A POOL-WATER HEATER MANIFOLD, A POOL-WATER HEATER AND A METHOD OF OPERATING APOOL-WATER HEATING SYSTEM

摘要

A pool-water heater manifold in fluid communication with other components of a pool-water circulation system, the manifold comprising an inlet for receiving pool water from another component of the pool-water circulation system; an outlet for transferring pool water to another component of the pool-water circulation system; a low-restriction chamber configured to allow water to flow from the inlet to the outlet; a plurality of openings for directing water to a heating device; a barrier positioned at least partially within the chamber; and means for repositioning the barrier from a first position, in which the barrier obstructs passage through the chamber of substantially all of the water received by the inlet, to a second position, in which the barrier allows passage through the chamber of substantially all of the water received by the inlet.. The pool- water heater manifold includes a low-restriction chamber having low impedance to water flow therethrough and repositionable gates or other valves within the chambers. The valves may direct water as a function of whether an associated heating device is active. At least some gates may incorporate poppet valves or other high-flow bypasses. Disclosed is furthrmore, a method of operating a pool-water heating system by causing pool water to enter a manifold of a heating device; and positioning a barrier within the manifold so as to allow pool water to flow from an inlet of the manifold to an outlet of the manifold without significant restriction if the heating device is inactive or from the inlet of the manifold to the heating device when the heating device is active.