Increased Efficiency Heating System Method and Apparatus for Concrete Production

Abstract

In a system wherein a fossil fuel fired burner heats incoming well or municipally supplied water to a temperature required for industrial concrete production, the exhaust gases produced by the burner are utilized to preheat the incoming water to an increased temperature before the water is put into an insulated tank where the burner subsequently raises the water temperature to the required level, to thereby reduce the load on the burner and increase the efficiency of directly fired water heating systems.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus for providing heated water for use in industrial concrete production comprising:
 a source supplying incoming water at a first temperature;   an insulated enclosure having a water input port, a water output port, and a heat transfer pipe coupled between said water input port and water output port through which said supplied incoming water flows;   an insulated storage tank having an internal heat exchanger, a fossil fuel fired burner, a water input port coupled to said water output port of said insulated enclosure, and a water output port providing heated water for use in said concrete production; and   means coupling exhaust gases from said fossil fuel fired burner to said insulated enclosure to surround said heat transfer pipe;   whereby the temperature of said incoming water is preheated in said insulated enclosure before being coupled to said insulated storage tank.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said fossil fuel burner is fired by No. 2 fuel oil, natural gas or propane. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , also including a water flow regulator between said source supplying incoming water and said water input port of said insulated enclosure to maintain a substantially constant temperature within said insulated storage tank. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said water flow regulator is set to control the flow of supplied incoming water to a rate corresponding to the BTU rating of a said fossil fuel burner. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , additionally including a float in said insulated storage tank and a solenoid valve between said source of incoming water and said water flow regulator to maintain a substantially filled level of water within said insulated storage tank. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including a circulation pump coupled between a second water output port of said insulated storage tank and said water a input port of said insulated enclosure operative when the water temperature in said insulated storage tank falls below that required in industrial concrete production. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further including means on said insulated enclosure to vent to the atmosphere exhaust gases generated by said fossil fuel fired burner after passing over said surrounded heat transfer pipe in said insulated enclosure.