An embodiment of a gas water heater comprises a combustion
chamber, a pipe assembly, a heat exchange device, and a plurality
of heat conductors. The combustion chamber provides a gas flow. The
heat exchange device is disposed above the combustion chamber. The
heat conductors are disposed in parallel in the heat exchange
device. Each heat conductor comprises a body, a plurality of
through holes, and a first flange. The body has an oblique side
facing the gas flow. The through holes are disposed on the body.
The first flange is formed along the oblique side of the body for
collecting condensed water.
[0007] Another embodiment of a gas water heater comprises a
combustion chamber, a pipe assembly, a heat exchange device, and a
plurality of heat conductors. The combustion chamber provides a gas
flow. The heat exchange device is disposed above the combustion
chamber. The heat conductors are disposed in parallel in the heat
exchange device. Each heat conductor comprises a body, a plurality
of through holes, and a first flange. The body has a V-shaped side
facing the gas flow. The through holes are disposed on the body.
The first flange is formed along the V-shaped side of the body for
collecting condensed water.
[0008] A detailed description is given in the following embodiments
with reference to the accompanying drawings:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The invention can be more fully understood by reading the
subsequent detailed description and examples with references made
to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional water
heater;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of a gas
water heater;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of a heat
exchange device and heat conductors thereof,
[0013] FIG. 4 shows schematic front, top, and right side views of
the first embodiment of the case and the heat exchange device;
[0014] FIGS. 5A-5C show different types of scratches of the first
embodiment of the heat conductor;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the gas
water heater;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of a
heat exchange device and heat conductors;
[0017] FIG. 8 shows schematic front, plan, and right side views of
the second embodiment of the case and the heat exchange device;
[0018] FIGS. 9A-9C show different types of scratches of the second
embodiment of the heat conductor; and
[0019] FIGS. 10A-10B shows the arrangement of a first flange of the
heat conductor common to the first and second embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The following description is of the best-contemplated mode
of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the
purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and
should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention
is best determined by reference to the appended claims.
First Embodiment
[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a first
embodiment of a gas water heater 20 comprising a combustion chamber
30, a pipe assembly 40, a heat exchange device 50, a plurality of
heat conductors 60. The combustion chamber 30 provides a gas flow
31. The pipe assembly 40 comprises an inlet 40a and an outlet 40b.
The heat exchange device 50 comprises a first heat exchanger 51, a
second heat exchanger 52, and a case 53. The second heat exchanger
52 is disposed above the combustion chamber 30 and the first heat
exchanger 51 is disposed between the second heat exchanger 52 and
the combustion chamber 30. The case 53 covers the heat conductors
60.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 3, the heat conductors 60 are disposed in
parallel in the heat exchange device 50. As shown in FIG. 2, each
heat conductor 60 comprises a body 61, a plurality of through holes
62, and a first flange 63. The body 61 has an oblique side facing
the gas flow 31, and each first flange 63 is formed along the
oblique side of the body 61 for collecting the condensed water.
Particularly, the first flange 63 protrudes passing through the
paper. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the body 61 further comprises a
surface 64.
[0023] Additionally, the case 53 of the heat exchange device 50
further comprises a second flange 53a, disposed at the edge of the
case 53 and corresponding to the first flanges 63 of the heat
conductors 60. Referring again in FIG. 4, the case 53 further
comprises a drain 54, disposed at the edge of the case 53, under
the first flange 63 and the second flange 53a, corresponding to the
first flanges 63 of the heat conductors 60 and the second flange
53a of the case 53.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 3, the inlet 40a and the outlet 40b are
connected to the through holes 62a and 62b respectively. The pipe
assembly 40 between the inlet 40a and the outlet 40b passes through
all the through holes 62 of the heat conductors 60. When the gas
water heater 20 is used, the combustion chamber 30 provides the gas
flow 31 and the cold water from the inlet 40a is heated in the pipe
assembly 40 by the gas flow 31. The hot water is then discharged
from the outlet 40b. The thermal efficiency of the gas water heater
20 is improved because the gas flow 31 is both applied to the first
heat exchanger 51 and the second heat exchanger 52. Thus, the heat
energy can be used twice, decreasing energy loss.
[0025] Furthermore, during the burning process, vapor is produced
by high temperature gas. The vapor adhering to the heat conductors
60 is condensed into water that can be collected by the first
flanges 63 of the heat conductors 60. The condensed water flowing
along the oblique side of each body 61 (as indicated by the
direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4) of each first flange 63 is
collected in the second flange 53a of the case 53. The condensed
water is discharged via the drain 54, protecting the pipe assembly
40 and the heat conductors 60 against erosion. Thus, the condensed
water can be collected by the first flange 63 and the second flange
53a formed at one side of the case 53, reducing material
consumption and cost.
[0026] Furthermore, for enhancing collection of condensed water,
the surface 64 of each heat conductor 60 further comprises a
plurality of scratches to guide the condensed water. As shown in
FIG. 5A, the direction of the scratches 65a is substantially
vertical to that of the gas flow 31. As shown in FIG. 5B, the
direction of the scratches 65b is substantially parallel to that of
the gas flow 31. As shown in FIG. 5C, the direction of the
scratches 65c is substantially parallel to the first flange 63.
Second Embodiment
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 6-9C, most of the structures in a second
embodiment of a gas water heater 20', with the exception of second
flange 53'a of case 53' of a heat exchange device 50', the
disposition of a drain 54', and the shape of a plurality of heat
conductors 60' are similar to those in the first embodiment. Due to
the different type of the heat exchange device 50' and the heat
conductors 60', the arrangement of a pipe assembly 40' is different
from the first embodiment.
[0028] In the second embodiment, each heat conductor 60' comprises
a body 61' with a V-shaped side facing the gas flow 31, a plurality
of through holes 62', and a first flange 63' formed along the
V-shaped side of the body 61' for collecting condensed water. The
second flange 53'a of case 53', which is V-shaped, is disposed
under the first flanges 63'. Additionally, the drain 54' is
disposed at the center of the case 53', corresponding to the second
flange 53'a. As shown in FIG. 8, the condensed water flows in the
direction indicated by the arrow, and is collected by the second
flange 53'a. Finally, the condensed water is discharged by the
drain 54', protecting the pipe assembly 40' and the heat conductors
60' against erosion.
[0029] Thus, condensed water can be collected by the first flange
63' and the second flange 53'a formed at one side of the case 53',
reducing material consumption and cost.
[0030] Furthermore, for enhancing collection of condensed water,
each heat conductor 60 further comprises a plurality of scratches
to guide the condensed water. As shown in FIG. 9A, the direction of
the scratches 65'a is substantially vertical to that of the gas
flow 31. As shown in FIG. 9B, the direction of the scratches 65'b
is substantially parallel to that of the gas flow 31. As shown in
FIG. 9C, the direction of the scratches 65'c is substantially
parallel to the first flange 63'.
[0031] Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 10A-10B, in the first
embodiment and the second embodiment, the first flange 63 or 63'
can be disposed at two opposite sides of the surface 64 or 64'.
Moreover, the fist flange 63 or 63' can be disposed at only one
side on surface 64 or 64'.
[0032] While the invention has been described by way of example and
in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is
intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements
(as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the
scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
similar arrangements.
* * * * *