Pool water heater

Abstract

An electric heater for heating pool water includes an enclosure, a pool water inlet and outlet, a heat exchanger disposed within the enclosure and comprising a plurality of metal pipes coupled to the pool water inlet and outlet, an electric heating element disposed within the enclosure and spaced apart from the plurality of metal pipes, and a conduit coupled between the plurality of metal pipes and the pool water outlet.

1 . An electric heater for heating pool water comprising:
 an enclosure;   a pool water inlet and outlet;   a heat exchanger disposed within the enclosure and comprising a plurality of metal pipes coupled to the pool water inlet and outlet;   an electric heating element disposed within the enclosure and spaced apart from the plurality of metal pipes; and   a conduit coupled between the plurality of metal pipes and the pool water outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The electric heater of  claim 1  wherein the heat exchanger comprises 20 to 25 metal pipes. 
     
     
         3 . The electric heater of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of metal pipes comprises copper. 
     
     
         4 . The electric heater of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a thermal sensor to measure the internal temperature of the enclosure. 
 
     
     
         5 . The electric heater of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure comprises a first insulated portion coupled to a second is insulated portion. 
     
     
         6 . The electric heater of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first header and a second header, 
 wherein the first header is in fluid flow communication with the pool water inlet and a first end of each of the plurality of metal pipes, and 
 wherein the second header is in fluid flow communication with a second end of each of the plurality of metal pipes and the conduit. 
 
     
     
         7 . The electric heater of  claim 6  wherein a temperature-dependent flow thermostat is coupled between the second header and the conduit and is in fluid flow communication with the second end of each of the plurality of metal pipes and the conduit. 
     
     
         8 . The electric heater of  claim 7  wherein the temperature-dependent flow thermostat is set to permit flow of heated pool water to the pool when the pool water heated by the exchanger reaches a temperature of about 125° F. 
     
     
         9 . The electric heater of  claim 1  wherein the pool water inlet and the pool water outlet are in fluid flow communication with a bypass valve. 
     
     
         10 . The electric heater of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of metal pipes is the same length and is evenly spaced from each other. 
     
     
         11 . The electric heater of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of metal pipes has a diameter of about 0.5 to about 1 inch. 
     
     
         12 . The electric heater of  claim 1  further comprising a condensation pan disposed within the enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . A method for heating pool water comprising:
 receiving pool water through an inlet of an electric pool water heater;   flowing a portion of the pool water through a plurality of metal pipes spaced apart from an electric heating element;   intermixing the portion of the pool water that has flowed through the plurality of metal pipes with a portion of the pool water flowing through a bypass valve; and   flowing the intermixed portions of pool water through an outlet of the electric pool water heater to the pool.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the portion of the pool water that flows through the plurality of metal pipes is heated to a set temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the pool water that flows through the plurality of metal pipes is heated to 125° F. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein a temperature dependent flow thermostat is opened to allow the portion of the water that is flowed through the plurality of metal pipes to intermix with the portion of water that flows through the bypass valve when the water in the plurality of metal pipes is at the set temperature. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein flowing a portion of the pool water through a plurality of metal pipes comprises:
 receiving, by a first header, a portion of the pool water from the inlet; and 
 distributing, by the first header, the portion of the pool water to a first end of each of the plurality of metal pipes. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the portion of pool water from the inlet that is received by the first header is below a set temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of metal pipes comprises 20 to 25 pipes and the pipes comprise a diameter of about 0.5 to about 1 inch.