(19)
(11)EP 3 358 271 A1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43)Date of publication:
08.08.2018 Bulletin 2018/32

(21)Application number: 18460007.0

(22)Date of filing:  31.01.2018
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F24H 1/20(2006.01)
F24H 9/18(2006.01)
F28D 1/047(2006.01)
F28D 7/12(2006.01)
F28F 9/013(2006.01)
F24H 1/18(2006.01)
F24H 9/00(2006.01)
F28D 7/02(2006.01)
F28D 20/00(2006.01)
F16L 9/19(2006.01)
(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME
Designated Validation States:
MA MD TN

(30)Priority: 07.02.2017 PL 42046717

(71)Applicant: Aic Spó Ka Akcyjna
81-577 Gdynia (PL)

(72)Inventors:
  • Siemienczuk, Tomasz
    80-351 Gdansk (PL)
  • Pacholski, Adam
    81-603 Gdynia (PL)
  • Szczepaski, Krzysztof
    83-110 Tczew (PL)
  • Kowalski, Tomasz
    76-200 Slupsk (PL)
  • Saj, Grzegorz
    83-250 Szczodrowo (PL)

(74)Representative: Pomianek, Grazyna 
Kancelaria Patentowo-Prawna Grazyna Pomianek ul. Subislawa 23 C lok. 7
80-354 Gdansk
80-354 Gdansk (PL)

  


(54)WATER HEATER AND A PIPE COIL FOR A HEAT EXCHANGER, IN PARTICULAR AN EXCHANGER INTENDED FOR THAT SPECIFIC WATER HEATER


(57) A water heater containing a water tank featuring an external jacket and a pipe coil wound spirally around the water tank in the space between the said external jacket and a wall of the water tank. The water tank (1) is closed at the bottom with a bottom wall (2) fitted with an outlet stub pipe (3) for the heated water, and open, at least partially, at the top providing access to the space (6) between the water tank (1) and the external jacket (4) of the water tank (1). The pipe coil (5) is made up of at least two pipes twisted together spirally and wound around the said water tank (1), where the pipes feature collectors at their both ends, and where a working agent flows in countercurrent with respect to the heated water.




Description


[0001] The invention concerns a water heater, particularly integrated in central heating installation, designated especially for household use, and a pipe coil for a heat exchanger, in particular an exchanger intended for that specific water heater.

[0002] Known from patent document DE 19526862 is a device for the heating of domestic water, consisting of a domestic water tank fitted with an external jacket and of a countercurrent heat exchanger featuring two flow ducts, where one of the ducts is intended for the heating medium and the other for the domestic water, and where the heating medium duct is formed between the external jacket of the domestic water tank and its outer surface, while the domestic water duct takes the form of a pipe coil placed inside the said heating medium duct. The domestic water heated up in the pipe coil flows into the tank from which it is drawn for use.

[0003] Known from patent document DE 1679766 is a water heater containing a water tank inside which there is a pipe positioned axially, where the pipe is open at the bottom and closed with a lid featuring an opening at the top, so that there is a ring-shaped space formed between the said pipe and the wall of the water tank, where running across that space is a pipe coil in which the heating medium flows, the coil wound spirally around the said pipe. The area of the cross-section of the opening must not be larger than half the area of the cross-section of the said ring. Cold water is supplied to the water tank via the supply pipe to the bottom part of the tank, from where it flows in countercurrent with respect to the flow of the working agent in the pipe coil.

[0004] The purpose of the invention is to develop a structure of a water heater which would improve heat exchange and could be used in low-temperature heating systems, especially in systems of air source heat pumps, and to develop a structure of a pipe coil which could be applied especially in that specific water heater.

[0005] A water heater containing a water tank featuring an external jacket and a pipe coil wound spirally around the water tank in the space between the said external jacket and a wall of the water tank according to this invention is characterised in that the water tank is closed at the bottom with a bottom wall fitted with an outlet stub pipe for the heated water, and open, at least partially, at the top providing access to the space between the water tank and the water tank external jacket, where the external jacket is fitted at the bottom with an inlet stub pipe for cold water, while the pipe coil is made up of at least two pipes twisted together spirally and wound around the said water tank, where the pipes feature collectors at their both ends, i.e. at the inlets and outlets, and where a working agent flows inside the pipes, while the outlet from the pipe coil for the working agent is positioned at the bottom of the external jacket of the water tank.
Preferably, the water tank is entirely open at the top providing access to the space between the external jacket of the water tank and the water tank.
The inlet end through which the working agent flows into the pipe coil preferably pierces the water tank bottom or is positioned at the top of the external jacket of the water tank.
Preferably, the pipes of the pipe coil are placed in separators which guarantee some distance between the pipes, where the separators are arranged along the pipe coil, and where preferably the separator takes the form of an open ring with ribs arranged radially so that formed between the ribs and inside the ring are sockets to accommodate the pipes of the pipe coil. Preferably, the pipes of the pipe coil anchored in the sockets between the separator ribs are wound spirally around the pipe anchored in the socket in the centre of the separator ring and twisted together.

[0006] A pipe coil intended for a heat exchanger, water heater in particular, according to the invention is characterised in that it contains at least two pipes twisted together spirally, which preferably are fitted with a collector at least on one end.
Preferably, the coil pipes are placed in separators which guarantee some distance between the pipes, where the separators are arranged along the pipe coil, and where preferably the separator takes the form of an open ring with ribs arranged radially so that formed between the ribs and in the centre of the ring are sockets to accommodate the coil pipes.
Preferably, the coil pipes anchored in the sockets between the separator ribs are wound spirally around the pipe anchored in the socket in the centre of the separator ring, and twisted together.

[0007] The structure of the water heater ensures intensified heat exchange in low temperature heating systems, especially in systems of air source heat pumps, and the separator structure enables replacement of any of the coil pipes.

[0008] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a heat exchanger with the water tank entirely open at the top providing access to the space between the water tank and the external jacket of the water tank, and with the working agent inlet fitted in the water tank bottom;

Fig. 2 depicts a heat exchanger with the water tank entirely open at the top providing access to the space between the water tank and the external jacket of the water tank, and with the working agent inlet fitted at the top of the external jacket of the water tank;

Fig. 3 shows a heat exchanger with a water tank partially open at the top, providing access to the space between the water tank and the external jacket of the water tank, and with a working agent inlet fitted at the top of the external jacket of the water tank;

Fig. 4 depicts a separator of the pipe coil;

Fig 5 presents the pipe coil with separators;

Fig. 6 depicts a fragment of the pipe coil as shown on Fig. 5.



[0009] In the first exemplary embodiment of the invention (Fig. 1) the water heater contains a water tank 1 fitted with an external jacket 4 and a pipe coil 5 wound spirally around the water tank 1 in the space 6 between the said external jacket 4 and a wall of the water tank 1. The water tank 1 is closed at the bottom with the bottom wall 2 fitted with an outlet stub pipe 3 for the heated water, and entirely open at the top providing access to the space 6 between the water tank 1 and the external jacket 4 of the water tank 1. At the bottom, the external jacket 4 is fitted with the inlet stub pipe 7 for cold water. The pipe coil 5 is made up of five pipes 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5f placed in separators 10 which guarantee some distance between these pipes, where the separators are arranged along the pipe coil 5 (Fig.5). Each separator 10 is formed into an open ring with ribs 11 arranged radially, so that formed between the ribs 11 and in the centre of the ring are sockets 12, 13 to accommodate the pipes of the coil 5 (Fig. 4). The pipes 5a, 5b, 5d, 5f of the pipe coil 5 are anchored in the sockets 12 between ribs 11 of the separator 10, and pipe 5c is anchored in the centre of the ring in socket 13 of the separator 10 (Fig. 6). The pipes 5a, 5b, 5d, 5f are wound spirally around pipe 5c, twisted together and wound around the water tank 1, with collectors fitted at their both ends. Flowing in pipes 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d of the pipe coil 5 is the working agent. The outlet 9 of the working agent from the pipe coil 5 is positioned at the bottom of the external jacket 4 of the water tank 1, whereas the inlet 8 of the working agent to the pipe coil 5 pierces through the bottom 2 of the water tank 1, so that a fragment of the pipe coil 5 runs inside the water tank 1 (Fig. 1).

[0010] In the second exemplary embodiment of the invention (Fig. 2), the heat exchanger differs from that described in example one in that the inlet 8 of the working agent to the pipe coil 5 is positioned at the top of the external jacket 4 of the water tank 1.

[0011] In the third exemplary embodiment of the invention (Fig. 3), the heat exchanger differs from the exchanger described in example two in that the water tank 1 is partially open at the top providing access to the space 6 between the water tank 1 and the external jacket 4 of the water tank 1.

[0012] Supplied to the space 6 between the water tank 1 and the external jacket 4 of the water tank 1 through the inlet stub pipe 7 fitted in the external jacket 4 of the water tank 1 is cold water which heats up when flowing upwards around the pipe coil 5, whereupon it gets into the water tank from which it is drawn through the outlet stub pipe 3 fitted in the bottom of the water tank 1, while directed to the inlet sub pipe 8 of the pipe coil 5 is the heated working agent which flows inside the pipe coil 5 in countercurrent with respect to the water flowing in the space 6 between the water tank 1 and the external jacket 4 of the water tank 1 and leaves the pipe coil 5 through the outlet stub pipe 9.


Claims

1. A water heater containing a water tank featuring an external jacket and a pipe coil wound spirally around the water tank in the space between the said external jacket and a wall of the water tank, characterised in that the water tank (1) is closed at the bottom with a bottom wall (2) fitted with an outlet stub pipe (3) for the heated water, and open, at least partially, at the top providing access to the space (6) between the water tank (1) and the external jacket (4) of the water tank (1), where the external jacket (4) is fitted at the bottom with an inlet stub pipe (7) for cold water, while the pipe coil (5) is made up of at least two pipes twisted together spirally and wound around the said water tank (1), where the pipes feature collectors at their both ends, i.e. at the inlet (8) and outlet (9), and where a working agent flows inside the pipes, while the outlet (9) from the pipe coil (5) for the working agent is positioned at the bottom of the external jacket (4) of the water tank (1).
 
2. The water heater according to Claim 1, characterized in that the water tank (1) is entirely open at the top providing access to the space (6) between the external jacket (4) of the water tank (1) and the water tank (1).
 
3. The water heater according to Claim 1, characterized in that the inlet end (8) through which the working agent flows into the pipe coil (5) pierces the bottom (2) of the water tank (1).
 
4. The water heater according to Claim 1, characterized in that the inlet end (8) through which the working agent flows to the pipe coil (5) is positioned at the top of the external jacket (4) of the water tank (1).
 
5. The water heater according to each of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the pipes of the pipe coil (5) are placed in separators which guarantee some distance between the pipes, where the separators are arranged along the pipe coil (5).
 
6. The water heater according to Claim 5, characterised in that the separator (10) takes the form of an open ring with ribs (11) arranged radially so that formed between the ribs (11) and inside the ring are sockets (12, 13) to accommodate the pipes of the pipe coil (5).
 
7. The water heater according to Claim 6, characterized in that the pipes of the pipe coil (5) anchored in the sockets (12) between the ribs (11) of the separator (10) are wound spirally around the pipe anchored in the socket (13) in the centre of the separator (10) ring and twisted together.
 
8. A pipe coil intended for a heat exchanger, water heater in particular, characterised in that it contains at least two pipes twisted together spirally.
 
9. The pipe coil according to Claim 8, characterized in that the pipes of the pipe coil (5) are fitted with a collector at least on one end.
 
10. The pipe coil according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the pipes of the pipe coil (5) are placed in separators which guarantee some distance between the pipes, where the separators are arranged along the pipe coil (5).
 
11. The pipe coil according to Claim 10, characterised in that the separator (10) takes the form of an open ring with ribs (11) arranged radially so that formed between the ribs (11) and in the centre of the ring are sockets (12, 13) to accommodate the coil pipes (5).
 
12. The pipe coil according to Claim 11, characterised in that the pipes of the coil pipe (5) anchored in the sockets (12) between the ribs (11) of the separator (10) are wound spirally around the pipe anchored in the socket (13) in the centre of the separator (10) ring and twisted together.
 




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Search report




Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description