Combined hot water heating and stripping column furnace and method

Claim 1

A hot water heater comprising: a combination hot water heat exchanger and stripper furnace means for use in providing a non-corrosive drinking-water quality heated water, comprising: a. an external shell structure having integrally formed therein at least two, in-line, upper and lower compartments, said lower compartment forming an open, exposed flame, heating area and said upper compartment forming a combined heat exchange and oxygen stripping area; b. support means associated with said upper compartment; c. a plurality of heat absorbing and transfer bodies positioned within said upper compartment and on top of said support means to a depth substantially greater than that needed for sufficient heat exchange and to a depth sufficient for substantially complete oxygen stripping from incoming water allowing for exposure flame combustion gases flowing upwardly through said upper compartment to strip substantially all the free oxygen from the water to substantially eliminate corrosive effects of CO 2 presence; d. water supply means associated with said upper compartment for supplying water over the plurality of heat absorbing bodies, said water thereby being heated and stripped of substantially all its free oxygen, and then falling down into said lower compartment; e. an exhaust stack positioned above said heat absorbing bodies for removing exhaust gas from said furnace means; f. exposed flame heating means, associated with said lower compartment, operating at a relatively low temperature free of intense hot spots to avoid NO x formations and its corrosive effects for heating said lower compartment and said upper compartment and for producing gases flowing upwardly through said upper compartment to strip the free oxygen from the water being heated; and g. directing means, associated with one of said compartments, for directing the flow of water to a predetermined area in the lower compartment in order to prevent hot spots resulting in burn outs on the shell in the area of the lower compartment.

Claim 12

A method for providing a source of non-corrosive, drinking-water-quality hot water, useable for example with copper and steel pipes, comprising the following steps: a. providing a hot water column furnace having two integrated, in-line, upper and lower compartments, with the upper compartment containing a plurality of heat absorbing and transfer bodies, water supply means at its top for supplying water to fall down through said bodies and into said lower compartment to be heated, with the lower compartment having an exposed, open burning flame source for heating said bodies and the water with the resulting combustion gases flowing up through the column and exhausted out through an exhaust system; and b. allowing the water to directly contact the flame and stripping substantially all of the free oxygen from the falling water by providing substantially more of said heat absorbing and heat transfer bodies than is needed merely for sufficient heat transfer to also achieve substantially complete oxygen stripping from the incoming water, whereby the potential corrosive effects of any CO 2 present in the water is eliminated.

Claim 13

A method for providing a source of non-corrosive, drinking-water-quality hot water, useable for example with copper and steel pipes, comprising the following steps: a. providing a hot water column furnace having two integrated, in-line, upper and lower compartments, with the upper compartment containing a plurality of heat absorbing and transfer bodies, water supply means at its top for supplying water to fall down through said bodies and into said lower compartment to be heated, with the lower compartment having an exposed, open burning flame source for heating said bodies and the water with the resulting combustion gases flowing up through the column and exhausted out through an exhaust system; and b. allowing the water to directly contact the flame and stripping substantially all of the free oxygen from the falling water by providing substantially more of said heat absorbing and heat transfer bodies than is needed merely for sufficient heat transfer to also achieve substantially complete oxygen stripping from the incoming water, whereby the potential corrosive effects of any CO 2 present in the water is eliminated.

Claim 15

The method of either claims 11 or 12, wherein there is included the further step of d. burning only relatively light fuels, such as for example natural gas, propane and the like, to avoid the formation of SO 2 problems.

Claim 31

A method of providing a source of oxygen stripped, heated water, comprising the following steps: a. providing a hot water column furnace having two in-line, upper and lower compartments, with the upper compartment containing a plurality of heat absorbing and transfer bodies, water supply means at its top for supplying water to fall down through said bodies and into said lower compartment to be heated, with the lower compartment having a source of combustion gases for heating said bodies and the water with the combustion gases flowing up through the column and exhausted out through an exhaust system; and b. allowing the water to directly contact the combustion gases and stripping substantially all of the free oxygen from the falling water by providing substantially more of said heat absorbing and heat transfer bodies than is needed merely for sufficient heat transfer to also achieve substantially complete oxygen stripping from the incoming water, whereby the potential corrosive effects of any CO 2 present in the water is eliminated.

Claim 32

A method of providing a source of oxygen stripped, heated water, comprising the following steps: a. providing a hot water column furnace having two in-line, upper and lower compartments, with the upper compartment containing a plurality of heat absorbing and transfer bodies, water supply means at its top for supplying water to fall down through said bodies and into said lower compartment to be heated, with the lower compartment having a source of combustion gases for heating said bodies and the water with the combustion gases flowing up through the column and exhausted out through an exhaust system; and b. allowing the water to directly contact the combustion gases and stripping substantially all of the free oxygen from the falling water by providing substantially more of said heat absorbing and heat transfer bodies than is needed merely for sufficient heat transfer to also achieve substantially complete oxygen stripping from the incoming water, whereby the potential corrosive effects of any CO 2 present in the water is eliminated.