Thermal system

Abstract

A thermal system including a thermal source configured to heat a thermal transfer fluid, first piping configured to convey the heated thermal transfer fluid from the thermal source, and second piping configured to return at least a portion of the thermal transfer fluid to the thermal source to be reheated. The system includes a thermal battery comprising at least two thermal storage tanks, a hot water source, and a pumping loop connected between the thermal battery and the hot water source to circulate at least a portion of the thermal transfer fluid between the thermal battery and the hot water source. The pumping loop includes a reverse return piping configuration connected to the at least two thermal storage tanks. The first piping and the second piping are connected to the pumping loop and the first piping is configured to convey the heated thermal transfer fluid to the pumping loop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermal system comprising:
 a thermal source configured to heat a thermal transfer fluid;   first piping configured to convey the heated thermal transfer fluid from the thermal source;   second piping configured to return at least a portion of the thermal transfer fluid to the thermal source to be reheated;   a thermal battery comprising at least two thermal storage tanks;   a hot water source;   a pumping loop connected between the thermal battery and the hot water source to circulate at least a portion of the thermal transfer fluid between the thermal battery and the hot water source, the pumping loop comprising:
 a reverse return piping configuration connected to the at least two thermal storage tanks, and 
   wherein the first piping and the second piping are connected to the pumping loop, the first piping configured to convey the heated thermal transfer fluid to the pumping loop.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal source is an air-to-water hydronic unit. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal system of  claim 1 , wherein the hot water source includes at least two hot water generators, and the system further comprises a second reverse return piping configuration connected to the at least two hot water generators. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal system of  claim 1 , wherein the second piping includes at least one pump. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal system of  claim 1 , wherein the pumping loop includes at least one pump. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal transfer fluid is gray water. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal storage tanks include a thermal storage material, and the thermal storage material is gray water. 
     
     
         8 . A method of installing a thermal system, the method comprising:
 connecting first piping to a thermal source configured to heat a thermal transfer fluid, the first piping configured to convey the heated thermal transfer fluid from the thermal source;   connecting second piping to the thermal source, the second piping configured to return at least a portion of the thermal transfer fluid to the thermal source to be reheated;   forming a pumping loop connected between a hot water source and a thermal battery comprising at least two thermal storage tanks, the pumping loop configured to circulate at least a portion of the thermal transfer fluid between the thermal battery and the hot water source;   
       wherein forming the pumping loop comprises forming a reverse return piping configuration connected to the at least two thermal storage tanks;
 connecting the first piping to the pumping loop to convey the heated thermal transfer fluid to the pumping loop; and 
 connecting the second piping to the pumping loop. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the thermal source is an air-to-water hydronic unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the hot water source includes at least two hot water generators and forming the pumping loop comprises forming a second reverse return piping configuration connected to the at least two hot water generators. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the second piping includes at least one pump. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein forming the pumping loop comprises connecting at least one pump within the pumping loop. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the thermal transfer fluid is gray water. 
     
     
         14 . A method of generating hot water, the method comprising:
 heating a thermal transfer fluid with a thermal source;   conveying the heated thermal transfer fluid to a pumping loop from the heat source by first piping;   circulating at least a portion of the thermal transfer fluid in the pumping loop between a thermal battery and a hot water source;   returning, by second piping, at least a portion of the thermal transfer fluid to the thermal source to be reheated;   receiving cold water at the hot water source; and   heating the cold water by the hot water source based on the thermal transfer fluid to generate the hot water,   wherein the thermal battery includes at least two thermal storage tanks that are piped with a reverse return piping configuration.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the thermal source is an air-to-water hydronic unit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the hot water source includes at least two hot water generators and forming the pumping loop comprises forming a second reverse return piping configuration connected to the at least two hot water generators. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second piping includes at least one pump. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein forming the pumping loop comprises connecting at least one pump within the pumping loop. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the thermal transfer fluid is gray water. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cold water is domestic cold water, and the hot water generated is domestic hot water with a temperature between 120° F. and 140° F.