HEATER CONDENSATE pH CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract

A heater for a pool or a spa is provided. The heater is provided in the form of a housing with an outlet disposed in the housing. The outlet is in fluid communication with the pool or spa. The heater also includes a first dosing mechanism that is designed to meter an amount of a waste condensate generated by the heater to the pool or spa. The waste condensate, by virtue of being imparted with an acidic pH, alters the pH value of water in the pool or spa. The heater is also in electrical communication with a controller. The controller is designed to control the first dosing mechanism such that the first dosing mechanism can provide at least a portion of the waste condensate to the pool or spa.

1 . A heater for a pool or a spa, the heater comprising:
 a housing;   an outlet disposed in the housing, the outlet in fluid communication with the pool or the spa;   a first dosing mechanism designed to meter an amount of a waste condensate provided to the pool or the spa, wherein the waste condensate alters a pH value of water of the pool or the spa; and   a controller in electrical communication with the heater, wherein the controller is designed to control the first dosing mechanism to provide at least a portion of the waste condensate to the pool or the spa via the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The heater of  claim 1  further comprising a measurement device designed to monitor a pH value of the waste condensate generated by the heater. 
     
     
         3 . The heater of  claim 2 , wherein a neutralizer cartridge provides at least one of a neutralizing substance or a dilutant to the waste condensate if the pH value of the waste condensate is below a predetermined value. 
     
     
         4 . The heater of  claim 3  further comprising a second dosing mechanism in fluid communication with the neutralizer cartridge, wherein the second dosing mechanism is designed to meter an amount of neutralized waste condensate provided to a drain. 
     
     
         5 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heater is a condensing heater. 
     
     
         6 . The heater of  claim 1  further comprising a waste condensate collection mechanism configured to store at least a portion of the waste condensate prior to delivery of the waste condensate to the pool or the spa. 
     
     
         7 . The heater of  claim 1 , wherein the first dosing mechanism is in fluid communication with a filter designed to remove particulate matter from the waste condensate, and the waste condensate is provided to the filter before being provided to the pool or the spa. 
     
     
         8 . The heater of  claim 1  further comprising a drain designed to direct the waste condensate away from the heater. 
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling a pH value of pool water via a waste condensate from a pool heater, comprising:
 providing the pool heater including a housing, a heat exchanger, and a waste condensate outlet, wherein the heat exchanger and the waste condensate outlet are in fluid communication with the pool water;   operating the pool heater and generating the waste condensate;   collecting the waste condensate;   dosing the pool water with at least a first portion of the waste condensate via the waste condensate outlet until the pH value of the pool water reaches an optimal pH range; and   sending a second portion of the waste condensate to a drain.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the optimal pH range is from about 7.2 to about 7.8. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the optimal pH range is from about 7.4 to about 7.6. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second portion of the waste condensate is provided to a drain remote from the pool when the pH value of the pool water is in the optimal pH range. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising providing a signal from a control system to the pool heater to direct the waste condensate to a waste condensate collection mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 providing a control system in communication with the pool heater; and 
 providing a dosing mechanism configured to meter an amount of waste condensate provided to at least one of the pool, a waste condensate tank, or the drain, 
 wherein the control system determines the amount of waste condensate provided to the at least one of the pool, the waste condensate tank, or the drain. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising neutralizing at least a second portion of the waste condensate. 
     
     
         16 . A heater system for a pool or a spa, comprising:
 a heater provided with a housing;   an outlet coupled to the housing, the outlet in fluid communication with the pool or the spa;   a collection mechanism in fluid communication with the outlet, the collection mechanism designed to collect waste condensate generated by the heater during operation; and   a controller in electrical communication with the heater, wherein the controller is designed to direct at least a portion of the waste condensate from the collection mechanism to the pool or the spa via the outlet, and the waste condensate alters a pH value of water of the pool or the spa.   
     
     
         17 . The heater system of  claim 16 , further comprising a first dosing mechanism designed to meter an amount of the waste condensate provided to the pool or the spa. 
     
     
         18 . The heater system of  claim 17 , further comprising a dilutant tank configured to administer a dilutant to the waste condensate. 
     
     
         19 . The heater system of  claim 16 , wherein the collection mechanism is designed to retain up to about 10 gallons of the waste condensate. 
     
     
         20 . The heater system of  claim 16 , wherein the collection mechanism is provided exterior to the housing of the heater.