Research, development, and demonstration of a high-efficiency gas fired water heater. Final report 1979-80
Analyses of 'losses' and evaluation of methods and existing concepts that can increase 'seasonal use-efficiency' of gas-fired water heaters were carried out in this study. A staged program approach for the development of a 'near-term' high-efficiency, residential, storage water heater, and of a 'long-term', condensing-flue, higher efficiency water heater, was also selected, based on results of analyses and evaluations. A new-design, 55-gallon, storage water-heater prototype, incorporating a conical-flue (to increase heat transfer area), a companion turbulator (to increase heat transfer rate), a new urethane foam insulating jacket (to decrease standby losses), and a stamped low NOx atmospheric burner, was designed, constructed and tested in the labratory. Recovery efficiency over 78.4 percent, standby loss rate of 2.8 percent per hour, and energy factor of 0.55 were obtained with the prototype, when tested in accordance with DOE reference procedure for storage water heaters, at a burner input of 50,000 Btu per hour, demonstrating a 25 percent reduction in gas-energy consumption compared to pre-1979 commercially available equipment. A preliminary conceptual design study of a new hybrid water heater was also undertaken, because of its potential for even higher efficiencies.
- Research Organization:
- Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- GRI-5011-345-0093
- OSTI ID:
- 6379624
- Report Number(s):
- PB-81-113656
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Development of a high-efficiency gas-fired water heater
Dampers for Natural Draft Heaters: Technical Report