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(11) | EP 1 106 838 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Heating system component |
| (57) A component for attachment, in use, to a heating system. The component comprises
a first inlet (1) for receiving a heated gas, the inlet comprising a first frusto-conical
region (5) followed by an outwardly tapered nozzle (6) for generating a high speed
gas jet. There is a second inlet (2) for receiving cooled water from the heating system.
A mixing region surrounds the nozzle region and connects to the second inlet. The
mixing region comprises a circular chamber component surrounding at least a portion
of the gas nozzle, an inwardly tapered frusto-conical component (7) positioned upstream
from the outlet of the gas nozzle and leading into a third mixing region (8) of generally
regular cross section, the mixing region being configured to mix, in use, heated gas
from the nozzle and cooled liquid from the second inlet to produce mixed heated liquid
at high pressure and high forward flow velocity. A diffusion region (9) comprises an outwardly tapered frusto-conical tube for reducing the flow of the heated liquid whilst increasing its pressure to a predetermined value. An outlet (3) attached to the diffusion region for receiving and dispersing heated liquid therefrom. |
[0001] Standard central heating systems operate by providing heated water to radiators via a circulating pump to keep the water in a user system under continous circulation. Many different sources of heat can be employed to heat the circulating water, and one approach is to generate steam and heat the circulating water via a thermal converter.
[0002] It is well known, however, that such an approach to heating is inefficient, firstly because the thermal efficiency of the coupling between the steam generation and the circulating water is generally low, and secondly because a large component of the energy in the steam, the kinetic energy, is wasted in the system as it is not translated to the circulating water.
[0003] The present invention is directed towards providing a component for use in a heating system which improves such efficiency.
[0004] According to the present invention there is provided a component for attachment, in use, to a heating system, the component comprising:
a first inlet for receiving a heated gas, the inlet comprising a first frusto-conical region followed by an outwardly tapered nozzle for generating a high speed gas jet;
a second inlet for receiving cooled water from the heating system;
a mixing region surrounding the nozzle region and connected to the second inlet, the mixing region comprising a circular chamber compound surrounding at least a portion of the gas nozzle, an inwardly tapered frusto-conical component positioned upstream from the outlet of the gas nozzle and leading into a third mixing region of generally regular cross section, the mixing region being configured to mix, in use, heated gas from the nozzle and cooled liquid from the second inlet to produce mixed heated liquid at high pressure and high forward flow velocity;
a diffusion region comprising an outwardly tapered frusto-conical tube for reducing the flow of the heated liquid whilst increasing its pressure to a predetermined value; and
an outlet attached to the diffusion region for receiving and dispersing heated liquid therefrom.
[0005] The component may further comprise a second outlet connected to the diffusion region and arranged to act as a by-pass conduit in use.
[0006] The component may further comprise a second jet formed from an outwardly tapered frusto-conical region and a second mixing region for receiving heated water from the second jet and from a water compensation inlet, the second jet and second mixing region, together with the second water compensation inlet, being positioned between the second and third components of the mixing region.
[0007] Each of the inlets and/or each of the outlets may be formed with a flange for ease of connection to a heating system.
[0008] One example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a first example of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a second example of the present invention; and
Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a third example of the present invention.
[0009] Referring to figure 1, a component according to the present invention has a first inlet 1 for receiving heated gas (preferably steam) in use, and the second inlet 2 for receiving cooled heating liquid (preferably water) in use. The component also has a heated heating liquid outlet 3.
[0010] Each of the inlets 1, 2 and outlet 3 has a flange associated therewith for attachment, in use, to pipe work associated with the heating system to which the component is connected.
[0011] The component has a main body 4 which connects the two inlets 1, 2 to the outlet 3. Positioned for receiving gas from the inlet 1 is a frusto-conical inlet nozzle 5 which tapers initially from inlet 1 inward, and then has a flared jet nozzle 6 at the end furthest from the receiving entrance of the inlet 1. This nozzle 6 projects, in use, gas into a mixing chamber 7, which again has a tapering frusto-conical region, followed by a circular chamber mixing region 8 and a diffusion region nine which is also frusto-conical in configuration and tapers outwardly toward the outlet 3.
[0012] In use, the component receives cooled liquid which has passed through the heating system (not shown) from the inlet 2, and this surrounds the inlet nozzle configuration 5, 6, mixing with it to produce a heated liquid output at the outlet 3. The component operates by compressing input gas in the nozzle 5, 6, such that it exits the tip 6 at high (possibly supersonic) speed. After exiting the nozzle 5, 6, the pressure in the steam is reduced generating a negative pressure differential and allowing rapid and reliable exchange of heat and momentum between the heated gas and the cooled liquid. The configuration of the mixing chamber 7 and mixing region 8 is such that exchange of heat and momentum from the gas to the cooled liquid occurs in a generally uniform manner and the dimensions of these regions can be controlled to ensure appropriate mixing at pressure and temperatures suitable for the system to which the component is to be connected. The diffusion region 9 allows the flow of the combined gas and liquid (which is now a heated liquid) to reduce gradually whilst the pressure increases and is configured as such that heated liquid with a known pressure and temperature can be obtained at the outlet 3.
[0013] As will be appreciated, the present invention makes use of both heat and kinetic energy in the gas, not only to produce appropriate heating, but also to enable a degree of self-circulation such that in some circumstances additional pumping apparatus will not be required in the system, or at the very least the pumping requirements will be reduced considerably, again improving energy efficiency of the system as a whole.
[0014] Furthermore, it will be appreciated that with the invention the mixing of gas and liquid is highly efficient without the need for the consumption of mechanical energy to generate that mixing, again, reducing overall energy consumption.
[0015] Figure 2 shows a second example of the present invention, in which an additional outlet 10 is provided with a connection 11 to the diffusion region 9. In this example the component operates in a manner very similar to that shown in figure 1, and corresponding components are numbered identically. This additional outlet 10 is provided to enable an override of the system should operating pressures be exceeded, both as a safety restriction and to control the overall operation of the system in which the component is employed in use. By attachment of outlet 10 to a relief valve heated liquid can be removed from the system if necessary.
[0016] Figure 3 shows a further example, again in which components which operate in a similar manner to those in figures 1 and 2 are numbered identically. In this example, however, a second jet 13 is provided following the mixing chamber 7. The second jet 13 exits into a region 14 into which additional water can be provided via a third inlet 12 connected between the second jet 13 and second mixing chamber prior to having the necessary flow and pressure compensation performed thereon by regions 8, 9, prior to exiting of heated liquid via the outlet 3. This enables the addition of further liquid into the system to compensate for liquid losses in the system, and also to regulate the overall temperature of the liquid output via the inlet 12.
a first inlet for receiving a heated gas, the inlet comprising a first frusto-conical region followed by an outwardly tapered nozzle for generating a high speed gas jet;
a second inlet for receiving cooled water from the heating system;
a mixing region surrounding the nozzle region and connected to the second inlet, the mixing region comprising a circular chamber compound surrounding at least a portion of the gas nozzle, an inwardly tapered frusto-conical component positioned upstream from the outlet of the gas nozzle and leading into a third mixing region of generally regular cross section, the mixing region being configured to mix, in use, heated gas from the nozzle and cooled liquid from the second inlet to produce mixed heated liquid at high pressure and high forward flow velocity;
a diffusion region comprising an outwardly tapered frusto-conical tube for reducing the flow of the heated liquid whilst increasing its pressure to a predetermined value; and
an outlet attached to the diffusion region for receiving and dispersing heated liquid therefrom.