System and method for warm air space heating with electrical power generation

A system for the space-heating of a building to a desired temperature and generation of electrical power comprising:

• a fuel-burning electric power generator being electrically connected to the building electrical service in conjunction with an electrical connection from an external electrical power source, the electric power generator being constructed and arranged to transfer heat produced by the generator therefrom to a first circulating liquid stream;
• an air blower through which airflow is driven for heating the building;
• a primary heat exchanger mounted inline with the air blower so as to transfer heat to the airflow, the primary heat exchanger receiving heat from the first circulating liquid stream;
• an auxiliary heater located in line with the blower so as to transfer additional heat to the airflow, the auxiliary heater being heated by an auxiliary heat source separate from and not thermally connected to the electric generator;
• a control module that operates the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heater, the blower and the electric power generator to maintain the desired temperature while optimizing utilization of electric power generator;
• and
• wherein the auxiliary heater includes a non-condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger located downstream in the airflow of the primary heat exchanger and a condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger located upstream of the primary heat exchanger and being interconnected by a bridge around the primary heat exchanger to the condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger.

A system for the space-heating of a building to a desired temperature and generation of electrical power comprising:

• a fuel-burning electric power generator being electrically connected to the building electrical service in conjunction with an electrical connection from an external electrical power source, the electric power generator being constructed and arranged to transfer heat produced by the generator therefrom to a first circulating liquid stream;
• an air blower through which airflow is driven for heating the building;
• a primary heat exchanger mounted inline with the air blower so as to transfer heat to the airflow, the primary heat exchanger receiving heat from the first circulating liquid stream;
• an auxiliary heater located in line with the blower so as to transfer additional heat to the airflow, the auxiliary heater being heated by an auxiliary heat source separate from and not thermally connected to the electric generator;
• a control module that operates the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heater, the blower and the electric power generator to maintain the desired temperature while optimizing utilization of electric power generator;
• and
• wherein the electric power generator includes a vent pipe for generator combustion gasses interconnected with a vent pipe from the auxiliary heater for auxiliary heater combustion gasses.

A system for the space-heating of a building to a desired temperature and generation of electrical power comprising:

• a fuel-burning electric power generator being electrically connected to the building electrical service in conjunction with an electrical connection from an external electrical power source, the electric power generator being constructed and arranged to transfer heat produced by the generator therefrom to a first circulating liquid stream;
• an air blower through which airflow is driven for heating the building;
• a primary heat exchanger mounted inline with the air blower so as to transfer heat to the airflow, the primary heat exchanger receiving heat from the first circulating liquid stream;
• an auxiliary heater located in line with the blower so as to transfer additional heat to the airflow, the auxiliary heater being heated by an auxiliary heat source separate from and not thermally connected to the electric generator;
• a control module that operates the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heater, the blower and the electric power generator to maintain the desired temperature while optimizing utilization of electric power generator;
• wherein the control module is constructed and arranged to direct electrical power to a plurality of components of the system so as to maintain operation of the primary heat exchanger, air blower and auxiliary heater to provide space heat to the building at a desired temperature;
• and
• wherein the control module and the electric power generator are each constructed and arranged to operate the electric power generator at an electric power output level greater than a continuous running electric power output level when power is unavailable from the external electric power source, the electric power generator being operable while power is unavailable from the external electric power source with or without a request for space heat.

A system for the space-heating of a building to a desired temperature and generation of electrical power comprising:

• a fuel-burning electric power generator being electrically connected to the building electrical service in conjunction with an electrical connection from an external electrical power source, the electric power generator being constructed and arranged to transfer heat produced by the generator therefrom to a first circulating liquid stream;
• an air blower through which airflow is driven for heating the building;
• a primary heat exchanger mounted inline with the air blower so as to transfer heat to the airflow, the primary heat exchanger receiving heat from the first circulating liquid stream;
• an auxiliary heater located in line with the blower so as to transfer additional heat to the airflow, the auxiliary heater being heated by an auxiliary heat source separate from and not thermally connected to the electric generator;
• a control module that operates the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heater, the blower and the electric power generator to maintain the desired temperature while optimizing utilization of electric power generator;
• wherein the first circulated liquid stream is directed to a heat exchanger that transfers heat to domestic water for the building;
• and
• a valve assembly for controlling the first circulated liquid stream between the primary heat exchanger and the heat exchanger that produces warmed domestic water so that priority can be given to transferring heat to the domestic water over transferring heat to the primary heat exchanger.

A system for the space-heating of a building to a desired temperature and generation of electrical power comprising:

• a fuel-burning electric power generator being electrically connected to the building electrical service in conjunction with an electrical connection from an external electrical power source, the electric power generator being constructed and arranged to transfer heat produced by the generator therefrom to a first circulating liquid stream;
• an air blower through Which airflow is driven for heating the building;
• a primary heat exchanger mounted inline with the air blower so as to transfer heat to the airflow, the primary heat exchanger receiving heat from the first circulating liquid stream;
• an auxiliary heater located in line with the blower so as to transfer additional heat to the airflow, the auxiliary heater being heated by an auxiliary heat source, being fueled by a combustible fuel, separate from and not thermally connected to the electric generator;
• a control module that operates the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heater, the blower and the electric power generator to maintain the desired temperature while optimizing utilization of electric power generator;
• and
• wherein the auxiliary heater is a non-condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger located downstream in the airflow of the primary heat exchanger.

A system for the space-heating of a building to a desired temperature and generation of electrical power comprising:

• a fuel-burning electric power generator being electrically connected to the building electrical service in conjunction with an electrical connection from an external electrical power source, the electric power generator being constructed and arranged to transfer heat produced by the generator therefrom to a first circulating liquid stream;
• an air blower through which airflow is driven for heating the building;
• a primary heat exchanger mounted inline with the air blower so as to transfer heat to the airflow, the primary heat exchanger receiving heat from the first circulating liquid stream;
• an auxiliary heater located in line with the blower so as to transfer additional heat to the airflow, the auxiliary heater being heated by an auxiliary heat source separate from and not thermally connected to the electric generator;
• a control module that operates the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heater, the blower and the electric power generator to maintain the desired temperature while optimizing utilization of electric power generator;
• and
• wherein the auxiliary heater includes both a non-condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger and a condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger located upstream of the primary heat exchanger, wherein the non-condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger and the condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger are interconnected by a bridge to a common gas flow stream.

A system for the space-heating of a building to a desired temperature and generation of electrical power comprising:

• a fuel-burning electric power generator being electrically connected to the building electrical service in conjunction with an electrical connection from an external electrical power source, the electric power generator being constructed and arranged to transfer heat produced by the generator therefrom to a first circulating liquid stream;
• an air blower through which airflow is driven for heating the building;
• a primary heat exchanger mounted inline with the air blower so as to transfer heat to the airflow, the primary heat exchanger receiving heat from the first circulating liquid stream;
• an auxiliary heater located in line with the blower so as to transfer additional heat to the airflow, the auxiliary heater being heated by an auxiliary heat source, being fueled by a combustible fuel, separate from and not thermally connected to the electric generator;
• a control module that operates the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heater, the blower and the electric power generator to maintain the desired temperature while optimizing utilization of electric power generator;
• and
• wherein the auxiliary heater is a non-condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger located upstream in the airflow of the primary heat exchanger.

A system for the space-heating of a building to a desired temperature and generation of electrical power comprising:

• a fuel-burning electric power generator being electrically connected to the building electrical service in conjunction with an electrical connection from an external electrical power source, the electric power generator being constructed and arranged to transfer heat produced by the generator therefrom to a first circulating liquid stream;
• an air blower through which airflow is driven for heating the building;
• a primary heat exchanger mounted inline with the air blower so as to transfer heat to the airflow, the primary heat exchanger receiving heat from the first circulating liquid stream;
• an auxiliary heater, fueled by combustible fuel, located in line with the blower so as to transfer additional heat to the airflow, the auxiliary heater being heated by an auxiliary heat source separate from and not thermally connected to the electric generator, wherein the auxiliary heater includes a heat exchanger that receives heat from a second circulated liquid stream that is heated by an auxiliary liquid heater;
• and
• a control module that operates the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heater, the blower and the electric power generator to maintain the desired temperature while optimizing utilization of electric power generator.

A system for the space-heating of a building to a desired temperature and generation of electrical power comprising:

• a fuel-burning electric power generator being electrically connected to the building electrical service in conjunction with an electrical connection from an external electrical power source, the electric power generator being constructed and arranged to transfer heat produced by the generator therefrom to a first circulating liquid stream;
• an air blower through which airflow is driven for heating the building;
• a primary heat exchanger mounted inline with the air blower so as to transfer heat to the airflow, the primary heat exchanger receiving heat from the first circulating liquid stream;
• an auxiliary heater located in line with the blower so as to transfer additional heat to the airflow, the auxiliary heater being heated by an auxiliary heat source, being fueled by a combustible fuel, separate from and not thermally connected to the electric generator;
• a control module that operates the primary heat exchanger, the auxiliary heater, the blower and the electric power generator to maintain the desired temperature while optimizing utilization of electric power generator;
• and
• wherein the auxiliary heater includes both a non-condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger and a condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger located downstream of the primary heat exchanger, wherein the non-condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger and the condensing combustion gas type heat exchanger are interconnected by a bridge to a common gas flow stream.