Abstract: A vehicle includes a Rankine cycle containing a working fluid for waste heat recovery and has an evaporator. The evaporator has a heat exchanger tube positioned for generally horizontal flow of the working fluid therethrough. An inlet header is connected to a lower surface of an end region of the tube. An outlet header with a plurality of risers is positioned for generally vertical flow of the working fluid. The riser headers are connected to and spaced apart along an upper surface of the tube.

Abstract: A water heater system comprises a water tank, a burner plenum, a flue, and a dilution air blower system. The dilution air blower system comprises a blower, a dilution air passageway, and a venturi system. Air from the blower is forced through the dilution air passageway and discharged toward the venturi system. When the dilution air blower system is attached to the water heater system, air discharged from the dilution air discharge passage via the blower passes through a converging region, throat region, diverging region and exit passage of the venturi system and draws combustion products through the flue and out the venturi system.

Abstract: A gas water heater includes a power burner, a flue tube, an exhaust plenum, and a draft hood. The flue tube includes a portion that describes at least a 360° loop. Products of combustion are forced through the flue tube under the influence of the power burner, and enter the exhaust plenum. In the exhaust plenum, the pressure of the products of combustion drops such that the products of combustion flow into the draft hood substantially entirely under the influence of natural convection. In one embodiment, the power burner fires down into the flue tube through a side wall of the water heater, the loop of the flue tube is near the bottom of the water heater, and the plenum is in the top of the water heater.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for preventing coagulation in an exhaust pipe of a boiler is provided. The method includes operating the boiler and executing a combustion stroke, determining if an ambient air temperature measured by an ambient air temperature detecting sensor is equal to or lower than a first temperature, shifting a 3-way valve to a hot-water location if the measured ambient air temperature is equal to or lower than the first temperature, executing an extinction stroke of a burner if the temperature of space heating water reaches a second temperature, and operating a circulation pump and a blower to exchange heat in a heat exchanger and to discharge warm air through an exhaust pipe, thereby preventing coagulation in the exhaust pipe of the boiler.

Abstract: A water heater. The water heater includes a water tank adapted to contain water to be heated, a combustion chamber positioned proximate the water tank, a combustor positioned in the combustion chamber and operable to create products of combustion, a passage extending upwardly from the combustion chamber and through the water tank, the passage having an upper portion comprising an inner tube and an outer tube and a lower portion comprising an inner tube and an outer tube, and a transition element positioned in the passage and configured to direct supply air from the outer tube of the upper portion to the inner tube of the lower portion and deliver hot products of combustion from the outer tube of the lower portion to the inner tube of the upper portion, the transition element maintaining separation of the supply air and the products of combustion.

Abstract: A collector assembly is provided for directing products of combustion between segments of a flue of a water heater. The assembly includes an insulator at least partially defining a chamber configured to direct products of combustion between the flue segments. The assembly also includes a cover configured to at least partially surround the insulator. The cover is also configured to be coupled to a water tank of the water heater. The insulator in an uncompressed state is dimensioned to extend outwardly from the cover when the insulator is positioned in the cover. The insulator in a compressed state is dimensioned to permit coupling of the cover to the water tank.

Abstract: A water heater has a burner positioned below a vertical centrally located flue with heat exchange capacity enhanced by a multiplicity of rectangular metal fins which are welded on the inside of the vertical central flue. The central flue extends upwardly within a water tank. The central flue transitions to a smaller diameter downwardly draining helically coiled condensing flue. Approximately 80% of the heat from the combustion gases is transferred to the water within the water tank through the wall of the central flue without condensation. An additional 10% or more of the combustion heat is transferred to the water accompanied by condensation of water in the coiled flue. A fan draws the combustion gases through the central flue and the coiled condensing flue and supplies the combustion gases to an exterior vent.

Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater has a draft inducer fan assembly with a housing having an inlet for receiving hot combustion gases discharged from the water heater, and an outlet for discharging the combustion gases. A normally closed damper member within the housing is openable by fluid pressure force created by operation of a draft inducer fan portion of the assembly. With the damper in its open position the fan exhausts the received combustion gases through a housing outlet. When the damper closes it prevents convective outflow through the housing outlet of flue-heated air. In alternate embodiments of the assembly the fan is operative to also draw in dilution air that cools the fan motor and the discharged combustion gases, with the assembly having an internal configuration preventing convective outflow of flue-heated air through the housing dilution air inlet during standby periods of the water heater.

Abstract: An energy efficient induced air gas water heater includes a water tank; a flue associated with the water tank; a burner that combusts a mixture that creates combustion products that pass through the flue; a blower that receives the combustion products from an outlet of the flue; a damper that movably covers and uncovers the flue outlet or an outlet of the blower, the damper being in an open position when the burner and/or the blower are operating and being in a closed position when the burner or the blower are not operating.

Abstract: A water heater having of a tank defining a storage space for water. A heat source in a combustion chamber is operable to heat water in the storage space and has a first state and a heating state. A flue is part of a gas flow passage through which combustion gases are communicated towards a first location. A flue damper has closed and open states. A powered device in an on state induces flow of combustion gases from the combustion chamber towards the first location. A control is configured to: a) process a user input identifying a target output water temperature and generate a call for heat; and b) in response thereto i) cause the powered device to change from its first state; ii) cause the flue damper to change from its closed state towards its open state; and iii) cause the heat source to change from its first state into its heating state.

Abstract: Two improvements for heaters are disclosed which can be implemented as either apparatus or method. First is a novel flue gas injection system. Second is a novel burner configuration. The improvements can be used alone or together. In the flue gas injection system, flue gas is injected between the burners and the tubes to reduce heat flux on the tubes and shift part of the heat duty from the radiant to the convective section. These approaches work toward increasing the capacity of heaters where we can increase the firing rate in the heater and still keep the tube metal temperature and radiant fluxes within acceptable limits.

Abstract: A water heater including a water container, a combustion chamber adjacent the water heater, a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, a flue having an upper portion and a lower portion operatively connected to the combustion chamber and extending through at least a portion of the water container, and a catalytic converter located in the upper portion of the flue. The water heater may also reduce NOx and CO emissions generated by a water heater having a radiant burner including activating the burner in response to the temperature of water in the water heater as needed, and substantially removing accumulated foreign matter on the burner by periodically activating the burner irrespective of the water temperature for a selected amount of time.

Abstract: The water heating apparatus has an upright cylindrical thermally insulated storage tank, an axially extending exhaust gas pipe passing centrally through the storage tank and a combustion chamber under the storage tank. An atmospheric gas burner, which has a complete premixing fuel gas/air supply system, is arranged within the combustion chamber. The exhaust gas pipe has a section extending within the combustion chamber, which preferably extends towards the bottom of the combustion chamber and has an end located a few centimeters from the bottom, so that the combustion gases have a longer dwell time in the combustion chamber and the exhaust gas pipe in order to improve heating efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a medium includes a combustion chamber; a burner within the combustion chamber and operable to create products of combustion for heating the medium to be heated; a conduit for the exhaust of the products of combustion; and an airflow apparatus capable of creating airflow in the absence of any opposition to the airflow, the airflow having a pressure, the airflow apparatus communicating with the conduit and operable such that the pressure of the airflow resists standby convection flow of gases out of the conduit when the burner is not operating, and wherein the airflow apparatus is adjustable to vary the magnitude of the airflow to substantially equalize the airflow and the standby convection flow of gases to create a substantially stagnant state within the conduit when the burner is not operating.

Abstract: A vent damper apparatus provided for limiting flow of ambient air in a flue of a water heater. The apparatus generally includes a base structured to be connected to a water heater, and a damper assembly, extending from the base and structured to be responsive to a variable flow of exhaust gasses passing from a flue of the water heater. The damper assembly includes a plurality of independently movable dampers, and a frame structured to provide support to the plurality of independently movable dampers.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank adapted to contain water; a flue extending through the water tank and having a first end communicating with the water heater's combustion chamber for the flow of products of combustion through the tank; a damper communicating with the flue; and an apparatus for creating a flow of air proximate the second end of the flue to resist the flow of warm air out of the second end of the flue due to standby convection.

Abstract: A heater comprises an enhanced-surface area heat transfer vessel which is situated co-axially in a hot flue gas plenum. The plenum is formed by dual-wall heating jacket. Liquid flowing through the jacket is heated co-currently by the flue gas before the preheated liquid is conducted to the top of the vessel for countercurrent heat exchange therein before discharge from the bottom of the vessel. Hot flue gas flowing through the plenum is directed circumferentially by one or more spaced and perforated ring plates placed across the plenum annulus between the jacket and the vessel. Aluminum construction of the vessel and jacket with protective coatings contribute to a lightweight heater for either floor or even wall mounting. The heater is conveniently implemented in a hydronic heating system, a potable hot water system or a combination of both.

Abstract: A flue system is provided for a water heater having improved heat exchange efficiency. The flue system includes an upstream heat exchange portion having at least one substantially vertical flue tube. The flue system also includes a downstream heat exchange portion having at least one substantially vertical flue tube. The upstream heat exchange portion provides a first pass for heat exchange with water in a water heater. The downstream heat exchange portion provides a second pass for heat exchange with water in the water heater.

Abstract: An environmentally-friendly heating apparatus which can collect and recover heat of exhaust gas discharged from a boiler in order to use the heat for heating an indoor space. The heating apparatus filters the exhaust gas, using a mist filter formed by vapor generated in a flue, thereby minimizing the quantity of exhaust fumes containing noxious substances.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank adapted to contain water; a flue extending through the water tank and having a first end communicating with the water heater's combustion chamber for the flow of products of combustion through the tank; a damper communicating with the flue; and an apparatus for creating a flow of air proximate the second end of the flue to resist the flow of warm air out of the second end of the flue due to standby convection.

Abstract: A system for maintaining an optimal flue gas inlet to a boiler mounted SCR assembly in the flue of the boiler is accomplished by mixing the normal inlet feedwater to an economizer of the boiler with near saturation water from downcomers of the boiler to thereby raise the temperature of the flue gas passing across the economizer and raising the SCR inlet to the desired optimal SCR operation temperature.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank adapted to contain water; a flue extending through the water tank and having a first end communicating with the water heater's combustion chamber for the flow of products of combustion through the tank; a damper communicating with the flue; and an apparatus for creating a flow of air proximate the second end of the flue to resist the flow of warm air out of the second end of the flue due to standby convection. The apparatus for creating airflow may be a fan or an ionic wind generator. Additionally, the airflow may be directed into or across the end of the flue at the top of the water heater to either create a downdraft or an air curtain for containing warm air within the flue.

Abstract: An indirect black liquor concentrator uses recirculating flow black liquor through a heat exchangers, employing flue gas for heat. The heated liquor is flashed, to provide steam and concentrate the liquor.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank adapted to contain water; a flue extending through the water tank and having a first end communicating with the water heater's combustion chamber for the flow of products of combustion through the tank; a damper communicating with the flue; and an apparatus for creating a flow of air proximate the second end of the flue to resist the flow of warm air out of the second end of the flue due to standby convection. The apparatus for creating airflow may be a fan or an ionic wind generator. Additionally, the airflow may be directed into or across the end of the flue at the top of the water heater to either create a downdraft or an air curtain for containing warm air within the flue.

Abstract: A flue for improving gas flow characteristics is used to supply a flue gas flow with particulate material entrained therein to a selective catalytic reduction reactor. Conduits have an inlet for receiving the gas flow and an outlet for emitting the gas flow. Compartments are disposed adjacent the conduits. Each compartment has an intake end positioned in flow communication with the conduit outlet and a discharge end for discharging the gas flow proximate the selective catalyst reduction reactor. The intake end of the compartment and the outlet end of the conduit are positioned on the same horizontal plane. A device supplies ammonia into the gas flow.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank, a combustion chamber below the tank and communicating with the flue tube, and a flue system. The flue system includes a flue tube, and V-shaped fins that are metallurgically bonded to the flue tube wall to divide the flue tube into four flue chambers extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flue tube. The V-shaped fins include radially extending apertures that reduce the thermal expansion of the V-shaped fins with respect to the flue tube to reduce stress at the joint between the fins and the flue tube. The flue system also includes a removable baffle hanging in each flue chamber. The baffles include adjustable turbulation surfaces to control the quality of combustion in the water heater.