Liquid heating system

Abstract

A liquid heating system and heat exchangers therefore are disclosed. Each heat exchanger comprises a right heating chamber having a right input port and a right output port, and a left heating chamber having a left input port and a left output port. A heating circuit is configured such that circulating heated supply fluid through the heating circuit heats target liquid present in the heating chambers. The system includes a plurality of heat exchangers including a first, a final, and a plurality of middle heat exchangers. The right and left heating chambers are connected such that target liquid flows into the right input port of the right chamber of the first heat exchanger and through each right chamber to the left chamber of the final heat exchanger, and then through each left chamber and through the left output port of the first heat exchanger to a hot liquid discharge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid heating system comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchangers including a first heat exchanger, a final heat exchanger, and a plurality of middle heat exchangers, each heat exchanger comprising:
 a right heating chamber having a right input port and a right output port; 
 a left heating chamber having a left input port and a left output port; 
 a heating circuit connected to a source of heated supply fluid, and configured such that circulating heated supply fluid through the heating circuit heats target liquid present in the right and left heating chambers; 
   wherein the right and left heating chambers are connected such that target liquid to be heated flows into the right input port of the right heating chamber of the first heat exchanger and through each right heating chamber to the left heating chamber of the final heat exchanger, and then through each left heating chamber and through the left output port of the first heat exchanger to a hot liquid discharge.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the right input port of the first heat exchanger is connected to a source of target liquid to be heated, and right output ports and right input ports are connected together such that target liquid to be heated flows from the right input port of the first heat exchanger through each right heating chamber of the first and middle heat exchangers to the right heating chamber of the final heat exchanger;
 wherein the right output port of the final heat exchanger is connected to the left input port of the final heat exchanger and left output ports and left input ports are connected together such that target liquid to be heated flows from the right output port of the final heat exchanger through each left heating chamber of the final and middle heat exchangers to the left heating chamber of the first heat exchanger. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the right and left input ports are located in lower portions of the corresponding right and left heating chambers, and the right and left output ports are located in upper portions of the corresponding right and left heating chambers. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each heat exchanger is mounted on a heating module, and wherein the heating module comprises a fluid heating apparatus operative to provide the source of heated supply fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one heat exchanger comprises an outer wall and end walls forming an enclosure and an inner dividing wall extending across the enclosure to form the right and left heating chambers, and wherein the heating circuit is configured such that heated supply fluid circulates through the outer wall and the inner dividing wall. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one heat exchanger defines cleaning apertures in the right and left heating chambers, and removable covers on the cleaning apertures. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the cleaning apertures are defined in at least one of an end wall and the outer wall. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  comprising an upper cleaning aperture and a lower drain aperture in each of the right and left heating chambers. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a volume of the right heating chamber is substantially equal to a volume of the left heating chamber. 
     
     
         10 . A liquid heating system comprising:
 a plurality of heat exchangers including a first heat exchanger, a final heat exchanger, and a plurality of middle heat exchangers, each heat exchanger comprising:
 a right heating chamber having a right input port and a right output port; 
 a left heating chamber having a left input port and a left output port; 
 a heating circuit connected to a source of heated supply fluid, and configured such that circulating heated supply fluid through the heating circuit heats liquid present in the right and left heating chambers; 
   wherein the right input port of the first heat exchanger is connected to a source of target liquid to be heated, and the right output port of each of the first and middle heat exchangers is connected to the right input port of a next successive heat exchanger;   wherein the right input port of the final heat exchanger is connected to the right output port of a prior middle heat exchanger, and the right output port of the final heat exchanger is connected to the left input port of the final heat exchanger;   wherein the left output port of each of the final and middle heat exchangers is connected to the left input port of a, next successive heat exchanger;   wherein the left input port of the first heat exchanger is connected to the left output port of a prior middle heat exchanger, and the left output port of the first heat exchanger is connected to a hot liquid discharge.   
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger comprising:
 an outer wall and end walls forming an enclosure;   an inner dividing wall extending across the enclosure to form right and left heating chambers, the right heating chamber having a right input port and a right output port, and the left heating chamber having a left input port and a left output port;   a heating circuit adapted to be connected to a source of heated supply fluid and configured such that during operation heated supply fluid circulates through the outer wall and the inner dividing wall, and configured such that circulating heated supply fluid through the heating circuit heats liquid present in the right and left heating chambers.   
     
     
         12 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11  comprising cleaning apertures defined in the right and left heating chambers, and removable covers on the cleaning apertures. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12  wherein the cleaning apertures are defined in at least one of an end wall and the outer wall. 
     
     
         14 . The heat exchanger of  claim 12  comprising an upper cleaning aperture and a lower drain aperture in each of the right and left heating chambers. 
     
     
         15 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11  wherein the right and left input ports are located in lower portions of the corresponding right and left heating chambers, and the right and left output ports are located in upper portions of the corresponding right and left heating chambers. 
     
     
         16 . The heat exchanger of  claim 11  wherein a volume of the right heating chamber is substantially equal to a volume of the left heating chamber. 
     
     
         17 . A liquid heating system comprising a plurality of heat exchangers of  claim 11 , the system including a first heat exchanger, a final heat exchanger, and a plurality of middle heat exchangers, and wherein the right and left heating chambers are connected such that target liquid to be heated flows into the right input port of the right heating chamber of the first heat exchanger and through each right heating chamber to the left heating chamber of the final heat exchanger, and then through each left heating chamber to the left output port of the first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein each heat exchanger is mounted on a heating module, and wherein the heating module comprises a fluid heating apparatus operative to provide the source of heated supply fluid. 
     
     
         19 . A heat exchanger apparatus comprising:
 a heating chamber with an input port and an output port;   a water jacket substantially enclosing the heating chamber, the water jacket having a supply end extending along substantially a length of the heating chamber, and a return end extending along substantially the length of the heating chamber;   a supply manifold extending along substantially a length of the supply end of the water jacket, the supply manifold defining a supply port adapted for connection to receive supply fluid from a circulating fluid heater, and a plurality of supply apertures along a length thereof connecting an interior of the supply manifold to an interior of the water jacket;   a return manifold extending along substantially a length of the return end of the water jacket, the return manifold defining a return port adapted for connection to return supply fluid to the circulating fluid heater and a plurality of return apertures along a length thereof connecting an interior of the return manifold to the interior of the water jacket;   wherein a size of the supply apertures is selected such that a flow of supply fluid entering the supply port is restricted and such that resulting pressure in the supply manifold causes the supply fluid to flow along the length of the supply manifold and out through each supply aperture in the supply manifold, then through the interior of the water jacket around the heating chamber through a return aperture into the return manifold and through the return port.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein a total area of the supply apertures is less than a total area of the return apertures. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the number of supply apertures is the same as the number of return apertures, each supply aperture has substantially the same area, each return aperture has substantially the same area, and wherein the area of the return apertures is greater than the area of the supply apertures. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the supply end and the return end of the water jacket extend substantially a length of the heating chamber. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the supply port and return port are located substantially at a mid-point of a length of the corresponding supply and return manifolds. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the heating chamber is divided into a right heating chamber having a right input port and a right output port, and a left heating chamber having a left input port and a left output port, and wherein the water jacket is configured to heat a target liquid in both the right and left heating chambers.