Water heater device with heat and water recovery

Abstract

A system for rapid and efficient water heating is provided, with a water and heat recovery component. Using a thermal store as a heat exchanger the system mixes steam and cold water to deliver hot water at a user-controlled temperature. The high operating temperature of the thermal store and its thermal efficiency result in a compact, highly-efficient means of hot water delivery. Water and energy usage are further reduced through a means of recycling hot water through the system in operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater system, comprising:
 a thermal store receiving fluid for heating;   a heat exchanger integrated within the thermal store to receive the fluid and heat the fluid to provide heated fluid;   a steam-cold fluid mixer receiving the heated fluid and mixing the heated fluid with a lower temperature fluid to provide a temperature regulated fluid, the temperature of the temperature regulated fluid being a function of the temperature of the heated fluid and the lower temperature fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid received by the thermal store is water and the heated fluid provided by the heat exchanger is steam. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater system of  claim 2  wherein the water heater system further comprises a hot water/steam output apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater system of  claim 1  further comprising an electronic controller controlling the heat exchanger and steam-cold fluid mixer. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , said system having a high rate of discharge of thermal energy from its thermal store, said thermal energy discharge rate being greater than a charging energy rate of the system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a core that allows production of volumes of hot water substantially greater than the volume of the system. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein hot water delivery volume is user-controlled through modifying temperature of the thermal store. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein hot water delivery temperature is user-controlled through modifying a steam to cold water ratio in the system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , said system delivering water at user-selectable, above-input pressure through varying an amount of steam passed into an output reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system output can be one of steam or hot water as selectable by a user. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein once it is charged the system provides hot water without connection to a power supply until thermal energy held in the thermal store is depleted. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , the system provides steam without connection to a power supply until thermal energy held in the thermal store is depleted. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein operational temperature of the system is such that the system is inhospitable to bacteria such as  Legionella.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to recycle waste hot water through the system which reduces overall energy expended in heating a given amount of water. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to recycle waste hot water through the system to reduce overall water usage for a given overall throughput.