GB2181218A

GB2181218A - Central heating apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2181218A
Application number: GB08524208A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Loi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-10-01
Filing date: 1985-10-01
Publication date: 1987-04-15
Also published as: GB8524208D0

Abstract

A tank 1 is disclosed containing immersion heaters 7,9 and a coiled pipe 11 which is connected in a central heating circuit. In use, the immersion heaters 7,9 heat water in the tank 1 which in turn heats water in the pipe 11 thus provided heated water for the central heating system. In a preferred form, the water in the tank 1 is used to provide domestic hot water by connection of a domestic hot running water system between openings 17,21. Variations of the arrangement are also described. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Central heating apparatus This invention relates to central heating apparatus for use in a central heating system.

So called "wet" central heating systems which comprise a gas boiler and a number of radiators connected to the gas boiler are known. In such systems, water is heated by the boiler and the hot water is pumped round the radiators so as to heat rooms in which the radiators are positioned. If it is desired to also provide domestic hot water using the boiler, a water pipe from the gas boiler is fed through a hot water tank and heat is transferred from the water in the pipe to the water in the tank. The water in the pipe is kept separate from the water in the tank so that one does not contaminate the other.

In an electric heating system, on the other hand, a numberof"dry" radiatorsorstorageheatersarepro- vided each with their own heating element. A sep arate tank, with an immersion heater is provided for domestic hot water.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide apparatus which may be incorporated in a "wet" central heating system to allow the system to be powered by electricity.

According to the invention in a firstaspectthere is provided central heating apparatus comprising a tank arranged to receive at least one electric heating elementforheating liquid in the tank, the tank having a liquid path therethrough arranged to be connected in a wet central heating circuit and the liquid path is provided within a first section ofthe tank separated from a second section ofthe tank, the second section being arranged to receive the electric heating element.

According to the invention in a second aspect, there is provided a central heating apparatus comprising atankand an electric heating elementfor heating liquid in the tank, the tank having a liquid path therethrough which path is connected in a wet central heating system.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa sectional view of an embodiment of the invention; Figure2 is a view taken along the section 2-2' of Figure 1; Figures is a sectional view of a second embodimentofthe invention; Figure4is a sectional view a third embodiment of the invention; Figure is a view taken across the section 4-4' of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the central heating apparatus ofthe invention is shown. The central heating apparatus includes a tank 1, formed, preferablyfrom copper. The tank 1 has two openings 3,5 for retaining respective electric heating elements, preferably immersion heaters 7, 9.

Thetankisfurtherprovided with a coiled pipe formed, preferably, from copper, having an inlet 13 and an outlet 15 disposed through a side ofthetank 1. The tank 1 also has an inlet opening 17 and outlet opening 21.

In use, the tank 1 is filled with water and isconnec- ted to an on-demand hot water system, for supplying hot running water etc. at opening 17,21 so that water is input to the tank at opening 17 and drawn offat opening 21. This water, passing through thetank 1 is heated by immersion heaters 7,9 so thatwhile cold water enters thetankatopening 17 and hotwater exits at opening 21 on demand.

The coiled pipe 11 is connected into a wet central heating circuit including, a pump and at least one radiator. The pipe and central heating circuit are filled with water. When it is desired to heat a room in which the radiator is positioned, the pump is activated and waterflows through the pipe 11. Asthewater in the tank 1,which forms part of the domestic hot water circuit, has been heated by immersion heaters 7,9, heat is transferred from this water to the water in the pipe through the walls thereof. Thus, the immersion heaters 7,9 are used to heat the water in the central heating system circuit.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 3 in which similar elements to those depicted in Figures 1 and 2 have corresponding like reference numerals.

In the Figure 3 embodiment, the tank 1 is divided into two sections 130,132 separated by an interface 134 which may comprise a copper sheet brazed in place. Section 130 is filled with waterthrough inlet opening 136. Water in this section does not circulate but is used solely as a heat transfer medium between the immersion heaters 107,109 and pipe 111 andthe other section 132, as described below. An air vent 138 is provided in the section 130. The section 132 ofthe tank 101 includes the domestic hotwatersystem inlet 117 and outlet 121. The section 132 also, preferably includes a further electric heating element, for example a further immersion heater 140, for heating the water in the section 132.

In use, as described with referenceto Figure 1,the immersion heaters 107, l09areabletoheatwaterin the central heating system, by transfer of heat to water in pipe 111. Also, heatfromthe immersion heaters 107, 109 is transferred to water in the section 132 across the interface formed by the copper plate 134, so that heat from these immersion heaters also heats waterforthe domestic heating system. The temperature of water in the section 132 may be heated, when the central heating immersion heaters 107, 109 are notworking, by using immersion heater 140, which also acts to raisethetemperature ofthewater in section 132, when the central heating temperature is set to a low level.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5, a third embodiment of the invention is shown in which like parts are indicated by like reference numerals, with the addition oftwo hundred. In the embodiment, two separate coaxial disposed coiled pipes 211,242 are provided. Coil pipe 211 is arranged for connection into the central heating circuit and performs the samefunction as described in the previous two embodiments.

Coiled pipe 242, having inlet 244 and outlet 246 is connected into the domestic hot water circuit.

In use, water in thetank 1 is heated by immer sion heaters 207,209, which in turn heats the water in coiled pipes 211,242 thus to provide domestic hot water and heated water for the central heating system.

Whilewaterhas been used in the description asthe heattransfer medium; for the central heating system andfornon-running water in thetank, otherliquids could be used.

As can be seen, the central heating apparatus as described enables, by replacement of the hotwater storage tank and boiler in a gas central heating system, the central heating system to be changed from gas to electricity. All that is required is forthe tank 1 to be installed, including connection to the el ectricity supply, and forthe domestic hot water circuitto be connected to openings 17,21 and thecen- tral heating circuitto be connected between open ings 15.

In the United Kingdom, the Central Electricity Generating Board provides low cost off peak electricity.

Using the described embodiments, it is possible to heat up the water in the tank over night and then top up the temperature during the day using normal cost electricity thus reducing cost. Also, the described embodiment obviates the need for a back-boiler, which is bulky, difficult to install and expensive in comparison to the immersion tank used in the described embodiment.

It will also be appreciated that, within the scope of the invention, central heating apparatus may be provided which includes a hotwatertank and an electric heating element disposed within thetankfor heating watertherein, the tank having a liquid path therethrough in direct contact with element connected to in a central heating circuit.

Claims

1. Central heating apparatus comprising a tank arranged to receive at least one electric heating el ementforheating liquid in the tank, the tank having a liquid path therethrough arranged to be connected in awetcentral heating circuitandthe liquid path is provided within a first section of the tank separated from a second section ofthe tank, the second section being arranged to receive the electric heating element.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first section is bounded by a pipe and the second section comprises a remaining portion of the tank adjacentthe pipe.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pipe is in the form of a coil.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a further liquid path arranged to be connected into an on-demand hot water system, the liquid paths being separated from each other.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the further liquid path is provided through the second section.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the further liquid path is provided in a third section ofthe tank separated from the first and second sections.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the third section is separated from the first and second sections by means of a heat conductive and liquid tight sheet dividing the volume of the tank.

8. Central heating apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the third section is arranged to receive a further electric heating element.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 as dependent on claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the third section is bounded by a further pipe disposed within the tank.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the further pipe is in the form of a coil.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 as dependent on claim 4, wherein the coils have different radii and are disposed coaxially.

12. A wet central heating circuit comprising central heating apparatusasclaimed in anyone ofthe preceding claims connected to a pump and at least one radiator and further comprising an electric heating element disposed within the tank.

13. Acentral heating circuit as claimed in claim 12, wherein said at least one electric heating element comprises at least one immersion heater.

14. A central heating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with referenceto Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 or Figures4and 5 ofthe accompanying drawings.

15. A central heating apparatus comprising a tank and an electric heating elementforheating liquid inthetank,thetankhaving a liquid path therethrough which path is connected in a wet central heating system.