Water Heating System

Abstract

A water heating system includes an enclosure having a thermally-insulated top and a plurality of thermally-insulated walls, the enclosure being at least substantially open at a bottom of the enclosure and adapted for mounting above an opening in a roof of a building. The water heating system also includes a water heater mounted within an interior of the enclosure.

Claims

1. A water heating system comprising: an enclosure having a thermally-insulated top and a plurality of thermally-insulated walls, the enclosure being at least substantially open at a bottom of the enclosure and adapted for mounting above an opening in a roof of a building; and a water heater mounted within an interior of the enclosure.

2. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is adapted for mounting on a roof curb above the opening.

3. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes a vent opening in the top or a wall thereof, the vent opening extending between the interior and an exterior of the enclosure.

4. The water heating system of claim 3, further comprising a vent conduit coupled to a combustion gas vent of the water heater and protruding through the vent opening.

5. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the thermally-insulated walls each comprise a metal interior surface and a metal exterior surface with thermal insulation disposed therebetween.

6. The water heating system of claim 5, wherein at least one of the plurality of thermally-insulated wall includes a structural support on which the at least one water heater is mounted.

7. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the water heater is a tankless water heater.

8. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has no bottom.

9. The water heating system of claim 1, further comprising a second tankless water heater mounted within the interior of the enclosure.

10. The water heating system of claim 9, wherein: the tankless water heater has a first cold water inlet; the second tankless water heater has a second cold water inlet; and the first cold water inlet is coupled to the second cold water inlet.

11. The water heating system of claim 10, wherein: the tankless water heater has a first hot water outlet; the second tankless water heater has a second hot water outlet; and the first hot water outlet is coupled to the second hot water outlet.

12. The water heating system of claim 1, further comprising a thermally-insulated door disposed in one of the plurality of thermally-insulated walls.

13. A water heating system comprising: an enclosure having a thermally-insulated top and a plurality of thermally-insulated walls, the enclosure substantially open at a bottom of the enclosure; and a tankless water heater mounted within an interior of the enclosure; wherein the enclosure is mounted above an opening in a roof of a building.

14. The water heating system of claim 13, wherein the tankless water heater is specified for use in the interior of a heated building and not specified for use other than in the interior of a heated building.

15. The water heating system of claim 13, wherein the tankless water heater is not specified for operating at ambient temperatures below 4 degrees C.

16. The water heating system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of thermally-insulated walls has a thermal insulation rating of R-13 or higher.

17. The water heating system of claim 16, wherein the tankless water heater is plumbed through the opening into a plumbing system of the building.

18. The water heating system of claim 13, wherein: the bottom of the enclosure is sufficiently open, and the walls of the enclosure sufficiently insulated, that an ambient temperature inside the enclosure is above a minimum specified operating temperature of the tankless water heater when an outdoor temperature outside the enclosure is below the minimum specified operating temperature and the interior of the building is heated to or above 20 C.

19. A method for installing a water heating system comprising:

1. g the water heating system of claim 1 above the opening; and plumbing the water heating system through the opening into a plumbing system of the building.

20. A water heating system comprising: an enclosure having a thermally-insulated top and a plurality of thermally-insulated walls, the enclosure being at least substantially open at a bottom of the enclosure and adapted for mounting above an opening in a roof of a building; an instantaneous water heater mounted within an interior of the enclosure; wherein the thermally-insulated walls each comprise a metal interior surface and a metal exterior surface with thermal insulation disposed therebetween; wherein at least one of the plurality of thermally-insulated walls includes a structural support on which the instantaneous water heater is mounted; wherein the enclosure is adapted for mounting on a roof curb above the opening; wherein the enclosure includes a vent opening in the top or a wall thereof, the vent opening extending between the interior and an exterior of the enclosure; and wherein the water heating system further comprises a vent conduit coupled to a combustion gas vent of the water heater and protruding through the vent opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a water heating system.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view of the water heating system with a door of the enclosure to the water heating system removed.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the water heating system.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a top view of the enclosure of the water heating system.

[0015] FIG. 5A illustrates a wall of the enclosure of the water heating system.

[0016] FIG. 5B illustrates a top of the enclosure of the water heating system.

[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates two water heaters that may be installed in the enclosure of the water heating system.

[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates the water heating system installed on the roof of a building.

[0019] FIG. 8 illustrates a roof curb on which the water heating system may be installed on the roof of a building.

[0020] FIG. 9 illustrates a hole in a building roof, above which the water heating system may be mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The present disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. Representative examples of the disclosure are shown in the drawings and described herein in detail as non-limiting examples of the disclosed principles. To that end, elements and limitations described in the Abstract, Introduction, Summary, and Detailed Description sections, but not explicitly set forth in the claims, should not be incorporated into the claims, singly or collectively, by implication, inference, or otherwise.

[0022] For purposes of the present description, unless specifically disclaimed, use of the singular includes the plural and vice versa, the terms and and or shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive, any and all shall both mean any and all, and the words including, containing, comprising, having, and the like shall mean including without limitation. Moreover, words of approximation such as about, almost, substantially, generally, approximately, etc., may be used herein in the sense of at, near, or nearly at, or within 0-5% of, or within acceptable manufacturing tolerances, or logical combinations thereof. The drawings in the present description may not necessarily be drawn to scale.

[0023] Refer first to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. Illustrated there is a water heating system 100. Water heating system 100 includes a thermally-insulating enclosure 102. Within enclosure 102 are mounted one or more water heaters. In this example, water heater 104 and water heater 106 are mounted within enclosure 102. Water heater 104 and water heater 106 may be tankless water heaters that heat water on demand, rather than storing and heating water. Water heater 104 and water heater 106 may also be known as instantaneous water heaters. Water heater 104 and/or water heater 106 may also be tank type water heaters that store heated water in a tank, or reservoir, until the heated water is needed. Water heater 104 and/or water heater 106 may also be hybrid water heaters that combine one or more instantaneous water heaters to heat water with a storage tank to store heated water.

[0024] Water heater 104 and water heater 106 may be water heaters that are specified for use indoors, such as in a heated building, as opposed to outdoors or in unheated space, where the water heaters may be exposed to significantly cold ambient temperatures. For instance, water heater 104 and water heater 106 may be specified for operation at or above an ambient temperature of 4 degrees C., a specification that may apply to water heaters that are intended for use inside a heated building. Water heater 104 and water heater 106 may not be specified for operation at ambient temperatures below 4 degrees C. Also, by way of example, water heater 104 and water heater 106 may be specified for operation at or above an ambient temperature of zero degrees C. Water heater 104 and water heater 106 may not be specified for operation at ambient temperatures below that temperature.

[0025] Enclosure 102 may have a generally-horizontal top 120 and four generally vertical walls about the periphery of enclosure 102. The generally vertical walls may include a first side wall 121, a second side wall 122, a back wall 123, and a front wall 124. Enclosure 102 may also have a door 201 which may be hinged and latchable and that may allow access to the interior of enclosure 102, including to water heater 104 and water heater 106. Top 120, the four walls, and door 201 may be thermally insulated, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Top 120 and the four walls may have sheet metal inner and outer surfaces with thermal insulation therein. Top 120 and the four walls may also be solid, with no interior cavities within them and with insulation disposed on interior or exterior surfaces thereof.

[0026] Protruding from a hole in top 120 of enclosure 102 may be a vent pipe 125. Vent pipe 125 may be connected to water heater 104, water heater 106, or both, to allow venting of combustion gases from the operation of water heater 104, water heater 106, or both. Additional vent pipes such as vent pipe 126 may also be provided, and the vent pipes may connect individually to water heater 104 and water heater 106.

[0027] Enclosure 102 may be provided without or substantially without a bottom wall. As such and if enclosure 102 is mounted above an opening in a building roof, enclosure 102 may be at least substantially open (or may be fully open) to the interior of the building below. FIG. 3, which shows a bottom view of enclosure 102, shows opening 127 in the bottom of enclosure 102. (For clarity, water heater 104 and water heater 106 are shown schematically in FIG. 3, without showing the plumbing on the bottoms thereof.) A recessed lip 128 may be disposed about opening 127 for mounting enclosure 102 on a roof curb or other supporting structure. Recessed lip 128 may be provided by a frame comprising structural metal or wood attached to the interiors of wall 121, wall 122, wall 123, and wall 124 at or near the bottoms of those respective walls.

[0028] Refer additionally to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a top view of enclosure 102 without vent pipe 125 and vent pipe 126 installed. Enclosure 102 may have at least one hole in top 120 through which the respective vent pipes may protrude. In the present exemplary disclosure, enclosure 102 has two holes, a first hole 130 and a second hole 132, through which respective vent pipe 125 and vent pipe 126 may protrude. The vent pipes may be inserted from the exterior of enclosure 102, through first hole 130 and second hole 132, and connected to combustion gas exhaust output 156 of water heater 104 and exhaust gas output 158 of water heater 106 (FIG. 6). In addition to or instead of first hole 130 and second hole 132 being provided in top 120 of enclosure 102, one or more holes may be provided in a side wall of enclosure 102 and one or more respective vent pipes routed therethrough horizontally or generally horizontally.

[0029] Top 120 and the four walls of enclosure 102 may be formed of a suitable structural material, such as steel or aluminum. They may be insulated with insulation such as fiberglass, expanded polystyrene, polypropylene, or other suitable insulation. The insulation may be attached to the interior of the walls and/or the top, or the exterior thereof. Alternatively, if the walls and/or top are hollow, the insulation may be included within the walls and/or the top. The insulated walls and/or the insulated top may have insulation values of R-13 or higher. (R-Value is the capacity to resist heat flow. The higher the R-Value, the greater resistance to heat flow.) They may also have insulation values of R-15 or higher, R-23 or higher or R-32 or higher. The insulation values may be selected such that water heater 104 and water heater 106 operate in an ambient temperature that is above their minimum specified ambient operating temperatures. Door 201 may also be provided with insulation 129. Referring to FIG. 5A, wall 123 may itself be comprised of two walls, wall 123a and 123b, with space therebetween. Disposed between walls 123a and 123b may be insulation 202. (The configuration of wall 121, wall 122, wall 124 and/or top 120 may be similar to that of wall 123.) Referring to FIG. 5B, top 120 may be comprised of a substantially solid structural wall portion 120a with insulation 120b attached to an interior surface thereof. (The configuration of wall 121, wall 122, wall 123, and wall 124 may be similar to that of top 120).

[0030] Some or all of wall 121, wall 122, wall 123, wall 124, top 120 and door 201 may be referred to in this disclosure as thermally-insulated. Thermally insulated may be construed to mean that such wall, top and/or door may comprise a structural member, with thermal insulation affixed thereto or included therein.

[0031] Referring additionally to FIG. 6, water heater 104 and water heater 106 may be mounted on a bracket 140 that is attached to back wall 123 of enclosure 102. Water heater 104, water heater 106, and bracket 140 may be part of a model TRX water heating assembly manufactured by Rinnai America Corporation. Back wall 123 should be understood to have sufficient strength to hold the weight of water heater 104 and water heater 106, which are attached thereon. A structural reinforcing member 130 of metal or another suitable material may be attached to back wall 123 as needed, such as by welding or by suitable fasteners, to provide sufficient strength on which to mount bracket 140 to support water heater 104 and/or water heater 106.

[0032] Water heater 104 and water heater 106 may have a shared cold water inlet 150 for providing cold water for heating by water heater 104 and water heater 106. Shared cold water inlet 150 may be plumbed down through a hole in the roof of a building above which enclosure 102 containing water heater 104 and water heater 106 may be mounted. Water heater 104 and water heater 106 may further have a shared hot water outlet 152 for providing heated water from water heater 104 and water heater 106 into the building for use by fixtures therein. Shared hot water outlet 152 may likewise be plumbed down through the hole in the roof of the building above which enclosure 102 is mounted. Water heater 104 and water heater 106 may further have a shared combustible gas supply line 154 for provision of combustible gas, such as natural gas or propane, as a heat source for water heater 104 and water heater 106. Combustible gas supply line 154 may be fed by gas plumbing that comes either from inside the building (through the aforementioned hole in the roof of the building) or from without. Alternatively to shared cold water inlet, hot water outlet, and combustible gas supply lines, water heater 104 and water heater 106 may have individual lines for some or all of the foregoing.

[0033] Refer additionally to FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and FIG. 9. Enclosure 102 may be mounted on a roof curb 150 which is mounted on a building roof 152 above an opening 156 in building roof 152. Roof curb 150 may have a flange 153 that is adapted for attachment to building roof 152 and covered with suitable waterproofing to waterproof building roof 152. Roof curb 150 may have an opening 155 that is partially or fully aligned with and partially or fully coincident with opening 156 in roof 152. As can be understood from this disclosure, the water heating system disclosed herein may be plumbed through opening 155 into the plumbing system of the building. That is, each of water heater 104 and water heater 106 may be plumbed through opening 155 into the plumbing system of the building.

[0034] Operating water heater 104 and water heater 106 in enclosure 102 that is insulated and open to the interior of the building provides several advantages. It frees up floor and/or wall space in the interior of the building. It also allows water heater 104 and water heater 106 to be selected to be rated generally for interior operation; this may eliminate the need to provide any heating within enclosure 102 for water heater 104 and water heater 106.

[0035] The bottom of enclosure 102 may be sufficiently open, and the walls of enclosure 102 sufficiently insulated, that the ambient temperature inside enclosure 102 is above the minimum specified operating temperatures of water heater 104 and/or water heater 106 when the outdoor temperature outside enclosure 102 is below such minimum specified operating temperatures and the interior of the building is heated, for example, to or above a nominal room temperature, say 20 C.

[0036] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0037] Furthermore, the embodiments shown in the drawings or the characteristics of various embodiments mentioned in the present description are not necessarily to be understood as embodiments independent of each other. Rather, it is possible that each of the characteristics described in one of the examples of an embodiment can be combined with one or a plurality of other desired characteristics from other embodiments, resulting in other embodiments not described in words or by reference to the drawings. Accordingly, such other embodiments fall within the framework of the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, this disclosure expressly includes combinations and sub-combinations of the elements and features presented above and below.