Patent Application
20120061052
Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of hydronic systems and, more particularly, to a heat exchanger/pressure vessel assembly for a hydronic system.
Hydronic systems deliver conditioned fluid (water) through a heat exchange device to heat and/or cool a space. Conventionally, the fluid is either heated or cooled in the heat exchanger before being passed to a vessel. In the heat exchanger, a heat transfer takes place between the fluid and another medium. At present, plate heat exchangers are growing in popularity due to a speed of exchange between two mediums. More specifically, plate heat exchangers employ a series of plates, typically formed from metal, having a large surface area that facilitates a heat transfer between two mediums. The large surface area of the plates speed the heat transfer between mediums.
Disclosed is a hydronic system including a vessel including an external surface and an internal surface that defines a hollow interior portion configured and disposed to store a first fluid medium. A heat exchange member includes a body member housing a heat exchange element configured to facilitate an exchange of heat between the first fluid medium and a second fluid medium. The heat exchange member is directly hydraulically connected to the vessel.
Also disclosed is a method of mounting a heat exchange member to a vessel for a hydronic system. The method includes positioning an outlet to the heat exchange member at an inlet of the vessel, and establishing a direct hydraulic connection between the heat exchange member and the vessel by joining the outlet and the inlet.
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
With reference to
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, hydronic system 2 also includes a heat exchange member 34. As will be detailed more fully below, heat exchange member 34 is mounted to external surface 8 of vessel 4. Heat exchange member 34 includes a body member 36 which houses a heat exchange element shown in the form of a plurality of plates 38. In this manner heat exchange member 34 defines a plate heat exchanger. In accordance with one exemplary aspect, heat exchange member 34 defines a brazed plate heat exchanger.
Heat exchange member 34 includes a first outlet 42 and a first inlet 44. First inlet 44 receives the first fluid medium from a fluid circuit (not shown) while first fluid outlet 42 passes the first fluid to vessel 4. Heat exchange member 34 also includes a second outlet 47 and a second inlet 49. Second outlet 47 passes a second fluid medium, such as water or a refrigerant that is passed in a heat exchange relationship with the first fluid medium. Once conditioned, the first fluid medium passes from outlet 14 of vessel 4 to, for example, a fan coil, a radiator, or through radiant flooring in order to condition a space. The term “conditioned” should be understood to mean that hydronic system 2 provides heating and/or cooling to the space such as a room or rooms, offices, storage areas, work areas and the like. First outlet 42 includes an external surface 56 and an internal surface 58. External surface 56 includes a seal land 64 shown in the form of a groove 65 that receives a seal 68. In the exemplary embodiment shown, seal 68 takes the form of an O-ring 70, however it should be understood that the particular form of seal land 64 and seal 68 could vary. Heat exchange member 34 is also shown to include a temperature sensor 75 fluidly connected to first outlet 42. Temperature sensor 75 senses a temperature of the first fluid medium passing from heat exchange member 34 into vessel 4.
In further accordance with an exemplary embodiment, vessel 4 includes a mounting member 80 provided on external surface 8. In the exemplary embodiment shown, mounting member 80 takes the form of a flange 82 having a first section 84 that extends from external surface 8 and a second section 85 that extends substantially perpendicularly from first section 84. Second section 85 includes a plurality of openings 88 and 89 that are configured to receive a corresponding plurality of mounting elements 94 and 95 associated with heat exchange member 34. In the exemplary embodiment shown, mounting elements 94 and 95 take the form of threaded fasteners 97 and 98 that are connected to body member 36 of heat exchange member 34. Threaded fastener 97 includes a plurality of threads 104. Similarly, threaded fastener 98 includes plurality of threads 112. First and second ends threaded fasteners 97 and 98 pass through openings 88 and 89 of flange 82. A first washer 114 is positioned upon first threaded fastener 97, and a second washer 115 is positioned upon second threaded fastener 98. First and second washers are positioned between heat exchange member 34 and flange 82. Threaded fastener 97 is provided with a first nut 120 and second threaded fastener 98 is provided with a second nut 121.
With this arrangement, heat exchange member 34 is positioned adjacent vessel 4 with first outlet 42 registering with inlet 16. First and second threaded fasteners 97 and 98 are passed through washers 114 and 115 and then openings 88 and 89 on flange 82. First and second nuts 120 and 121 are secured to threaded fasteners 97 and 98 thereby establishing a direct hydraulic connection between heat exchange member 34 and vessel 4. Direct hydraulic connection should be understood to mean that there are no intermediate conduit(s) connecting vessel 4 and heat exchange member 34. As the direct hydraulic connection is established, heat exchange member 34 is drawn to vessel 4, first outlet 42 is seated within inlet 16 with O-ring 70 forming an interference seal to prevent leakage of the first fluid medium.
At this point it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments provide a hydronic system having a heat exchange member that is mounted directly to a vessel that stores a heat exchange medium. By mounting the heat exchange member directly to the vessel, a direct hydraulic connection is formed thereby eliminating any the need for various interconnecting pipes that would otherwise require multiple connections that create various leak points. By doing away with the interconnecting pipes, not only is production/manufacturing time and complexity decreased, but an overall form factor of the hydronic system is reduced. Also, eliminating the interconnecting pipes reduces an overall number of leak points that may present service issues over the operational life of the hydronic system.
While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
