Water heater system, especially for motor homes

Abstract

A water heater system, especially for motor homes, includes a heater ( 12 ) with a heat exchanger arrangement ( 16 ) for transferring heat from the heater to a first heat carrier medium, a water reservoir ( 32 ) for water to be heated and a heat transfer arrangement ( 30 ) for transferring heat in the first heat carrier medium to water in the water reservoir. The heat transfer arrangement includes a heat exchanger tube ( 34 ) with a heat coupling area ( 36 ) for thermal interaction with the first heat carrier medium and a heat decoupling area ( 38 ) for thermal interaction with the water. The heat exchanger tube has a first flow space area ( 54 ) for essentially gaseous second heat carrier medium flowing from the heat coupling area to the heat decoupling area and a second flow space area for essentially liquid second heat carrier medium flowing from the heat decoupling area to the heat coupling area.

1 . A water heater system comprising:
 a heater comprising a heat exchanger arrangement for transferring heat made available in said heater to a first heat carrier medium;   a water reservoir for receiving water to be heated; and   a heat transfer arrangement for transferring heat being transported in the first heat carrier medium to water in said water reservoir, said heat transfer arrangement comprising a heat exchanger tube with a heat coupling area that is or can be brought into thermal interaction with the first heat carrier medium and with a heat decoupling area that is in thermal interaction with water in said water reservoir, wherein a second heat carrier medium is contained in said heat exchanger tube and said heat exchanger tube has a first flow space area for essentially gaseous second heat carrier medium flowing from said heat coupling area to said heat decoupling area and a second flow space area for essentially liquid second heat carrier medium flowing from said heat decoupling area to said heat coupling area.   
     
     
         2 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heat carrier medium duct from said heat exchanger arrangement to said heat transfer arrangement; and   a flow delivery arrangement for delivering said first heat carrier medium from said heat exchanger arrangement through said heat carrier medium duct to said heat transfer arrangement.   
     
     
         3 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said flow delivery arrangement comprises a heating air blower. 
     
     
         4 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger tube extends at least in said heat coupling area essentially at right angles to a direction of flow of the first heat carrier medium in the area of said heat transfer arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said heat coupling area of said heat exchanger tube extends essentially in parallel to a direction of flow of the first heat carrier medium in an area of said heat transfer arrangement. 
     
     
         6 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger tube extends essentially straight over an entire length thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger tube is bent at least in a transition area. 
     
     
         8 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 said heat transfer arrangement further comprises additional heat exchanger tubes to provide plurality of heat exchanger tubes; and   said plurality of heat exchanger tubes extend in parallel to one another at least in some areas.   
     
     
         9 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein at least some of said heat exchanger tubes are offset, in relation to one another with respect to said heat coupling area thereof in a direction of flow of the first heat carrier medium in an area of said heat transfer arrangement and/or at right angles thereto. 
     
     
         10 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the second heat carrier medium has a condensation temperature in the range of 60° C. in at least one heat exchanger tube. 
     
     
         11 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said heater comprises a burner for receiving fuel and combustion air and for burning a fuel/combustion air mixture. 
     
     
         12 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said second flow space area is provided with material having a capillary structure at least in some areas. 
     
     
         13 . A water heater system comprising:
 a heater comprising a heat exchanger arrangement for transferring heat made available in said heater to a first heat carrier medium;   a water reservoir for receiving water to be heated;   a heat carrier medium duct;   a heat transfer arrangement, said heat carrier medium duct extending from said heat exchanger arrangement to said heat transfer arrangement for transferring heat, via said first heat carrier medium, from said heat exchanger arrangement to said heat transfer arrangement, said heat transfer arrangement comprising a heat exchanger tube enclosing a space with a heat coupling area for thermal interaction with the first heat carrier medium and with a heat decoupling area for thermal interaction with water in said water reservoir and a flow circulation arrangement for circulating a second heat carrier medium contained in said space and enclosed by said heat exchanger tube, said heat exchanger tube having a first flow space area for essentially gaseous second heat carrier medium flowing from said heat coupling area to said heat decoupling area and having a second flow space area for essentially liquid second heat carrier medium flowing from said heat decoupling area to said heat coupling area; and   a flow delivery arrangement for delivering said first heat carrier medium from said heat exchanger arrangement through said heat carrier medium duct to said heat transfer arrangement.   
     
     
         14 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein:
 said heater comprises a burner for receiving fuel and combustion air and for burning a fuel/combustion air mixture; and   said flow delivery arrangement comprises a heating air blower.   
     
     
         15 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said heat exchanger tube is bent at least in a transition area; and one of:
 at least a portion of said heat coupling area of said heat exchanger tube extends essentially at right angles to a direction of flow of the first heat carrier medium in the area of said heat transfer arrangement; and   at least a portion of said heat coupling area of said heat exchanger tube extends essentially in parallel to a direction of flow of the first heat carrier medium in an area of said heat transfer arrangement.   
     
     
         16 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said heat exchanger tube extends essentially straight over an entire length thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein:
 said heat transfer arrangement further comprises an additional heat exchanger tube to provide plurality of heat exchanger tubes; and   said plurality of heat exchanger tubes extend in parallel to one another at least in some areas.   
     
     
         18 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein at least some of said heat exchanger tubes are offset, in relation to one another with respect to said heat coupling area thereof in a direction of flow of the first heat carrier medium in an area of said heat transfer arrangement and/or at right angles thereto. 
     
     
         19 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the second heat carrier medium, contained in said in heat exchanger tube, has a condensation temperature in the range of 60° C. 
     
     
         20 . A water heater system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said flow circulation arrangement comprises a material having a capillary structure at least in some areas, said material being provided in said second flow space area.