Self-powered water heater
AssigneeGas Technology Institute
InventorsAleksandr Kozlov, David Kalensky, Mark Khinkis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas-fired instantaneous water heater including a thermoelectric generator (TEG) and a heat pump that is powered by the TEG to improve efficiency compared to existing water heaters. Water to be heated is circulated through the heat pump, TEG heat exchanger, and primary heat exchanger to produce a stream of heated water. An adjustable firing rate permeable matrix radiant burner is included, in which natural gas and air are combusted to produce combustion products, including heat. The combustion products are condensed in a condensing system to produce cooled and dry exhaust gas.
Claims18
A gas-fired instantaneous water heater comprising:
- a water loop configured to conduct water through the water heater;
- a radiant burner;
- a combustion chamber disposed about the radiant burner, wherein the combustion chamber is exposed to radiation from the radiant burner;
- a thermoelectric generator (TEG) connected to the combustion chamber, wherein a first portion of the water loop extends across a first side of the TEG, the TEG includes a first section configured to receive water of the water loop entering the water heater and a second side of the TEG is disposed toward the radiant burner and heated by the radiant burner, the TEG provides operative power to components of the water heater, and a second portion of the water loop that is downstream from the first portion is heated by the radiant burner to provide heated water.
A water heater comprising:
- a water loop configured to conduct water through the water heater;
- a radiant burner;
- a combustion chamber disposed about the radiant burner wherein the combustion chamber is exposed to radiation from the radiant burner;
- a thermoelectric generator (TEG) connected to the combustion chamber, wherein the TEG includes a first side configured to receive water of the water loop entering the water heater, a second side of the TEG is heated by the radiant burner, and the TEG provides operative power to components of the water heater, and wherein a second portion of the water loop that is downstream from the first portion and downstream of the TEG is heated by the radiant burner to provide heated water;
- a heat pump in combination with the TEG, wherein the heat pump is configured to heat the water loop upstream of the TEG;
- and
- a compressor and a condenser wherein the compressor and the condenser are operatively integrated with the heat pump.
A method of operating a self-powered water heater, the method comprising:
- introducing a first supply of water to the water heater;
- conducting the first supply of water through a water loop within the water heater;
- heating the first supply of water in the water loop with a heat pump operating in conjunction with the water heater with at least one heating coil;
- transferring the first supply of heated water to a thermoelectric generator (TEG) heat exchanger wherein a natural gas burner integrated with the TEG heat exchanger further heats the first supply of heated water in the water loop resulting in a second supply of heated water, wherein the second supply of water is heated to a higher temperature than the first supply of water;
- and
- the TEG heat exchanger providing power to components of the water heater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.