Shower trap heat recovery apparatus

Abstract

A plurality of isolated heat pipe cells ( 21 ) are in serial thermal communication with counter-flowing drain gray water discharge channel ( 31 ) and cold water supply channel ( 11 ) in a compact plastic-molded assembly.

1 . Apparatus for recovering waste heat from gray water discharge comprising:
 (a) a plurality of thermally isolated heat pipes   (b) a first channel accommodating flow of said gray water, and   (c) a second channel accommodating flow of a cold water supply   wherein each of said heat pipes is in thermal communication with said first and second channels, which channels being elongated with adjacent conforming common extent.   
   
   
       2 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) said heat pipes are serially disposed at intervals along the common extent of said first and said second channels, and   (b) direction of flow of said gray water is counter to direction of flow of said cold water   whereby said heat pipes provide a means for sequential transfer of incremental quantities of heat from said gray water to said cold water.   
   
   
       3 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) said heat pipes are disposed at predetermined intervals along a common extent of said first and said second channels, and   (b) heat transfer capacity of said heat pipes is individually predetermined   whereby aggregate heat transfer is optimized.   
   
   
       4 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  constructed largely of a moldable material with heat conducting means for thermal communication between said heat pipes and said first and said second channels. 
   
   
       5 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein the body of said apparatus is constructed largely of a moldable material within which body said heat pipes are embedded, which heat pipes being constructed of a heat-conducting material. 
   
   
       6 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said heat pipes are charged with a working fluid. 
   
   
       7 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said heat pipes are charged with water as a working fluid. 
   
   
       8 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said gray water flow channel has a plurality of baffle means whereby, under gravity flow, said gray water channel is maintained substantially filled. 
   
   
       9 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said gray water flow channel has at least one baffle, whereby said baffle inhibits flow of drain vapors. 
   
   
       10 . Apparatus for recovering waste heat from gray water discharge comprising:
 (a) an elongated first channel accommodating flow of said gray water   (b) an elongated second channel accommodating flow of a cold water supply, which second channel shares a common conforming extent with said first channel   (c) a plurality of thermally isolated heat pipes, each in thermal communication with said first and second channels, which heat pipes being serially disposed at intervals along said common extent of said channels   whereby, said gray water flow direction being counter to said cold water flow direction, said heat pipes provide a means for sequential transfer of incremental quantities of heat from said gray water to said cold water.   
   
   
       11 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  constructed largely of a moldable material with heat conducting means for thermal communication between said heat pipes and said first and said second channels. 
   
   
       12 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein the body of said apparatus is constructed largely of a moldable material within which body said heat pipes are embedded, which heat pipes being constructed of a heat-conducting material. 
   
   
       13 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein said heat pipes are charged with a working fluid. 
   
   
       14 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein said heat pipes are charged with water as a working fluid. 
   
   
       15 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein said gray water flow channel has a plurality of baffle means whereby under gravity flow said gray water channel is maintained substantially filled. 
   
   
       16 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein said gray water flow channel has at least one baffle, whereby said baffle inhibits flow of drain vapors. 
   
   
       17 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 10  wherein:
 (a) said heat pipes are disposed at predetermined intervals along a common extent of said first and said second channels, and   (b) heat transfer capacity of said heat pipes is individually predetermined   whereby aggregate heat transfer is optimized.   
   
   
       18 . Apparatus for exchanging heat between two fluid flowstreams comprising:
 (a) plurality of thermally isolated heat pipes   (b) a first channel accommodating flow of a first fluid   (c) a second channel accommodating flow of a second fluid   wherein each of said heat pipes is in thermal communication with said first and said second channels, which channels are elongated with adjacent conforming common extent.   
   
   
       19 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 18  wherein:
 (a) said heat pipes are serially disposed at intervals along the common extent of said first and said second channels, and   (c) direction of flow of said first fluid is counter to direction of flow of said second fluid.   whereby said heat pipes provide a means for sequential exchange of incremental quantities of heat between said first fluid and said second fluid.   
   
   
       20 . Apparatus as defined in  claim 18  wherein the body of said apparatus is constructed largely of a moldable material within which body said heat pipes are embedded, which heat pipes being constructed of a heat-conducting material.