Integrated anode for a heat exchanger
AssigneeRheem Manufacturing Company
InventorsRobert Stuart Glass, Terence Sean Doyle, Juan Carlos Montanez, Owen Lewis Joyce, William Kevin Carpenter, Timothy Curtis Simmons, Jr., Alexander Adam Papp
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water heater can include a heat source and a heat exchanger that transfers heat to the water. A header attached to the heat exchanger provides an inlet and an outlet for water to flow into and out of the heat exchanger. The header can also include an anode assembly that releasably attaches to the header. The anode assembly can be located at a bottom of the header so that an anode in the anode assembly remains in contact with the water when water is flowing through the heat exchanger.
Claims19
A heat exchanger comprising:
- an end plate;
- a series of heat exchanger tubes extending from the end plate;
- a header attached to the end plate, the header comprising:
- an inlet defining an inlet flow path;
- and
- an outlet defining an outlet flow path;
- wherein a fluid is configured to enter the heat exchanger through the inlet, via the inlet flow path, and exit the heat exchanger through the outlet, via the outlet flow path;
- and
- an anode assembly comprising:
- an anode housing;
- and
- an anode disposed at least partially within the anode housing;
- wherein the anode assembly is attached, outside of the header, to the inlet of the header perpendicular to the inlet flow path;
- and
- wherein the inlet and the inlet flow path are parallel with the series of heat exchanger tubes, such that when the fluid enters the heat exchanger through the inlet, the fluid flows in a substantially straight path from the inlet and through the inlet flow path to the series of heat exchanger tubes.
A water heater comprising:
- a combustion chamber;
- and
- a heat exchanger disposed within a housing of the water heater, the heat exchanger comprising:
- an end plate;
- a series of heat exchanger tubes extending from the end plate;
- a header attached to the end plate outside of the housing of the water heater, the header comprising:
- an inlet;
- and
- an outlet;
- and
- an anode assembly comprising:
- an anode housing;
- and
- an anode disposed at least partially within the anode housing, the anode comprising:
- an inner anode portion enclosed within the anode housing;
- and
- an outer anode stud;
- and
- a bonding wire attached to the outer anode stud;
- wherein the anode assembly is attached, outside of the header, to the inlet of the header adjacent to an inlet opening and perpendicular to an inlet flow path at the inlet opening;
- and
- wherein the bonding wire is attached to the end plate of the heat exchanger.
A pool water heater comprising:
- a housing having an exhaust vent positioned in a sidewall thereof;
- a combustion chamber positioned within the housing, the combustion chamber being configured to receive combustible fuel from a fuel line in fluid communication therewith;
- a heat exchanger disposed within the housing and in operable communication with the combustion chamber, the heat exchanger comprising an end plate and a series of heat exchanger tubes extending from the end plate;
- a header attached to the end plate outside of the housing, the header comprising an inlet and an outlet;
- and
- an anode assembly comprising:
- an anode housing;
- and
- an anode disposed at least partially within the anode housing, the anode comprising:
- an inner anode portion;
- and
- an outer anode stud;
- wherein the anode assembly is attached to the inlet of the header of the heat exchanger, outside of the header, adjacent to an inlet opening and perpendicular to an inlet fluid flow path at the inlet opening, such that a fluid contacts the anode along the inlet flow path prior to entering the heat exchanger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.