HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM
A double pipe configuration for an HVAC system comprising an outer pipe, where the outer pipe is a hot gas exhaust pipe; an inner pipe positioned within the outer pipe, where the inner pipe is a cold air intake pipe, and where the cold air of the inner pipe is warmed by the hot exhaust of the outer pipe; and a plurality of radial fins to support the inner pipe within the outer pipe, where the radial fins redirect the heat within the outer pipe to warm the cold air within the inner pipe. The double pipe configuration may also be configured with a 90 degree elbow structure or a 45 degree bend structure to allow for the pipe to be positioned around objects.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat recovery system within an HVAC system wherein a smaller pipe receiving cold air is positioned within a larger pipe expelling hot gasses causing a heat exchange to warm the cold air within the inner pipe.
2. Description of Related Art
Heating, venting and air conditioning systems, commonly known as HVAC systems, are commonly used in buildings and homes to maintain indoor environmental comfort. The HVAC systems rely on complex principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer to make the systems operational. Typically within a home, the HVAC furnace is engineered to expel exhaust gasses to the outside. This wastes the energy to those hot gasses that could be used as a heat source. There are limited alternatives to allow a user to redirect those exhausted gasses in order to prevent the heat from being lost. It would be beneficial in the art to be able to redirect the heat in those gasses so that they serve to heat cold air rather than simply being wasted by being expelled from the system all together.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a double pipe configuration for an HVAC system, configured to include all of the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a double pipe configuration for an HVAC system to redirect the heat in the exhaust gases that are typically expelled from the system back into the system to warm the cold air received from the outside. The object of the present invention is carried out by a double pipe configuration where an inner pipe positioned within an outer pipe, where the inner pipe receives cold air from the outside. The cold air is warmed by heat exchange caused by the hot gases expelled through the outer pipe.
To achieve the above objects, in an aspect of the present invention, a double pipe configuration for an HVAC system is described comprising an outer pipe, where the outer pipe is a hot gas exhaust pipe; an inner pipe positioned within the outer pipe, where the inner pipe is a cold air intake pipe, and where the cold air of inner pipe is warmed by the heat exchange with the hot exhaust of the outer pipe; and a plurality of radial fins to support the inner pipe within the outer pipe. The radial fins increase heat exchange between the inner pipe and outer pipe to warm the cold air within the inner pipe. The double pipe configuration may also be configured as a 90 degree elbow structure or a 45 degree bend structure to allow for the pipe to be positioned around objects.
These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention relates to a heat recovery system within an HVAC system wherein a smaller pipe receiving cold air is positioned within a larger pipe expelling hot gasses to warm the cold air within the internal pipe. The cold air intake pipe is enclosed and warmed by heat exchange with the outer exhaust pipe containing warmer gas and centered by three or more radial fins. The pipes carrying cold air from the outside are slip fit together with the pipe closer to the outside fitted inside the pipe nearer to the furnace. The outer pipe which carries the hot exhaust to the outdoors is also slip fit, but with the pipe closer to the furnace within the pipe closer to the outside. The system is entirely passive utilizing the furnace's intake/exhaust blower for activation.
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During use, the double pipe configuration reclaims the heat from the exhaust gasses of modern energy efficient furnaces expelled to the outside. The system is passive utilizing the furnaces intake/exhaust blower. The heat recovered can boost the efficiency of a furnace without additional fans or blowers and a little or no difference in cost. The inner pipes carrying the cold air from the outside are slip fit together with the pipe closer to the outside fitted inside the one nearer the furnace. The radial fins increase the transfer of heat to the cold air. For short runs or to further increase the warming of the outside air, additional radial fins may be added to the inner pipe, or the cold air intake pipe. The outer pipe is also slip fit, but with the pipe closer to the furnace inside the pipe closer to the outside. The double pipe configuration replaces the two PVC intake and exhaust pipes. The elbow structured double pipe configuration and 45 degree structured double pipe configurations are premade to allow positioning around objects, and the 45 degree structured double pipe configuration may better reduce drag. The double pipe may be sealed by screws and/or metal backed tape. If condensation inside the exhaust pipe becomes a problem a simple valve at the furnace header connected to the humidifier return line can be installed.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Claims
1. A double pipe configuration for an HVAC system comprising:
- an outer pipe, where the outer pipe is a hot gas exhaust pipe;
- an inner pipe positioned within the outer pipe, where the inner pipe is a cold air intake pipe, and where the cold air of inner pipe is warmed by the hot exhaust of the outer pipe; and
- a plurality of radial fins to support the inner pipe within the outer pipe, where the radial fins redirect the heat within the outer pipe to warm the cold air within the inner pipe.
2. The double pipe configuration for an HVAC system according to claim 1, where the outer pipe is 3 inches in diameter and the inner pipe is 2 inches.
3. The double pipe configuration for an HVAC system according to claim 1, where the inner pipe includes a set of internal fins.
4. The double pipe configuration for an HVAC system according to claim 1, where individual double pipe configurations are slip fit to each other.
5. The double pipe configuration for an HVAC system according to claim 1, where the inner pipe and the outer pipe are made from one of at least copper, galvanized steel and aluminum.
6. The double pipe configuration for an HVAC system according to claim 1, where the double pipe configuration is a 90 degree elbow structure to allow the system to be positioned around obstacles.
7. The double pipe configuration for an HVAC system according to claim 1, where the double pipe configuration is a 45 degree bend structure to allow the system to be positioned around obstacles.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 25, 2012
Publication Date: Mar 27, 2014
Inventor: JOHN MCDERMOTT (Royal Oak, MI)
Application Number: 13/626,677
International Classification: F28D 7/10 (20060101);