Heating system and method using a fireplace

Abstract

A heating system and method includes a water circulation system for heating the interior of a building. The system further includes a boiler for storing and alternatively heating the water, and a fireplace jacket positioned in a fireplace of the building. The fireplace jacket includes a serpentine shaped length of pipe for circulating water. Fireplace jacket inlet and outlet ports communicate with the boiler for circulating the water in a closed system. A heating system control system manages the circulation of the water in the circulation system. The control system includes a safety unit having a thermometer, and the control system automatically circulates the water when the water is heated to a specified temperature. The control system automatically switches between using fossil fuel to heat the water in the boiler and using the fireplace jacket to heat the water in the boiler.

1 . A heating system, comprising:
 a water circulation system for heating the interior of a building;   a boiler for storing and alternatively heating the water;   a fireplace jacket positioned in a fireplace of the building and remote from the boiler, the fireplace jacket including a serpentine shaped length of pipe for circulating water therethrough, the fireplace jacket including an inlet port and an outlet port, the fireplace jacket inlet and outlet ports communicating with the boiler for circulating the water in a closed system, the jacket inlet port allowing ingress of cold water and the jacket outlet port allowing egress of hot water to the boiler; and   a heating system control system for managing the circulation of the water in the circulation system, the control system including a safety unit having a thermometer and the control system automatically circulates the water when the water is heated to a specified temperature, the control system switching between using fossil fuel to heat the water in the boiler and using the fireplace jacket to heat the water in the boiler.   
     
     
         2 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the water circulating in the fireplace jacket is heated by a fire in the fireplace, the water exits the fireplace jacket at the outlet port and proceeds to the boiler. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the control system automatically starts and stops circulation of the water when the temperature of the water in system rises to, and falls from the pre set temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the control system prevents a hazardous condition by using a safety value. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the fireplace jacket includes a thermostat positioned within the pipe for determining the temperature of the water in the fireplace jacket, and the fireplace jacket includes a safety unit for preventing excessive pressure of the hot water when the pressure of the water in the fireplace jacket rises to a dangerous level. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein safety unit of the fireplace jacket is a safety value. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the building is a residential house. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fireplace jacket provides a single pathway through the serpentine shaped length of pipe for circulating water therethrough in a predetermined path. 
     
     
         9 . A method for heating the interior of a building, comprising:
 storing and alternatively heating water using a boiler;   circulating the heated water in a water circulation system for heating an interior of a building;   positioning a fireplace jacket in a fireplace of the building and remote from the boiler, the fireplace jacket including a serpentine shaped length of pipe for circulating water therethrough, the fireplace jacket including an inlet port and an outlet port, the fireplace jacket inlet and outlet ports communicating with the boiler for circulating the water in a closed system, the jacket inlet port allowing ingress of cold water and the jacket outlet port allowing egress of hot water to the boiler; and   managing the circulation of the water in the circulation system using a heating system control system, the control system automatically circulates the water when the water is heated to a specified temperature, the control system automatically switching between using fossil fuel to heat the water in the boiler and using the fireplace jacket to heat the water in the boiler.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 heating the water circulating in the fireplace jacket in the fireplace using a fire in the fireplace, such that the water exits the fireplace jacket at the outlet port and proceeds to the boiler, and determining when the water temperature reaches the specified temperature using a temperature probe in the control system to allow circulation of the hot water to the boiler and then the circulation system in the interior of the building for heating the interior of the building.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further including:
 preventing circulation of the water when the temperature of the water in the fireplace jacket falls below a specified jacket water temperature using a thermostat positioned within the pipe of the fireplace jacket for determining temperature of the water circulating in the fireplace jacket, and using a safety unit in the fireplace jacket to prevent unsafe pressure build up in the fireplace jacket.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 circulating the water in the fireplace jacket through in a predetermined path providing a single pathway through the serpentine shaped length of pipe.   
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger, comprising:
 a fireplace jacket for positioning in a fireplace of a building and remote from a boiler, the fireplace jacket including a serpentine shaped length of pipe for circulating water therethrough, the fireplace jacket including an inlet port and an outlet port, the fireplace jacket inlet and outlet ports communicating with the boiler for circulating the water in a closed system, the jacket inlet port allowing ingress of cold water and the jacket outlet port allowing egress of hot water to the boiler; and   a single pathway through the serpentine shaped length of pipe of the heat exchanger for circulating water therethrough in a predetermined path.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fireplace jacket includes a thermostat positioned within the pipe for determining the temperature of the water in the fireplace jacket, and the fireplace jacket includes a safety unit for preventing excessive pressure build up of the hot water when the temperature and pressure of the water in the fireplace jacket exceed a specified jacket water pressure and temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein safety unit of the fireplace jacket is a safety value. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 14 , wherein the fireplace jacket is connected to a water circulation system for heating the interior of a building and the boiler for storing and alternatively heating the water. 
     
     
         17 . The heat exchanger of  claim 16 , wherein the heat exchanger is connected to a heating system control system for managing the circulation of the water in the circulation system, the control system including a safety unit having a thermometer and the control system automatically circulates the water when the water is heated to a specified temperature, the control system automatically switches between using fossil fuel to heat the water in the boiler and using the fireplace jacket to heat the water in the boiler. 
     
     
         18 . The heating exchanger of  claim 17 , wherein the water circulating in the fireplace jacket is heated by a fire in the fireplace, the water exits the fireplace jacket at the outlet port and proceeds to the boiler, the boiler includes a temperature probe for determining when the water temperature reaches a specified boiler water temperature for the control system to allow circulation of the hot water through the circulation system in the interior of the building for heating the interior of the building.