Energy recovery system for heated water
OwnerWilliam K. Glassinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A free-standing Energy Recovery System enables sanitary recovery of thermal energy with heat transfer from hot waste effluent to incoming domestic water. The source of the effluent may, for example, be conventional commercial ware-washing, clothes washing equipment, pasteurization and other industrial processes.
Claims20
A thermal transfer system for operation with a water consuming industrial apparatus of a type conventionally connected (i) to receive a first flow comprising relatively cool potable water which passes along a first path from a water supply and through a first water heater to provide a first flow of heated potable water with which the apparatus performs processing, and (ii) to discharge a second flow comprising relatively hot effluent, comprising the heated water used in the processing, into a drain coupled to the industrial apparatus or diverting the second flow, after it has been drained from the industrial apparatus, via a thermal recovery line into a holding tank, the system comprising:
- a controller;
- and
- a heat exchange device connected to receive the first flow of relatively cool potable water from the water supply without water in the first flow first undergoing active heating, with the holding tank positioned to receive the second flow of relatively hot effluent prior to entering the heat exchange device via the thermal recovery line, the heat exchange device configured to transfer thermal energy from the second flow of relatively hot effluent to the relatively cool potable water to elevate the temperature of the relatively cool potable water to transform the first flow into a flow of relatively hot potable water without active heating, the heat exchange device connected to selectively provide the flow of relatively hot potable water along a second path to the industrial appliance in lieu of actively heated potable water flowing along the first path from the first water heater to the industrial apparatus, wherein the controller selectively provides the flow of relatively hot potable water along the second path to the industrial appliance based on a determination that the temperature and volume of effluent available for thermal transfer within the heat exchange device are sufficient to generate a sufficient supply of relatively hot potable water to meet a predetermined condition for operation of the industrial appliance.
A thermal transfer system for operation with a water consuming industrial apparatus of a type conventionally connected (i) to receive a first flow comprising relatively cool potable water which passes along a first path from a water supply and through a first water heater to provide a first flow of heated potable water with which the apparatus performs processing, and (ii) to discharge a second flow comprising relatively hot effluent, comprising the heated water used in the processing, into a drain coupled to the industrial apparatus, the system comprising:
- a controller;
- and
- a heat exchange device connected to receive the first flow of relatively cool potable water from the water supply without water in the first flow first undergoing active heating or entering the industrial apparatus, with an independent holding tank positioned to receive the second flow of relatively hot effluent, that has been drained from the industrial apparatus, prior to entering the heat exchange device, and the heat exchange device configured to transfer thermal energy from the second flow of relatively hot effluent to the relatively cool potable water to elevate the temperature of the relatively cool potable water to transform the first flow into a flow of relatively hot potable water without active heating, the heat exchange device connected to selectively provide the flow of relatively hot potable water along a second path to the industrial appliance in lieu of actively heated potable water flowing along the first path from the first water heater to the industrial apparatus, wherein the controller
- (i) selectively provides the flow of relatively hot potable water along the second path to the industrial appliance based on a determination that the temperature and volume of effluent available for thermal transfer within the heat exchange device are sufficient to generate a sufficient supply of relatively hot potable water to meet a predetermined condition for operation of the industrial appliance, and
- (ii) selectively moves or recirculates the relatively hot effluent between the heat exchange device and the independent holding tank or the drain of the industrial apparatus.
A thermal transfer system for operation with a water consuming industrial apparatus of a type conventionally connected (i) to receive a first flow comprising relatively cool potable water which passes along a first path from a water supply and through a first water heater to provide a first flow of heated potable water with which the apparatus performs processing, and (ii) to discharge a second flow comprising relatively hot effluent, comprising the heated water used in the processing, into a drain of the industrial apparatus, the system comprising:
- a controller;
- and
- a heat exchange device connected to receive (i) the first flow of relatively cool potable water from the water supply without water in the first flow first undergoing active heating or entering the industrial apparatus, (ii) an independent holding tank positioned to receive the second flow of relatively hot effluent, that has been drained from the industrial apparatus, prior to entering the heat exchange device, and (iii) the heat exchange device configured to transfer thermal energy from the second flow of relatively hot effluent to the relatively cool potable water to elevate the temperature of the relatively cool potable water to transform the first flow into a flow of relatively hot potable water without active heating, the heat exchange device connected to selectively provide the flow of relatively hot potable water along a second path to the industrial appliance in lieu of actively heated potable water flowing along the first path from the first water heater to the industrial apparatus, wherein the controller selectively provides the flow of relatively hot potable water along the second path to the industrial appliance based on a determination that the temperature and volume of effluent available for thermal transfer within the heat exchange device are sufficient to generate a sufficient supply of relatively hot potable water to meet a predetermined condition for operation of the industrial appliance, wherein:
- the controller is configured to prefill the independent holding tank with potable water prior to operation of the industrial apparatus without entering the industrial apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.