Heating assembly for quick heating of occupied spaces

Abstract

A thermal system for the storage and release of heat is comprised of an electric heater in fluidic communication with a recirculation pump, a heat exchanger for transferring heat to a target space, and a plurality of control valves. The heater may act as its own reservoir, or a separate reservoir may be provided. Fluid within the reservoir is slowly heated at relatively low power levels and is then released quickly on demand just prior to occupying the target space.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heating system for localized heating of a space comprising:
 an electric heater having an inlet and an outlet, the electric heater drawing from 300 to 300 1500 W;   an expansion tank coupled to the outlet of the electric heater;   a buffer tank having an inlet and an outlet; and   a convector having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the convector coupled to the outlet of the buffer tank;   a recirculation pump; and   a diverter valve coupled to the outlet of the buffer tank, the diverter valve actuable to direct fluid flow from the buffer tank to one of the convector or the recirculation pump;   wherein the heating system is operable in a charge mode and a discharge mode, in the charge mode, the diverter valve directing fluid flow from the buffer tank to the recirculation pump for recirculation through the electric heater, and in the discharge mode, the diverter valve directing fluid flow through the convector to heat a building space.   
     
     
         2 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric heater is an ohmic heater. 
     
     
         3 . The heating system of  claim 2 , wherein the buffer tank is integrally formed with the electric heater. 
     
     
         4 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric heater is a resistive heater. 
     
     
         5 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the convector forms a component of an existing heating network. 
     
     
         6 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein electric heater and the convector are configured such that the charge mode is substantially longer than the discharge mode. 
     
     
         7 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein the volume of the buffer tank is from about 2 liters to about 10 liters. 
     
     
         8 . The heating system of  claim 1 , further including a controller for activating the heater to maintain a set temperature within the heater assembly during the charge mode. 
     
     
         9 . The heating system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller controls actuation of the diverter valve to change operation of the heating system between the charge mode and the discharge mode. 
     
     
         10 . A method of supplementing an existing heating network with a heater assembly, the method comprising:
 providing the heating assembly with an electric heater for heating water, a buffer tank for storing the water, an expansion tank, a diverter valve, and a recirculation pump for recirculating the heated water through the electric heater and the buffer tank;   connecting a fluid supply conduit of a convector of the existing heating network to an outlet of the buffer tank;   connecting a fluid return conduit of the convector of the existing heating network to an inlet of the recirculation pump; and   using the diverter valve to direct the heated water through a fluid circuit defined within the heating assembly to heat the water to a set temperature during a charge mode or directing the water to the convector of the existing heating network to supplement heat provided by the existing heating network to a building space to be heated during a discharge mode.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further including recirculating the water exiting the convector in the fluid return conduit back into the fluid circuit defined by the heater assembly during the discharge mode. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further including closing a flow control valve in the fluid supply conduit to the convector and in the fluid return conduit from the convector prior to connecting the fluid supply conduit to the outlet of the buffer tank and prior to connecting the fluid return conduit to the recirculation pump. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further including securing a housing of the heater assembly to a wall defining the building space to be heated. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further including automatically initiating the charge mode based upon factors including a power utilities rate schedule and the occupancy schedule for the building space. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further including integrating a controller of the heating system with building management system to optimize timing for initiating the charge mode. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further including isolating a fluidic circuit of the heating assembly from the existing heating network after the discharge mode. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further including initiating the discharge mode immediately prior to expected occupancy of the building space.