|
(11) | EP 0 061 435 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Hydrothermal stove |
| (57) This invention concerns a hydrothermal stove (10) for household use, said stove (10)
being able to heat convective fluid and washing water and also to cook foodstuffs
and substances in general and comprising in mutual cooperation and coordination:
- conduits for convective fluid (13) which are disposed and conformed in such a way as to form a combustion chamber compartment (12) and a sequence of interspaces (17) that communicate with each other and form the conduit for fumes (17), - a battery of tubes (14) disposed within said combustion chamber (12) and forming the supporting platform for the fuel, - at least one conduit (34) for heating the washing water - and possible compartments employed as cooking ovens and enfolded at least partially by said conduits for convective fluid (13) and/or by said conduit for fumes (17), whereby means are comprised advantageously which deliver and convey a forced draught and which cooperate with said combustion chamber (12), and whereby means are included advantageously which control and regulate the flow of convective fluid into the outside hydraulic circuit. |
[0001] This invention concerns a hydrothermal stove. To be more. exact, it concerns a high-yield stove which has been designed and embodied in the workshop of the author and which has. several uses.
[0002] It can be used for heating the surroundings in which it . is located by means of radiation, for heating the convective fluid which has to be circulated within suitable means that. radiate heat outside the stove, for heating washing water and for cooking and/or heating various substances.
[0003] Diverse kinds of hydrothermal stoves are known, and it is known that, notwithstanding the improvements applied to them, .said kinds of stoves do not provide particularly high thermal yields.
[0004] This is especially due to the slow speeds of rotary flow. .and circulation of fumes inside the combustion chamber, said speeds being determined substantially by the particular sha- .pe of said chamber.
[0005] . It follows that, so as to raise the calorific power of .said stoves, it is necessary to increase the surface of the. .thermally irradiated boiler, but this causes, unfortunately, an increase in the dimensions of a stove thus designed.
[0006] Furthermore, it should also be noted that in said known - stoves, owing also to the particular shape of the boiler, in order to avoid the damaging formation of damp and therefore. of rust, constructional materials are widely employed which do not provide very good heat exchange, such as, for instance, refractory materials, cast iron and other products.
[0008] The present invention tends to remedy such shortcomings - and drawbacks by embodying a high-yield hydrothermal stove..
[0009] In particular, the hydrothermal stove of the invention comprises conduits to convey water or convective fluid which are disposed or conformed, or shaped, so as to intercept and guide the flames and fumes of combustion along preferential paths in order to maximise the thermal yield of said stove - according to the invention.
[0010] The special disposition and conformation of said convey-. -ing conduits enable the damaging formation of damp and therefore of rust to be avoided, particularly on said conduits which delimit the combustion chamber, during the phase of circulation of water or convective fluid.
[0011] In this way the boiler can be embodied with materials able to provide excellent heat exchange.
[0012] According to the invention various materials can be emp-. loyed and it has been noted that stainless steels are the materials which give a better general yield since they enable the thermal yield of the stove to be kept high.
[0013] Moreover, the particular technical lay-outs employed in this invention make it possible to embody a hydrothermal stove having a minimum overall size together with a maximum 'thermal yield of said stove.
[0014] According to this invention the base supporting the wood. or fuel to be burnt consists helpfully of a substantially level battery of tubes acting as a hydrothermal grate.
[0015] Moreover, according to the invention the conduit for fu-. mes and the conduits for convective fluid enfold spaces or . compartments inside the stove which are able to be used as ovens for cooking and heating.
[0016] Furthermore, according to the. invention the upper plate of the stove can be employed as a cooking plate.
[0017] This invention, therefore, is embodied in a hydrothermal stove for household use, said stove being suitable for heating convective fluid and washing water and also for cooking foodstuffs and substances in general and being characterized by including in mutual cooperation and coordination:
- conduits for convective fluid which are disposed and con-. formed in such a way as to constitute a combustion chamber compartment and a sequence of interspaces that communicate with each other and form the conduit for fumes, .
- a battery of tubes disposed within said combustion chamber and forming the supporting platform for the fuel,
- at least one conduit for heating washing water
- and possible compartments used as cooking ovens and enfolded at least partially by said conduits for the fluid and/or said conduit for fumes,
whereby means to feed and convey a forced draught are comprised and cooperate with said combustion chamber, and whereby means to control and regulate the flow of convective fluid into the outside hydraulic circuit are included advantageously.
[0018] We shall describe hereinafter, as a non-restrictive example, a preferential embodiment and some embodying variants . of the invention and shall refer to the attached tables, . wherein:-
Fig.I gives a three-dimensional diagrammatic view of the hydrothermal stove of the invention; .
Fig.2 gives a three-dimensional, cutaway, diagrammatic view . of the boiler; .
Fig.3 shows a three-dimensional view of an embodying variant of the boiler; .
Fig.4 shows a broken-down view of the hydrothermal stove ae- cording to the variant shown in Fig.3; .
Fig.5 shows diagrammatically the means which control and regulate the flow of convective fluid employed by the stove according to the invention;
Fig.6 shows an embodying variant of the invention.
[0019] In the figures the same parts or parts performing the. same functions bear the same reference numbers.
[0020] In particular, the hydrothermal stove 10 shown in Figs.I 'and 2 has an inner upper part in which the elements forming- the boiler II and delimiting the combustion chamber 12 are . disposed; said elements are the conduits for convective fluid 13 and the battery of tubes 14, whereby said conduits for convective fluid 13 in particular are made with materials able to provide excellent heat exchange, such as steel, for instance.
[0021] In the lower inner part of said hydrothermal stove 10 the means 15 are located which control and regulate (Fig.5) the. flow of the convective fluid to be circulated into the out-. side hydraulic conduits.
[0022] The conduits for convective fluid 13 are conformed like a specially shaped panel provided with an interspace.
[0023] In particular, the form of said specially shaped panels makes it possible to embody a combustion chamber 12 having a substantially arched ceiling 16, and a suitable conduit for. fumes 17.
[0024] It has been verified in the author's workshop that such a form of the combustion chamber 12 and, in particular, the arched shape of its ceiling 16 enable the turbulence of the. fumes and their speed of rotary flow to be increased; this leads to a greater radiation of heat towards the walls of said combustion chamber 12 than is obtained in stoves of the known art, given the same unit of irradiated surface.
[0025] There is the further advantage that complete combustion is obtained with such a type of chamber 12 without any waste of fuel.
[0026] . Such features lead substantially to a possible reduction. in the sizes of the combustion chamber I2 and, therewith, of -the whole hydrothermal stove 10, which nonetheless still retains a very high calorific power.
[0027] Furthermore, owing to said special shape of the arched ceiling I6 it is possible to cover the inner walls of the chamber 12 directly with the flames of combustion, a fact which enables the damaging formation of damp and therefore of rust on said walls to be prevented.
[0028] . Moreover, since the conduit for fumes 17 is delimited or. enfolded at least partially by the conduits for convective . fluid 13, a continuous exchange of heat can take place be- . tween said conduits 13 and 17.
[0029] In effect, along the whole of its path inside the hydro-. thermal stove 10 the convective fluid also makes use of the. calorific power of the discharge fumes..
[0030] The battery of tubes 14 arranged at the bottom of the combustion chamber 12 acts as a hydrothermal grate or support-. ing base whereupon the wood or solid fuel to be burnt is put. Said battery of tubes I4 also enables the temperature of. the convective fluid within the conduits 13 to be kept even, since said battery 14 is located in such a way as to connect hydraulically the front 313 and rear 413 conduits forming the boiler II.
[0031] Beneath the battery of tubes I4 is a space 18 where a removable tray 19 for collecting the ash can be lodged.
[0032] In the figures the conduits 13 delimiting said combustion chamber I2 and conformed, as said earlier, like a specially- shaped panel having an interspace have been given different. reference numbers depending on the specific position they oe- cupy.
[0033] In particular, two conduits 113-213 are comprised which - are conformed like an arc-shaped panel so as to form said arched ceiling 16; said conduits 113-213 are separated at their top so that between them there is an upper transverse. opening 20 for the passage of fumes from the combustion chamber 12 into the discharge conduit 17.
[0034] The combustion chamber 12 is delimited at its front and - rear by the conduits for convective fluid 313-413, which are conformed like walls, whereby the front wall may include an- inlet 21 of a size such as to permit ready introduction of - the fuel.
[0035] The conduit for fumes 17 comprises a substantially level- first tract 117 delimited below by the conduit 213 and above by the plate of the hydrothermal stove 10, and thereafter comprises a descending tract 217 delimited by the conduit 213 and possibly by a conduit 513 shaped and disposed sub- . stantially vertically.
[0036] The lower end of the descending tract 2I7 communicates with the end rising tract 317 of the conduit for fumes 17, . and said end tract 317 leads into the stack 24.
[0037] Above the conduit 513 is a valve 25 which is able to connect the tracts 2I7 and 3I7 of the conduit for fumes 17, whereby said valve 25 can be opened by hand 23 and/or auto-. matically; if the latter is the case, the signal for its operation can be monitored by a heat sensor located within the. boiler II and in contact with the convective fluid.
[0038] The opening of said valve 25 enables the combustion fumes to be introduced directly into the stack 24 so that they'can be drawn away more efficiently, particularly so at the time. when the hydrothermal stove 10 is lit; a butterfly valve 26. can be envisaged as being in the stack 24 for this purpose . and can be operated by hand 27 or automatically, as in the . case of the valve 25.
[0039] The valve 25 is closed so as to make the discharge fumes. follow a longer path 217-317 and thereby to increase the surface of the conduits 13 affected by heat exchange.
[0040] The intensity of combustion can be regulated with means . 28 which deliver and convey a forced draught.
[0041] Said delivery means 28 consist of a conduit 29 (fig.4) disposed substantially beneath the boiler II so as to be able to communicate with the combustion chamber 12 in a semi-pressurised form.
[0042] Said conduit 29 is fed with hot air aspirated near the stove 10 by suitable fan means 30, whereby said fan means 30 are actuated by suitable heat sensor controlling means and . whereby said heat sensor can be located in the conduit for convective fluid 13 substantially near the point of emission of said fluid into the outside hydraulic circuit, said fan means 30 being actuated, moreover, in coordination with the mechanical opening of the window 31.
[0043] The opening of said window 31 is actuated by the same said heat sensor controlling means and said window 31 is disposed so as to shut off access to the conduit 29.
[0044] The introduction and discharge of convective fluid into . and out of the boiler II take place through two sleeves 32-. '33 connected to said boiler II in its lower and upper parts. 'respectively, as shown in Fig.4.
[0045] Within the interspace in the specially shaped panels forming the conduits for convective fluid 13 are located fur- . ther conduits 34 which are conformed coil-wise or with ano-. .ther like shape and are able to cause the circulation of any washing water to be heated inside the hydrothermal stove 10-and which comprise entry 35 and exit 36 conveyors, as shown- in Fig.4.
[0046] Said conduits 34 can be wholly immersed in the convective fluid and be separated from the inner walls of the conduit --13 or else can be secured to the-inside of at least one of ;the walls.
[0047] In the figures shown the boiler II has a plurality of through holes of which the aperture can be regulated and which are machined in the top of the conduit 213.
[0048] Said through holes 37 enable the upper plate 22 of the hydrothermal stove I0 to be heated more efficiently whenever necessary.
[0049] So as to reduce the loss of heat from the boiler II or to limit the consumption of energy, some refractory material is interposed in some zones between the boiler II itself and the outer containing structure 39 of the hydrothermal stove. -10.
[0050] Furthermore, said hydrothermal stove 10 comprises a lower -compartment 40 for lodging the means 15 which control and re--gulate the flow of convective fluid, said means 15 being, for -instance, of the kind shown diagrammatically in the hydraulic circuit of Fig.5..
[0051] In said Fig.5 the convective fluid 41 leaving the boiler--II is introduced once more, during the initial heating phase, into said boiler II through a one-way valve 42.
[0052] In this way the temperature of said convective fluid 4I is able to rise quickly and thus prevent the damaging form-- ation of damp on the walls of said boiler II.
[0053] When a pre-set temperature, monitored inside the boiler II by a heat sensor 43, is exceeded, said sensor 43 causes a commutation valve 44 and pump means 45 to operate.
[0054] The one-way valve 42 is thus by-passed and the convective fluid 41 can circulate within the outside hydraulic circuit 46.
[0055] The controlling and regulating means 15 also comprise an expansion tank 47 and/or other possible safety valves so as to keep the pressure of the convective fluid 41 constant or. to avoid dangerous excessive pressures within the hydraulic- circuit itself.
[0056] Fig.5 also shows diagrammatically the coil-shaped conduits 34 located inside the boiler II so as to enable the washing. water to be heated.
[0057] The flow of washing water inside the conduits 34 can be . regulated with a valve operated by a sensor located inside the boiler II, the purpose being to avoid possible dangerous overheating of the convective fluid 41 contained in said boiler II if ever the pump means 45 breaks down. - Moreover, the hydrothermal stove 10 includes a door 48 to shut the combustion chamber or hearth 12 and a door 49 to shut the lower compartment 40.
[0058] Fig.6 shows an embodying variant of the invention comprising a compartment 50 which can be used as a cooking oven and which is located in a space formed by a suitable enlargement of the descending tract 217; said variant of Fig.6 also comprises one or more compartments 51 located below said fore-. going compartment 50 but not particularly affected by radiation of heat.
[0059] Fig.6 envisages that the valve 25 is disposed so as to cause the compartment 50 to be enveloped wholly or partially, 'and perhaps in a differentiated manner, by the discharge fumes.
[0060] We have described here a preferential embodiment of the . invention together with a variant, but other variants are possible for a technician in this field.
[0061] Thus the shapes and sizes can be changed and the battery of tubes 14 can be disposed in a different way; it is also . possible to embody a stove 10 of which the structure or conformation are the counterpart of that shown in Figs.I, 2 & 3, the purpose being to enable said stove 10 to be fitted into. differently shaped surroundings.
[0062] It is possible to envisage that the compartment 50 is used at least partially as a storage tank for washing water and is therefore connected hydraulically to the conduits 34 so as to enable a certain quantity of washing water to be pre-heated- by the discharge fumes, thus permitting said water to be kept at a substantially constant temperature at its outlet.
[0063] It is also possible to visualise that the water or convective fluid is pre-heated, before being introduced into the boiler II through the sleeve 33, by being made to flow - into a coil or suitable interspace made inside the stack 24; in this way the yield of the hydrothermal stove 10 is raised yet further.
[0064] - Again, it is possible to envisage that the conduits for . convective fluid 13 are conformed with a plurality of con- . -duits perhaps cooperating at least partially with baffle plate means.
I. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use which is suitable for heating convective
fluid and washing water and also for cooking foodstuffs and substances in general
and which is characterised by including in mutual cooperation and coordination:
whereby means are comprised advantageously which deliver and convey a forced draught (28) and cooperate with said combustion chamber (12), and whereby means are included advantage-. ously which control and regulate (15) the flow of convective fluid into the outside hydraulic circuit (46).
- conduits for convective fluid (13) which are disposed and. conformed in such a way as to form a combustion chamber compartment (12) and a sequence of interspaces (17) com- .
- municating with each other and constituting the conduit for fumes (17),
- a battery of tubes (14) arranged within said combustion chamber (12) and forming the suporting platform for the - fuel,
- at least one conduit (34) for heating the washing water
- and possible compartments (50) employed as cooking ovens -- and enfolded at least partially by said conduits for con-- vective fluid (13) and/or by said conduit for fumes (17),
whereby means are comprised advantageously which deliver and convey a forced draught (28) and cooperate with said combustion chamber (12), and whereby means are included advantage-. ously which control and regulate (15) the flow of convective fluid into the outside hydraulic circuit (46).
2. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim. I, characterised by the
fact that the conduits for convect-. ive fluid (13) cooperating with the combustion
chamber (12). have an arched conformation (Fig.2).
3. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim-I or 2, characterised by
the fact that the conduits for convective fluid (13) are conformed with an interspace.
4. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim. I or 2, characterised by
the fact thot the conduits for convective fluid (13) are conformed with a plurality
of conduits which possibly cooperate at least partially with baffle plate means.
5. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim-I and in one or another of
the Claims thereafter, characterised by the fact that there are at least two conduits
for convective fluid (13) which cooperate at least lengthwise in forming at least
part of the conduit for fumes (17).
6. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim I and in one or another of
the Claims thereafter, characterised by the fact that the combustion chamber (12)
has at least its end wall (413) formed by a conduit for convective fluid (13).
7. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim-I and in one or another of
the Claims thereafter, characterised by the fact that at least one conduit for convective
fluid (13) comprises at least one through hole (37) which has an advantageously adjustable
aperture and which is ad- . vantageously oriented towards the plate (22).
8. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim. I and in one or another
of the Claims thereafter, characterised by the fact that upstream from the inlet conduit
for convective fluid (13) is a pre-heating circuit which possibly cooperates with
the stack (24).
9. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim. I and in one or another
of the Claims thereafter, characterised by the fact that the battery of tubes (14)
disposed inside the combustion chamber (12) cooperates with the lower - part of the
conduits for convective fluid (13) and has a compartment (18) below it for gathering
ash.
10. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim. I and in one or another
of the Claims thereafter, characterised by the fact that the battery of tubes (14)
is positioned along the length of the combustion chamber (12) and is connected hydraulically
to the conduits for convective fluid (13) so as to even out the differences in temperature.
II. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim. I and in one or another
of the Claims thereafter, characterised by the fact that at least one conduit (34)
for heating- washing water cooperates with at least one conduit for convective fluid
(13).
12. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim-I and in one or another
of the Claims thereafter, characterised by the fact that the conduit (34) for heating
washing . water cooperates with a storage tank located advantageously. within said
stove (IO).
- 13. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim I and in one or another
of the Claims thereafter, characterised by the fact that the means (28) which deliver
and convey a forced draught and which cooperate with said combustion -chamber (12)
comprise at least fan means (30).
- 14. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim-I and in one or another
of the Claims thereafter up to Claim II inclusive, characterised by the fact that
the compartments (50) are at least partially immersed in the conduit for fumes (17).
15. Hydrothermal stove (10) for household use as in Claim. I and in one or another
of the Claims thereafter up to Claim II inclusive, characterised by the fact that
the compartments (50) are at least partially immersed in at least one conduit for
convective fluid (13).