Heat and energy recovery and regeneration assembly, system and method

Abstract

The exemplary embodiment is directed to a heat and energy recovery assembly, system and method. The heat and energy recovery assembly and system may include an insulated chamber for effectuating heat and energy exchange between a primary heat recovery exchanger and the reaction products of fossil fuel combustion gases, waste products, and air. The heat and energy recovery assembly and system are particularly useful on furnace systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heat recovery apparatus comprising:
 a heat furnace or boiler exhaust gas passage arranged for communication with a combustion exhaust of a heat furnace or boiler and configured to recover combustion exhaust gas from the heat furnace or boiler combustion exhaust;   a fresh air passage; and   a combining chamber having a heat exchanger and a chamber exhaust, the heat furnace or boiler exhaust gas passage and the fresh air passage are communicably connected with the combining chamber;   wherein
 the combining chamber is arranged so that exhaust gas from the heat furnace or boiler exhaust gas passage and fresh air from the fresh air passage are fed into and combined, at least in part, in the combining chamber, 
 the chamber exhaust is configured to exhaust the combined exhaust gas and fresh air from the combining chamber, and 
 the heat exchanger is disposed within the combining chamber in contact with the combined exhaust gas and fresh air within the combining chamber and configured to recover heat from the combined exhaust gas and fresh air. 
   
     
     
         2 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combining chamber includes a casing and the heat furnace or boiler exhaust gas passage and the fresh air passage respectively form an exhaust gas intake and a fresh air intake of the casing. 
     
     
         3 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combining chamber comprises an insulated chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein an environment within the combining chamber is a pressurized environment with respect to an ambient environment outside of the combining chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure regulation system connected to the combining chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the fresh air passage is connected to the pressure regulation system to fresh air into the combining chamber to maintain a positive pressure within combining chamber relative to an ambient pressure outside the combining chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the pressure regulation system is configured to provide forced air flow to the combining chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combining chamber and the fresh air passage are configured to provide a predetermined proportion of fresh air to exhaust gas within the combining chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a refrigerant fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger connected to the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         11 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the second heat exchanger discharges heat to an air space within a building structure. 
     
     
         12 . A heat recovery apparatus comprising:
 a heater exhaust gas passage arranged for communication with a combustion exhaust of a heater and configured to recover combustion exhaust gas from the heater combustion exhaust;   a fresh air passage;   a common chamber that is common to the heater exhaust passage and fresh air passage so that a combined gas from the heater exhaust passage and the fresh air passage is provided in the common chamber;   a first heat exchanger disposed in the common chamber and configured to absorb heat from the combined gas in the common chamber; and   a second heat exchanger disposed exterior of the common chamber and connected to the first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         13 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the common chamber includes a first casing and the heater exhaust gas passage and the fresh air passage respectively form an exhaust gas intake and a fresh air intake of the casing. 
     
     
         14 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a second casing forming a heater air passage configured for directing heating air to the heater, the second heat exchanger being disposed within the second casing. 
     
     
         15 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second heat exchanger is configured to release heat to air within the heater air passage to heat to an air space within a building structure. 
     
     
         16 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the heater exhaust gas passage is a heat furnace or boiler exhaust gas passage and the combustion exhaust of the heater is the combustion exhaust of a heat furnace or boiler. 
     
     
         17 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the common chamber and the fresh air passage are configured to provide a predetermined proportion of fresh air to exhaust gas within the common chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein an environment within the common chamber is a pressurized environment with respect to an ambient environment outside of the common chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a pressure regulation system connected to the common chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The heat recovery apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the fresh air passage is connected to the pressure regulation system to fresh air into the common chamber to maintain a positive pressure within common chamber relative to an ambient pressure outside the common chamber.