Condensate heat exchanger

Abstract

A condensate heat exchanger is provided for recovering heat from condensate draining from a condensate boiler.

1 . A condensate heat exchanger for use with a condensing boiler, characterised by the heat exchanger being placed in a condensate drain path for draining condensate from the boiler. 
   
   
       2 . A condensate heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a vessel for storing condensate, and a fluid flow path for a fluid being in thermal contact with condensate in the vessel. 
   
   
       3 . A condensate heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , characterised in that the fluid flow path is a pipe passing through condensate stored within the vessel. 
   
   
       4 . A condensate heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2 , in which the fluid flow path carries water from a cold main for delivery to a boiler for heating. 
   
   
       5 . A condensate heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1  in combination with a condensing boiler. 
   
   
       6 . A combination as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising at least one additional heat recovery device placed in a flue gas path from the boiler. 
   
   
       7 . A combination as claimed in  claim 6 , in which cold water from a water main flows in series through the condensate heat exchanger and the at least one additional heat recovery device. 
   
   
       8 . A combination as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the further heat recovery device includes a thermal store. 
   
   
       9 . A combination as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the thermal store is replenished by condensate from the flue gas.