Shower Steam Condenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024393061-A1
Application number	US-202418668845-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 20, 2024
Priority date	May 23, 2023
Publication date	Nov 28, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A heat exchanger for a shower environment includes a panel having an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of flow channels. The panel is disposed within the shower environment. The plurality of flow channels fluidly couples the inlet with the outlet. The panel is configured to condense steam to heat a fluid flowing through the plurality of flow channels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A heat exchanger for a shower environment, comprising:
a panel disposed within the shower environment, and including:
an inlet;
an outlet; and
a plurality of flow channels fluidly coupling the inlet with the outlet;
wherein the panel is configured to condense steam to heat a fluid flowing through the plurality of flow channels.

2 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the shower environment includes a sidewall and a floor defining an interior volume of the shower environment, and wherein the panel is disposed along the sidewall within the interior volume.

3 . The heat exchanger of claim 2 , wherein the panel is configured for vertical placement along the sidewall and proximate the floor of the shower environment.

4 . The heat exchanger of claim 3 , wherein the shower environment includes a fixture configured to direct the fluid to the interior volume, and wherein the outlet is fluidly coupled with the fixture.

5 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flow channels extends between opposing edges of the panel along a height of the panel.

6 . The heat exchanger of claim 5 , wherein the outlet is positioned vertically above the inlet.

7 . The heat exchanger of claim 6 , wherein each flow channel of the plurality of flow channels defines a width of about 0.5 inches and a depth of about 0.375 inches.

8 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the steam contacts an outer surface of the plurality of flow channels, and wherein the panel is configured to transfer thermal energy from the steam contacting the outer surface of the plurality of flow channels to the fluid flowing through the plurality of flow channels, thereby heating the fluid.

9 . The heat exchanger of claim 8 , wherein the inlet is configured to receive a supply of fluid at a first temperature, and wherein the outlet is configured to supply the fluid at a second temperature greater than the first temperature.

10 . The heat exchanger of claim 9 , wherein the first temperature is about 55 degrees fahrenheit, and wherein the second temperature is about 80 degrees fahrenheit.

11 . The heat exchanger of claim 1 , further comprising a back plate configured to selectively couple with the panel.

12 . The heat exchanger of claim 11 , wherein the back plate is configured to enclose the plurality of flow channels.

13 . A method of heating a fluid for a shower environment, the method comprising:
providing a panel disposed within the shower environment, the panel including:
an inlet;
an outlet; and
a plurality of flow channels fluidly coupling the inlet with the outlet;
condensing, by the panel, steam within an interior volume of the shower environment; receiving, by the inlet, a supply of the fluid from a fluid source; heating, by the panel, the fluid flowing through the plurality of flow channels; and supplying, by the outlet, the fluid heated by the condensed steam to a fixture of the shower environment, the fixture configured to direct the fluid to the interior volume.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein heating the fluid flowing through the plurality of flow channels includes the condensed steam contacting on outer surface of the plurality of flow channels.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of flow channels extends between opposing edges of the panel along a height of the panel.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid received by the inlet is received at a first temperature, and wherein the fluid supplied by the outlet is supplied at a second temperature greater than the first temperature.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising providing a back plate configured to selectively couple with the panel to enclose the plurality of flow channels.

18 . A shower environment comprising:
a sidewall; a floor; an interior volume defined by the sidewall and the floor; a fixture configured to direct a fluid to the interior volume; and a heat exchanger including a panel disposed along the sidewall within the interior volume, the panel including:
an inlet configured to receive a supply of the fluid at a first temperature;
an outlet fluidly coupled with the fixture and configured to supply the fluid at a second temperature; and
a plurality of flow channels fluidly coupling the inlet with the outlet;
wherein the panel is configured to condense steam to heat the fluid flowing through the plurality of flow channels such that the second temperature is greater than the first temperature.

19 . The heat exchanger of claim 18 , wherein the steam contacts an outer surface of the plurality of flow channels, and wherein the panel is configured to transfer thermal energy from the steam contacting the outer surface of the plurality of flow channels to the fluid flowing through the plurality of flow channels, thereby heating the fluid.

20 . The heat exchanger of claim 19 , wherein the heat exchanger includes a back plate configured to selectively couple with the panel to enclose the plurality of flow channels.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Kalk William
• Kuru William

Classifications

• E03C1/044

  having a heating or cooling apparatus in the supply line (water heaters, e.g. with continuous flow, F24H) · CPC title

• E03C1/0408

  Water installations especially for showers (E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18) · CPC title

• E04H1/1266

  Cubicles for dressing; Toilets · CPC title

• F28B1/02 Primary

  using water or other liquid as the cooling medium · CPC title

• F28D2021/0035

  for domestic or space heating, e.g. heating radiators · CPC title