Combination cook stove heat exchanger, filter, and recirculation assembly

A method for heating a fluid circulated above a heat generating cooking source in a kitchen environment, comprising the steps of:

• a) circulating a fluid into the inlet end of an inlet manifold;
• b) discharging said fluid in said inlet manifold through a plurality of exit ports in said inlet manifold and into a first plurality of service lines interconnected to said inlet manifold outlet ports;
• c) passing said fluid in each of said first plurality of service lines through at least one heat exchanger positioned substantially above said heat generating cooking source, wherein said fluid is circulated in parallel through said plurality of heat exchangers;
• d) transferring thermal energy from said heat generating cooking surface to said fluid circulating through said plurality of heat exchangers;
• e) discharging said fluid in said plurality of heat exchangers into a plurality of second service lines, each of said second service lines interconnected to inlet ports on an outlet manifold;
• f) circulating said fluid from said outlet manifold into a hot water storage tank prior to utilizing said heated fluid in said kitchen environment;
• g) discharging said fluid into a recirculation tank positioned downstream of said outlet manifold and upstream from said hot water storage tank;
• and
• h) circulating said fluid from said recirculation tank through said plurality of heat exchangers as long as a pressure in said recirculation tank is maintained at a predetermined level.

An apparatus adapted for use in combination with a plurality of heat exchangers positioned over a heat generating cooking surface in a kitchen environment, comprising:

• a) an inlet manifold having a first end interconnected to a water supply line and a plurality of discharge ports positioned upstream from said plurality of heat exchangers;
• b) an outlet manifold located downstream of said plurality of heat exchangers and having a plurality of inlet ports and at least one outlet port;
• c) a plurality of service lines interconnecting said discharge ports of said inlet manifold to said plurality of inlet ports of said outlet manifold and having at least one of said heat exchangers positioned between each of said inlet manifold discharge ports and said outlet manifold inlet ports, wherein said plurality of heat exchangers are interconnected in parallel to said inlet manifold and said outlet manifold;
• and
• d) a fluid discharge line having a first end interconnected to said outlet manifold outlet end and a second end interconnected to a hot water heater, wherein fluid discharged from said plurality of heat exchangers has a temperature greater than the fluid entering said plurality of heat exchangers;
• e) a recirculation tank positioned between said outlet end of said outlet manifold and said hot water heater;
• f) a recirculation line interconnected to said recirculation tank on a first end and said fluid supply line on a second end;
• and
• g) a recirculation pump in communication with said recirculation tank for circulating said fluid through said recirculation tank and said plurality of heat exchangers.