Fluid containment and transfer vessel

Abstract

A fluid containment and transfer vessel having a chamber defining a fluid inlet for receiving fluid from a primary heater and a separate fluid outlet for delivery of fluid at least to be circulated via a circulated fluid central heating system, the chamber adapted to contain fluid in use to such a level as to define a header region surmounting the fluid therein, wherein the inlet is provided into the header region, the outlet is provided at a base portion of the chamber, and a conduit is provided within the chamber open at either end and with a first end in the vicinity of and generally above the outlet and a second end venting out of the vessel at a higher point thereto in use.

1 . A fluid containment and transfer vessel, comprising:
 a chamber defining a fluid inlet for receiving fluid from a primary heater and a separate fluid outlet for delivery of fluid at least to be circulated via a circulated fluid central heating system, the chamber adapted to contain fluid in use to such a level as to define a header region surmounting the fluid therein, wherein the inlet is provided into the header region, the outlet is provided at a base portion of the chamber, and a conduit is provided within the chamber open at either end and with a first end in the vicinity of and generally above the outlet and a second end venting out of the vessel at a higher point thereto in use.   
   
   
       2 . A vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the outlet is provided at a base surface of the vessel. 
   
   
       3 . A vessel in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the outlet is provided toward the center of a base surface of the vessel. 
   
   
       4 . A vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the inlet is provided in the header region. 
   
   
       5 . A vessel in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the inlet is offset from the center for example at a side of the vessel. 
   
   
       6 . A vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the heating fluid is circulated within the chamber by secondary agitation means within the chamber, for example in the form of an internal impeller, stirrer or the like. 
   
   
       7 . A vessel in accordance with  claim 1  provided as a separate unit adapted to be incorporated downstream from a primary heater. 
   
   
       8 . A vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the header region has a volumetric capacity which exceeds that required to accommodate thermal expansion of the heating liquid as it is heated in the primary. 
   
   
       9 . A vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein a secondary outlet is provided from the fluid region of the chamber, which secondary outlet is adapted for connection to an expansion system such as an expansion vessel, header tank or the like. 
   
   
       10 . A vessel in accordance with  claim 1  including pressure release means to adjust the pressure of the air in the header region and/or the water level or water pressure to accommodate changes in condition during use. 
   
   
       11 . A vessel in accordance with  claim 10  incorporating in the header region air vent means to enable venting of air from the header region to the exterior of the vessel when the level of the heating fluid within the vessel is less than a predetermined level. 
   
   
       12 . A vessel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the container has circular cross section, being cylindrical or frustoconical with the sides of the container diverging outwardly from the lower to the upper portion at an angle of no more than 10° to the vertical. 
   
   
       13 . A method for the reduction of levels of entrapped and/or dissolved gasses downstream of a primary heater prior to circulation of hot fluid in a circulated fluid heating system comprising the use of a vessel in accordance with  claim 1 . 
   
   
       14 . A central heating system comprising:
 a primary heating system modified to be in fluid communication with a fluid containment and transfer vessel, comprising a chamber defining a fluid inlet for receiving fluid from a primary heater and a separate fluid outlet for delivery of fluid at least to be circulated via a circulated fluid central heating system, the chamber adapted to contain fluid in use to such a level as to define a header region surmounting the fluid therein, wherein the inlet is provided into the header region, the outlet is provided at a base portion of the chamber, and a conduit is provided within the chamber open at either end and with a first end in the vicinity of and generally above the outlet and a second end venting out of the vessel at a higher point thereto in use; and,   further including a suitable fluid supply source, such as a domestic water source, upstream of and in fluid communication with the primary heating system, and a circulating heated fluid central heating circuit downstream of and in fluid communication with the outlet of the vessel and comprising conduit means to circulate the heated fluid around a fluidly continuous circuit comprising at least one radiating space heater and preferably a plurality of radiating space heaters in series and/or parallel array.   
   
   
       15 . A system in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the central heating system is closed. 
   
   
       16 . A system in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the central heating system includes a separate header tank providing a means to accommodate expansion of heating fluid on heating, in particular by providing a closed chamber adapted to include a compressible air header volume, which header tank is provided in fluid communication with a secondary outlet in the vessel of the first aspect of the invention. 
   
   
       17 . A system in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the system is provided without a separate header tank, and the header region of the vessel comprises an expansion accommodation means. 
   
   
       18 . A system in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising pump means for circulating heating fluid including a pump located downstream of the outlet of the vessel so as to draw de-aerated fluid through the outlet from the chamber defined by the vessel and subsequently circulate the heating fluid around the central heating system. 
   
   
       19 . A system in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the heating unit is adapted to deliver heating fluid around the central heating system at a circulating temperature of 65-75° C. 
   
   
       20 . A method of modification of a central heating system comprises the incorporation thereinto, in particular as an aftermarket fitment in situ, of a fluid containment and transfer vessel, fluidly connected in stream within a primary heating circuit downstream of the primary heater thereof in accordance with the following method steps:
 providing a fluid containment and transfer vessel comprising a chamber defining a fluid inlet for receiving fluid from a primary heater and a separate fluid outlet for delivery of fluid at least to be circulated via a circulated fluid central heating system, the chamber adapted to contain fluid in use to such a level as to define a header region surmounting the fluid therein, wherein the inlet is provided into the header region, the outlet is provided at a base portion of the chamber, and a conduit is provided within the chamber open at either end and with a first end in the vicinity of and generally above the outlet and a second end venting out of the vessel at a higher point thereto in use;   connecting the said inlet to a fluid supply in fluid communication with, and thus adapted to receive heated fluid, from the primary heater of a primary heating circuit;   connecting the outlet into fluid communication with, and thus providing for the delivery of fluid to be circulated into, a circulated fluid central heating system; and   optionally as above described where a separate header tank is also present, providing the vessel with a secondary outlet in the fluid container region of the vessel, and connecting said secondary outlet into fluid communication with a feed pipe for a header or expansion tank.