Water heating apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a solar water heating apparatus comprising a central tank and one or more outer layers wherein at least part of the exterior of the outermost layer is adapted to be exposed to the sun. The outer layers also form water pathways such that, when the tank is substantially filled with water, said water is able to circulate around a path formed by said central tank and the outer layers. A pulsing pump may help circulate the water. An auxiliary heating element may be also provided, such as a small gas burner.

1 . A solar water heating apparatus comprising
 a central tank and one or more outer layers,   said outer layers also forming water pathways, wherein, when substantially filled with water, said water is able to circulate around a path formed by said central tank and at least one of said one or more outer layers, and   wherein at least part of the exterior of the outermost layer is adapted to be exposed to the sun, in use.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said apparatus is arranged such that water is able to circulate between the outermost layer and the central tank via any intermediary layers. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein pumping means may be provided to circulate the water. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said pumping means is a pulsing pump. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said pumping means is arranged to operate continuously or intermittently. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said apparatus comprises a controller means to control said pumping means depending on sensed water temperature at predetermined points in the apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said tank and/or the outer layers comprise a plastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said plastic material is polypropylene or a similar material. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said tank and/or the outer layers comprise a metallic material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said metal is copper or a similar material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one layers comprises one or more outer tanks around said central tank. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said outer tanks comprise water outlet(s)/inlet(s) at opposing points to adjacent tanks, to provide a tortuous path for said water to circulate. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one layers comprises a hollow jacket wrapped at least once around said inner tank. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the cross section of said jacket may be in the shape of a symmetrically flattened round tube. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises a cold water input and warm water output. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said warm water output is drawn from said central tank. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said output is drawn from a point at or above halfway from the bottom of the central tank. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said cold water input feeds into the outermost layer of the apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said cold water input feeds into the bottom of the central tank. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus comprises insulation around its outside, of which at least a portion of which is arranged to move so as to expose an uninsulated portion of the outside of said apparatus to allow for direct solar heating. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said insulation is arranged to move based on the time of day, readings from a temperature sensor, readings from a light sensor, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said insulation may simply be arranged to be moved manually. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a gas burner apparatus. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said gas burner apparatus is substantially immersed in said tank. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said gas burner apparatus is arranged, in normal use, to burn an amount of gas comparable to that of a domestic pilot light flame. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said gas burner has a further setting to burn gas at a greater rate for fast heating. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the flame of said gas burner apparatus is located at a point approximately half way from the bottom of the central tank. 
     
     
         28 . A water heating apparatus comprising a central tank and an auxiliary heating element, said auxiliary heating element being substantially immersed in said central tank, and wherein at least part of the exterior of said apparatus is adapted to be exposed to the sun so as to heat the contents by solar energy, in use. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said apparatus is made of a plastic material. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said plastic is polypropylene or a similar material. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said apparatus further comprises one or more outer layers, said outer layers also forming water pathways, wherein, when substantially filled with water, said water is able to circulate around a path formed by said central tank and at least one of said one or more outer layers. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said apparatus is arranged such that water is able to circulate between the outermost layer and the central tank via any intermediary layers. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one layers comprises one or more outer tanks around said central tank. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said outer tanks may comprise water outlet(s)/inlet(s) at opposing points to adjacent tanks, to provide a tortuous path for said water to circulate. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein said at least one layers comprises of a hollow jacket wrapped at least once around said inner tank. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the cross section of said jacket is in the shape of a symmetrically flattened round tube. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein pumping means may be provided to circulate the water. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 37  wherein said pumping means comprises of a pulsing pump. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein said pumping means is arranged to operate continuously or intermittently. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein said apparatus further comprises controller means to control said pumping means depending on sensed water temperature at predetermined points in the apparatus. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said apparatus comprises a cold water input and warm water output. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein said warm water output is drawn from said central tank. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said warm water output is drawn from a point at or above halfway from the bottom of the central tank. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein said cold water input feeds into the bottom of the central tank or alternatively into the outermost layer. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said apparatus comprises insulation around its outside, of which at least a portion of which is arranged to move so as to expose an uninsulated portion of the outside of said apparatus to allow for direct solar heating. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein said insulation is arranged to move based on the time of day, readings from a temperature sensor, readings from a light sensor, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 45 , wherein said insulation is simply be arranged to be moved manually. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said auxiliary heating element is a gas burner apparatus, and is arranged, in normal use, to burn an amount of gas comparable to that of a domestic pilot light flame. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein said gas burner has a further setting to burn gas at a greater rate for fast heating. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 48 , wherein the flame of said gas burner apparatus may be located at a point approximately half way from the bottom of the central tank. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said an auxiliary heating element is an electric immersion heater, having a power output comparable to a domestic incandescent light bulb. 
     
     
         52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . (canceled)