Heat Exchanger

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a heat exchange apparatus. The apparatus comprises one or more double walled conduit, each having an outer conduit and an inner conduit located coaxially inside the outer conduit. The conduits define a first fluid passageway for cold water at a first temperature. A drain defines a second fluid passageway for grey water at a second temperature and is located in the drain and downstream of the grey water flowing therethrough. The grey water when flowing in the second fluid passageway effects heat transfer to the cold water flowing in the first fluid passageway across the inner and outer conduits.

1 . A heat exchange apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a) at least one double walled conduit having an outer conduit and an inner conduit located coaxially inside the outer conduit, and defining a first fluid passageway for a first fluid at a first temperature; and   b) a drain defining a second fluid passageway for a second fluid at a second temperature, the double walled conduit being located in the drain and downstream of the second fluid flowing therethrough, such that the second fluid when flowing in the second fluid passageway effects heat transfer to the first fluid flowing in the first fluid passageway across the inner and outer conduits.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which the inner conduit includes an outer wall, the outer conduit includes an inner wall, the outer wall being located against the inner wall to define a leak passageway therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus, according to  claim 2 , in which the outer conduit includes an inner knurled surface that is pressed against the outer wall of the inner conduit to define the leak passageway. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which the double walled conduit is helical. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , includes an outer helical double wall conduit, a central helical double wall conduit and an inner helical double wall conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus, according to  claim 5 , in which the outer, central and inner helical double walled conduits are assembled concentrically. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus, according to  claim 6 , in which the circumference of the helices of the double wall conduits decreases from the outer conduit to the inner conduit. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus, according to  claim 5 , in which the helical conduits are coiled in the same direction. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus, according to  claim 8 , in which the helical conduits are coiled in a counterclockwise direction. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus, according to  claim 8 , in which the helical conduits are coiled in a clockwise direction. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus, according to  claim 6 , in which each conduit includes a bend located at an upper end of the assembled helical conduits. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which the first and second fluids flow in a contra-flow manner through the heat exchange apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which the drain is a drain conduit. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus, according to  claim 13 , in which the drain conduit includes an upper drain portion connected to a drain trap. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus, according to  claim 13 , includes a bypass conduit connected to the drain conduit, the bypass conduit having a mesh for blocking particulate material. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus, according to  claim 13 , includes a deflector located in a central core of the drain conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus, according to  claim 13 , includes a vertically orientated conduit located at the top of the central core of the drain conduit and having a plurality of holes located therein. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus, according to  claim 17 , in which a cap is located on top of the vertically orientated conduit for temporarily blocking a central bypass channel. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus, according to  claim 18 , in which the cap is operated manually or automatically. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus, according to  claim 16 , in which the deflector is a cone with side plates for forcing the second fluid away from the conduit. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which a plurality of helical conduits are stacked adjacent each other in the drain conduit. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus, according to  claim 21 , includes four stacked helical conduits. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus, according to  claim 21 , in which the helical conduits include a common first fluid inlet and a common first fluid outlet. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , is orientated orthogonal to the ground. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , is orientated horizontal to the ground. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , is connected to a drain trap in a shower. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which the double walled conduit is serpentine. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus, according to  claim 27 , in which at least a portion of the serpentine double walled conduit is located in the drain. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus, according to  claim 27 , in which at least one serpentine double wall conduit is connected to an elongate housing having two sidewalls and passes through an upper set of openings located in the sidewalls. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus, according to  claim 29  in which a first plurality of conduit elbows extend away from the sidewalls along substantially the entire length of the elongate housing. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus, according to  claim 29 , in which a second serpentine double wall conduit is connected to the elongate housing and passes through a lower set of openings located in the sidewalls. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus, according to  claim 31 , in which a second plurality of conduit elbows extend away from the sidewalls along substantially the entire length of the elongate housing. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus, according to  claim 29 , in which a plurality of fins are mounted around the outer wall of the serpentine conduits, the fins being disposed parallel to each other and extend substantially the entire length of the elongate housing. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , includes a turbulator located in the drain or the helical conduit. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which the drain is a drain plate having a drain plate inlet and a drain plate outlet and a drain plate surface through which at least a portion of the double wall conduit extends, the drain plate surface being of sufficient area to define the second fluid passageway for the second fluid such that the second fluid flows as a fluid film along the second fluid passageway. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus, according to  claim 35 , in which a plurality of double walled conduits extend parallel along the drain plate. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus, according to  claim 35 , in which the drain plate is orientated horizontal relative to the ground. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus, according to  claim 35 , in which the drain is angled relative to the ground. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus, according to  claim 35 , includes a plurality of serpentine double walled conduits. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus, according to  claim 39 , in which the serpentine conduits are sufficiently spaced apart top allow the second fluid to flow thereover. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which the drain is a trench drain. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which the first fluid is cold water. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which the second fluid is grey water. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which a heating wire is located inside the double walled conduit. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus, according to  claim 1 , in which a heating wire is located around the double walled conduit. 
     
     
         46 . A heat exchange apparatus comprising:
 a) at least one single walled conduit defining a first fluid passageway for a first fluid at a first temperature; and; and   b) a drain plate having a drain plate inlet and a drain plate outlet and a drain plate surface against which at least a portion of the single wall conduit is located in intimate contact, the drain plate surface being of sufficient area to define a second fluid passageway for a second fluid such that the second fluid flows as a fluid film along the second fluid passageway so as to effect heat transfer to the first fluid flowing in the first fluid passageway across the single walled conduit.   
     
     
         47 . A heat exchange apparatus comprising:
 a) at least one single walled conduit defining a first fluid passageway for a first fluid at a first temperature; and; and   b) a drain plate having a drain plate inlet and a drain plate outlet and a drain plate surface against which at least a portion of the single wall conduit is located in intimate contact, the drain plate being located generally orthogonal to the ground, the drain plate surface being of sufficient area to define a second fluid passageway for a second fluid such that the second fluid flows as a fluid film along the second fluid passageway so as to effect heat transfer to the first fluid flowing in the first fluid passageway across the single walled conduit.   
     
     
         48 .- 109 . (canceled)