A thermal energy system including a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between a source and a load, the heat exchanger having a primary side associated with the source, and a secondary side for conducting a fluid associated with the load, wherein the secondary side of the heat exchanger
A thermal energy system including a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between a source and a load, the heat exchanger having a primary side associated with the source, and a secondary side for conducting a fluid associated with the load, wherein the secondary side of the heat exchanger is passively back-flushed upon consumption of a portion of the fluid. Passive back-flushing prevents fouling of the heat exchanger due to sediments, scale, and mineral deposits which may be present in the circulating fluid.
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1. A thermal energy system, comprising:a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between a source and a load, the heat exchanger having a primary side associated with said source, and a secondary side for conducting a fluid associated with said load; anda means for passively backflushing the
1. A thermal energy system, comprising:a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between a source and a load, the heat exchanger having a primary side associated with said source, and a secondary side for conducting a fluid associated with said load; anda means for passively backflushing the secondary side of the heat exchanger upon consumption of a portion of said fluid. 2. The thermal energy system of claim 1, further comprising a storage tank associated with said load. 3. The thermal energy system of claim 1, wherein the fluid is water. 4. The thermal energy system of claim 1, wherein the load is a hot water supply and the fluid is water. 5. The thermal energy system of claim 1, wherein the load is a chilled water supply and the fluid is water. 6. The thermal energy system of claim 4, wherein the secondary side of the heat exchanger is passively back-flushed with unheated water. 7. The thermal energy system of claim 5, wherein the secondary side of the heat exchanger is passively back-flushed with unchilled water. 8. The thermal energy system of claim 1, wherein the means for passively backflushing comprises a back-flushing valve, wherein the back-flushing valve passively controls back-flushing of the secondary side of the heat exchanger. 9. The thermal energy system of claim 8, wherein the back-flushing valve is activated by at least one of flow rate, temperature, and pressure of the fluid. 10. The thermal energy system of claim 8, wherein the back-flushing valve is activated by flow rate of the fluid. 11. The thermal energy system of claim 8, wherein the back-flushing valve provides a bypass flow when said valve is closed. 12. The thermal energy system of claim 11, wherein the bypass flow is about 1% to about 20% of a flow rate during consumption of the fluid. 13. The thermal energy system of claim 1, wherein the source is a heat source selected from solar heat, waste heat, geothermal heat, industrial process heat, a heat pump, a boiler, and a furnace. 14. The thermal energy system of claim 1, wherein the heat source is solar heat. 15. A thermal energy system comprising:a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between a source and a load, the heat exchanger having a primary side associated with said source, and a secondary side for receiving fluid to be heated or cooled and outputting said heated or cooled fluid, the fluid flowing through the secondary side of the heat exchanger in a first direction;an input for receiving mains fluid; anda back-flushing valve for controlling flow of the heated or cooled fluid and the mains fluid;wherein, upon consumption of a portion of the heated or cooled fluid, the back-flushing valve passively directs mains fluid through the secondary side of the heat exchanger in a second direction opposite to that travelled by the heated or cooled fluid. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the fluid is water. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the flow of fluid through the secondary side of the heat exchanger in a first direction is by convection. 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the back-flushing valve is activated by at least one of flow rate, temperature, and pressure of fluid. 19. The system of claim 15, wherein the back-flushing valve is activated by flow rate of fluid. 20. The system of claim 15, wherein the back-flushing valve is activated by temperature of fluid. 21. The system of claim 15, wherein the heat source is selected from solar heat, waste heat, geothermal heat, industrial process heat, a heat pump, a boiler, and a furnace. 22. The system of claim 15, wherein the heat source is solar heat. 23. The system of claim 15, wherein the back-flushing valve provides a bypass flow when said valve is closed. 24. The thermal energy system of claim 23, wherein the bypass flow is about 1% to about 20% of a flow rate during consumption of the fluid. 25. A module for a thermal energy system including a storage tank associated with a load, said module comprising:a heat exchanger for transferring heat from a heat source to a load, the heat exchanger having a primary side for receiving heat from a heat source and a secondary side for receiving water to be heated and outputting said heated water to the load, the heated water flowing through the secondary side of the heat exchanger in a first direction;an input for receiving mains water; anda back-flushing valve for controlling flow of the water to be heated and the mains water;wherein, upon consumption of a portion of the water to be heated, the back-flushing valve passively directs mains water through the secondary side of the heat exchanger in a second direction opposite to that travelled by the water to be heated. 26. The module of claim 25, wherein the back-flushing valve provides a bypass flow when said valve is closed. 27. The module of claim 26, wherein the bypass flow is about 1% to about 20% of a flow rate during consumption of the water. 28. A method for passively back flushing a heat exchanger in a thermal energy system, comprising:providing a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between a source and a load, the heat exchanger having a primary side associated with said source, and a secondary side for conducting a fluid associated with said load;providing a source of excess fluid;flowing the fluid through the secondary side of the heat exchanger in a first direction; andupon consumption of at least a portion of the fluid by the load, passively flowing said excess fluid through the secondary side of the heat exchanger in a second direction opposite to the first direction to back flush said heat exchanger. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the fluid is water. 30. The method of claim 28, wherein the thermal energy system is a hot water system. 31. The method of claim 28, wherein the thermal energy system is a chilled water system. 32. The method of claim 28, wherein the back-flushing step is activated by at least one of flow rate, temperature, and pressure of the fluid. 33. The method of claim 28, wherein the back-flushing step is activated by flow rate of the fluid. 34. The method of claim 30, wherein the source is a heat source selected from solar heat, waste heat, geothermal heat, industrial process heat, a heat pump, a boiler, and a furnace. 35. The method of claim 30, wherein the source is solar heat.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (1)
Withers ; Jr. ; James G., Heat exchange apparatus.
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