High efficiency commercial fryer

A fryer unit combination, the combination comprising:

• a frying fluid vat having an open top, a bottom side, opposed front and back ends, and opposed first and second sides, and
• a heat exchange system in association with the frying fluid vat, the heat exchange system including:
• a first heat exchanger arrangement at least in part disposed within the frying fluid vat, the first heat exchanger arrangement including a heat exchange tube in heat flow communication with a combustion chamber wherein an associated gaseous fuel burner is at least in part housed, the combustion chamber including first and second side discharge openings and at least one end discharge opening, the heat exchange tube in heat exchange heated fluid communication with the first and second side and at least one end discharge openings of the combustion chamber, the heat exchange tube arrangement including at least one heated fluid outlet positioned toward the front end of the vat, and
• a second heat exchanger arrangement disposed externally to the frying fluid vat, the second heat exchanger arrangement including at least a first side heat exchanger disposed externally adjacent the first side of the frying fluid vat;
• wherein the second heat exchanger arrangement includes a gas intake to permit intake of an oxygen-containing gas and wherein the intake oxygen-containing gas passes in heat transfer communication with the heated fluid to preheat the oxygen-containing gas prior to entrance into the combustion chamber.

A fryer unit combination, the combination comprising:

• a frying fluid vat having an open top, a bottom side, opposed front and back ends, and opposed first and second sides, and
• a heat exchange system in association with the frying fluid vat, the heat exchange system including:
• a first heat exchanger arrangement at least in part disposed within the frying fluid vat, the first heat exchanger arrangement including a heat exchange tube in heat flow communication with a combustion chamber wherein an associated gaseous fuel burner is at least in part housed, the combustion chamber including first and second side discharge openings and at least one end discharge opening, the heat exchange tube in heat exchange heated fluid communication with the first and second side and at least one end discharge openings of the combustion chamber, the heat exchange tube arrangement including at least one heated fluid outlet positioned toward the front end of the vat, and
• a second heat exchanger arrangement disposed externally to the frying fluid vat, the second heat exchanger arrangement including at least a first side heat exchanger disposed externally adjacent the first side of the frying fluid vat,
• wherein the second heat exchanger arrangement additionally comprises a second side heat exchanger disposed externally adjacent the second side of the frying fluid vat and
• wherein at least one of the first and second side heat exchangers includes a gas intake to permit intake of an oxygen-containing gas and wherein the intake oxygen-containing gas passes in heat transfer communication with the heated fluid to preheat the oxygen-containing gas prior to entrance into the combustion chamber.

A fryer unit combination, the combination comprising:

• a frying fluid vat having an open top, a bottom side, opposed front and back ends, and opposed first and second sides, and
• a heat exchange system in association with the frying fluid vat, the heat exchange system including:
• a first heat exchanger arrangement at least in part disposed within the frying fluid vat, the first heat exchanger arrangement including a heat exchange tube in heat flow communication with a combustion chamber wherein an associated gaseous fuel burner is at least in part housed and wherein an oxygen-containing gas and a gaseous fuel are burned to form an elevated temperature flue gas, the combustion chamber including opposed front and back ends, opposed first and second sides with the first side having a first side discharge opening and the second side having a second side discharge opening and the combustion chamber also including at least one third end discharge opening disposed at the combustion chamber front or back end, the heat exchange tube in heat exchange heated fluid communication with the first and second side and at least one third end discharge openings of the combustion chamber, the heat exchange tube arrangement including at least one heated fluid outlet positioned toward the front end of the vat, and
• a second heat exchanger arrangement disposed externally to the frying fluid vat, the second heat exchanger arrangement including at least a first side heat exchanger disposed externally adjacent the first side of the frying fluid vat and a second side heat exchanger disposed externally adjacent the second side of the frying fluid vat,
• wherein the second heat exchanger arrangement is interconnected with the first heat exchanger arrangement so that a first portion of heated fluid from the first heat exchanger arrangement passes into at least the first side heat exchanger and a second portion of heated fluid from the first heat exchanger arrangement passes into at least the second side heat exchanger.

A fryer unit combination, the combination comprising:

• a frying fluid vat having an open top, a bottom side, opposed front and back ends, and opposed first and second sides, and
• a heat exchange system in association with the frying fluid vat, the heat exchange system including:
• a first heat exchanger arrangement at least in part disposed within the frying fluid vat, the first heat exchanger arrangement including a heat exchange tube in heat flow communication with a combustion chamber wherein an associated gaseous fuel burner is at least in part housed and wherein an oxygen-containing gas and a gaseous fuel are burned to form an elevated temperature flue gas, the combustion chamber including first and second side discharge openings and at least one end discharge opening, the heat exchange tube in heat exchange heated fluid communication with the first and second side and at least one end discharge openings of the combustion chamber, the heat exchange tube arrangement including at least one heated fluid outlet positioned toward the front end of the vat, and
• a second heat exchanger arrangement disposed externally to the frying fluid vat, the second heat exchanger arrangement including at least a first side heat exchanger disposed externally adjacent the first side of the frying fluid vat and a second side heat exchanger disposed externally adjacent the second side of the frying fluid vat,
• wherein the second heat exchanger arrangement is interconnected with the first heat exchanger arrangement so that a first portion of heated fluid from the first heat exchanger arrangement passes into at least the first side heat exchanger and a second portion of heated fluid from the first heat exchanger arrangement passes into at least the second side heat exchanger, and
• wherein at least one of the first and second side heat exchangers includes a gas intake to permit intake of an oxygen-containing gas and wherein the intake oxygen-containing gas passes in heat transfer communication with the heated fluid to preheat the oxygen-containing gas prior to entrance into the combustion chamber.