Development of a high-efficiency gas-fired water heater

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6297500

Vasilakis, A D; Gerstmann, J; Pearson, J F; Walukas, D J

This paper describes the design and development of a novel high-efficiency gas-fired residential water heater. Unlike conventional water heaters which use a center-flue water storage tank, this design decouples the water heating and storage functions through the use of an external heat exchanger, thus reducing standby losses. The compact high-effectiveness heat exchanger achieves a recovery efficiency of 82%, using a naturally-aspirated, 100% premixed burner. Besides its low cost, this burner has the additional advantage of producing very low emissions of NO/sub x/. The use of an internally insulated polyethylene lined 40-gallon storage tank is expected to provide significantly longer service life than conventionally-lined steel tanks, thereby enhancing consumer acceptance. The paper includes a description of the design of the water heater and the results of prototype efficiency and emission tests. Also included are data on heat exchanger and storage tank temperature distributions, standby losses, and hot water delivery capability.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA); TTI Corp., Needham Heights, MA (USA); Advanced Mechanical Technology, Inc., Newton, MA (USA); Foster-Miller Associates, Inc., Oak Ridge, TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6297500
• Report Number(s): CONF-810909-6; ON: DE81032028
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
APPLIANCES
BUILDINGS
BURNERS
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS APPLIANCES
GAS FUELS
GASES
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT LOSSES
HEATERS
HOT WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LOSSES
NATURAL GAS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SERVICE LIFE
WATER
WATER HEATERS