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US 11,231,177 B2Granted
Fireplace system, heat exchanger and method
AssigneeFPI Fireplace Products International Ltd.
InventorsRobert Little, Julian Mills
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fireplace system can comprise a firebox and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be in fluid communication with ambient air and may comprise an inlet configured to draw air into the front of the heat exchanger. Operation of a fireplace system comprising a heat exchanger may produce airflow through the heat exchanger by natural convection. The airflow through the heat exchanger may reduce heat transmission from the firebox and the fireplace system.
Claims15
A fireplace system comprising:
- a firebox enclosing a combustion chamber;
- and
- a heat exchanger comprising:
- an enclosure defining a heat exchanger air volume;
- a heat exchanger inlet disposed in the enclosure and in fluid communication with an external air source and the heat exchanger air volume;
- and
- a heat exchanger outlet disposed in the enclosure and in fluid communication with the heat exchanger air volume,
- wherein the heat exchanger inlet and the heat exchanger outlet are disposed above a fireplace viewing area of the firebox, and
- wherein the heat exchanger facilitates airflow through the enclosure by natural convection.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- transferring thermal energy produced by operation of a firebox to a convection space air volume in a heat exchanger enclosure of a heat exchanger, wherein the firebox and the heat exchanger enclosure are coupled together and fluidly separate, wherein the heat exchanger enclosure comprises an inlet and an outlet, wherein the transferring thermal energy produces a decrease in an air density of the convection space air volume, and wherein the decrease in the air density produces an increased air buoyancy of the convection space air volume relative to an external air volume;
- venting the convection space air volume through the outlet, wherein the venting produces a bulk airflow through the heat exchanger;
- directing airflow from a first external location into the inlet of the heat exchanger enclosure;
- directing vented airflow from the outlet of the heat exchanger to a second external location;
- and
- at a distal monitoring location on or in the heat exchanger, producing a temperature difference between a first operating temperature and a second operating temperature, wherein the first operating temperature is produced in response to the venting being disabled, wherein the second operating temperature is produced in response to the venting being enabled, and wherein the temperature difference between the first operating temperature and the second operating temperature is more than about 100° F., and
- wherein the venting the convection space air volume through the outlet, the bulk airflow, the directing airflow from the first external location into the inlet, and the directing vented airflow from the outlet to the second external location occur without use of a fan or blower.
4 more elements
A fireplace system comprising:
- a firebox enclosing a combustion chamber;
- and
- a heat exchanger comprising:
- an enclosure defining a heat exchanger air volume, wherein the heat exchanger air volume is above the firebox;
- a heat exchanger inlet disposed in the enclosure and in fluid communication with an external air source and the heat exchanger air volume;
- and
- a heat exchanger outlet disposed in the enclosure and in fluid communication with the heat exchanger air volume,
- wherein the heat exchanger facilitates airflow through the enclosure by natural convection.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.