Apparatus for reclaiming waste heat from a heating device flue pipe

Abstract

A waste heat reclamation apparatus for reclaiming combustion gases from a heating unit. The apparatus includes a flue section that engages the given heating unit's flue stack and selectively bypasses flue gases into a bypass section of the apparatus. The bypass section includes a fluid jacket for heat transfer of waste heat in the flue gases to a heat absorbing fluid of a fluid-based heating system. The bypass section and flue section route flue gases by way of offset conduits which promotes swirling action of the flue gases within the bypass section. The fluid jacket also includes baffles which promote mixing of the heat absorbing fluid along a circuitous path. The swirling action and mixing in the circuitous path increase the efficiency of heat transfer without adding mechanical complexity to the apparatus.

1 . An apparatus for waste heat reclamation from combustion gases, said apparatus comprising:
 a flue section for engagement with a flue stack, said flue section having a lower area and an upper area;   an inflow conduit located in said lower area of said flue section;   an outflow conduit located in said upper area of said flue section;   a bypass section connected to said flue section via said inflow conduit and said outflow conduit, said bypass section including an interior space;   an inlet port located at one end of said bypass section near said upper area of said flue section;   an outlet port located at another end of said bypass section near said lower area of said flue section; and   a damper for selectively controlling flow of said combustion gases through said inflow conduit and said outflow conduit;   wherein said inflow conduit and said outflow conduit are offset from a longitudinal axis of said apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further including a plurality of baffles located within said interior space of said bypass section, said interior space and said plurality of baffles forming a circuitous path for heat absorbing fluid passing from said inlet port to said outlet port. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , further including at least one removable cap located at one end of said bypass section so as to facilitate maintenance of an inner surface of said bypass section. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , further including first and second ones of said at least one removable cap each located at opposite ends of said bypass section. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , further including a plurality of fasteners for removably securing said at least one removable cap to said bypass section. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of fasteners include threaded bolts, said bypass section including at least one flange upon which said at least one removable cap is secured via said threaded bolts. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said bypass section is substantially formed by two concentric tubes, said interior space being located between said two concentric tubes, and said plurality of baffles being formed by interspersed arcuate sections connecting said two concentric tubes. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said flue section, said bypass section, said outflow conduit, said inflow conduit, said inlet port, said outlet port, said plurality of baffles, and said damper are each formed from a material suitable for high temperature exposure. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said material is steel. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said inlet port and said outlet port are formed to accept plumbing through which said heat absorbing fluid moves. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for waste heat reclamation from combustion gases, said apparatus comprising:
 a flue section for engagement with a flue stack, said flue section having a lower area for input of said combustion gases and an upper area for egress of said combustion gases;   an inflow conduit located in said lower area of said flue section, said inflow conduit for selectively inputting said combustion gases therethrough;   an outflow conduit located in said upper area of said flue section; said outflow conduit for selectively exiting said combustion gases therethrough;   a bypass section configured to extract heat from said combustion gases and connected to said flue section via said inflow conduit and said outflow conduit, said bypass section being substantially formed by two concentric tubes and including an interior space located between said two concentric tubes, said interior space including a plurality of baffles to form a circuitous path for heat absorbing fluid so as to enable heat transfer from said combustion gases to said heat absorbing fluid;   an inlet port located at one end of said bypass section near said upper area of said flue section, said inflow conduit accepting a cold return of said heat absorbing fluid from a fluid-based heating system;   an outlet port located at another end of said bypass section near said lower area of said flue section; said outlet port providing, after said heat transfer, an exit for said heat absorbing fluid to said fluid-based heating system; and   a damper for selectively controlling flow of said combustion gases through said inflow conduit and said outflow conduit;   wherein said inflow conduit and said outflow conduit are offset from a longitudinal axis of said apparatus.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , further including a first removable cap and a second removable cap each located at opposite ends of said bypass section. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , further including a plurality of fasteners for removably securing each said first removable cap and said second removable cap to said bypass section. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of fasteners include threaded bolts, said bypass section including flanges located at each end of said bypass section upon which said first removable cap and said second removable cap are secured via said threaded bolts. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of baffles are formed by interspersed arcuate sections connecting said two concentric tubes. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said flue section, said bypass section, said outflow conduit, said inflow conduit, said plurality of baffles, and said damper are each formed from a material suitable for high temperature exposure. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said inlet port and said outlet port are formed to accept plumbing through which said heat absorbing fluid moves, respectively, to and from said fluid-based heating system.