Fan convector heating unit

Abstract

A fan convector heating unit ( 10 ) has a housing ( 11 ) having an air duct ( 12 ) extending therethrough. A heat exchanger ( 21 ) is disposed within the air duct ( 12 ) and is adapted for fluid connection to a water heating system, when the heating unit ( 10 ) is installed. A fan ( 18 ) is disposed within the housing ( 11 ) and is arranged to cause air to flow through the air duct ( 12 ) and over the heat exchanger ( 21 ). Control means are provided to activate and deactivate the fan ( 18 ) upon the water within the heat exchanger ( 21 ) reaching pre-determined activation and deactivation temperatures. Both the activation and deactivation temperatures are interchangeably variable between standard and low energy activation and deactivation temperatures. Switching means ( 16 ), in communication with the control means, are provided to enable variation between a standard operating mode in which the standard activation and deactivation temperatures are employed, and a low energy operating mode in which the low energy activation and deactivation temperatures are employed.

1 . A heating unit comprising:
 a housing having an air duct extending therethrough;   a heat exchanger disposed within the air duct and having connectors for fluid connection to a water heating system, when installed;   a fan disposed within the housing and arranged to cause air to flow through the air duct and over the heat exchanger;   a first control for activating the fan upon the water within the heat exchanger reaching a pre-determined activation temperature selected from, and interchangeably variable between, a standard activation temperature and a low energy activation temperature;   a second control for deactivating the fan upon water within the heat exchanger falling below a pre-determined deactivation temperature selected from, and interchangeably variable between, a standard deactivation temperature and a low energy deactivation temperature; and   a switch in communication with said first control and said second control, said switch enabling variation between a standard operating mode in which said standard activation and deactivation temperatures are employed, and a low energy operating mode in which said low energy activation and deactivation temperatures are employed.   
   
   
       2 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the standard activation temperature is in the range of from 55° C. to 65° C. and the standard deactivation temperature is in the range of from 45° C. to 55° C. 
   
   
       3 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the standard activation temperature is substantially 60° C., and the standard deactivation temperature is substantially 50° C. 
   
   
       4 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the low energy activation temperature is in the range of from 30° C. to 40° C. and the low energy deactivation temperature is in the range of from 28° C. to 34° C.; provided that said low energy deactivation temperature is always at least 2° C. lower than said low energy activation temperature. 
   
   
       5 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the low energy activation temperature is substantially 35° C. and the low energy deactivation temperature is substantially 31° C. 
   
   
       6 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a room thermostat in communication with at least one of the first control and the second control means. 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heating unit is mountable on a wall, and wherein the air duct extends from an inlet grille located at the top of the housing to an outlet grille located at the bottom of the housing, when said unit is mounted on a wall. 
   
   
       9 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the heat exchanger is located adjacent the outlet grille. 
   
   
       10 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the air duct further comprises a plenum chamber located between said inlet and outlet grilles. 
   
   
       11 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the fan is disposed in the air duct between the inlet grille and the plenum chamber, thereby to draw air through the inlet grille and drive said air into the plenum chamber. 
   
   
       12 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the heat exchanger is located in the plenum chamber. 
   
   
       13 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises at least one panel isolated from the plenum chamber such that an external surface of said at least one panel remains at ambient temperature when the unit is in operation. 
   
   
       14 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said at least one panel of the housing isolated from the plenum chamber includes a panel adapted to be forward facing when the unit is mounted on a wall. 
   
   
       15 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a first portion of the air duct extending from the inlet grille to the fan is disposed adjacent said forward facing panel. 
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the outlet grille is angled relative to said forward facing panel. 
   
   
       18 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein each panel of the housing is isolated from the heat exchanger. 
   
   
       19 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fan is a tangential fan. 
   
   
       20 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a high efficiency slit finned heat exchanger. 
   
   
       21 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the heat exchanger has a fin density of substantially 4 fins per cm. 
   
   
       22 . The heating unit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing is shaped and styled to give the appearance of a conventional radiator heating unit.