Abstract:
A boiler is provided that has an elongate base header, an elongate dome header, and a plurality of separate watertubes each having an intermediate section and opposite end sections. An upper one of the end sections of each watertube is connected to the dome header and a lower one of the end sections of each watertube is connected to the base header such that the intermediate section extends through a combustion chamber of the boiler. The intermediate section of each watertube has a substantially constant outer diameter along its full length and is closely spaced to adjacent watertubes within the combustion chamber. At least one of the end sections of each watertube has a transition that reduces the diameter of the watertube as it extends from the intermediate section to an outwardly-extending circumferential flange. This arrangement permits close spacing of the connection sites of the watertubes to the header and permits the connection sites to be provided in a linear array. The structure of a watertube, an assembly of a watertube and header, and a method of assembling a boiler are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A high-efficiency hot-water boiler for a heating system of a building is provided. The boiler includes a boiler enclosure that contains a furnace area compartment within an insulated sealed casing, a first watertube compartment within a sealed casing, a second watertube compartment within a sealed casing, and an air-to-air preheat exchanger within a sealed casing. A plurality of separate, closely-spaced watertubes extends within each of the compartments and provides paths for working fluid to flow through the compartments for purposes of transferring heat to the working fluid. A burner is located within the furnace area compartment for combusting an air/gas mixture. The casings include openings for directing the passage of the products of combustion to make a first pass through the furnace area compartment, a second pass through the first watertube compartment and a third pass through the second watertube compartment and then through the air-to-air preheat exchanger to preheat fresh combustion air before being exhausted from the enclosure via the flue. An air/gas mixer and a burner ignition system are also disclosed.