Hot water heater with separator structure

摘要

A hot water heater comprises a tank (10) having top and bottom walls (104, 10b) and a peripheral wall (108) having an axis, the tank being adapted to contain water at a predetermined pressure above atmospheric pressure. A separator structure (30) is received in the tank (10) between the axis and the peripheral wall (10p) and is configured to separate the tank (10) into an inner chamber (32) surrounding the axis, an outer chamber (34) adjacent the perimeter wall, an intermediate chamber (36) between the inner and outer chambers, and a top chamber (38) adjacent the top wall and above the intermediate chamber. The chambers are in communication for flow of water along a supply path from the outer chamber (34), through the top chamber (38), through the inner chamber (32) and into the intermediate chamber (36) which has an upper closed portion for trapping a volume of gas above a level of water in the tank. A heat source (18) is provided for heating the water in the inner chamber (32).