摘要 |
The present invention is directed to a water heater which includes a phase change material having a freezing/melting temperature from about 30° C. to about 90° C. The water heater include a source of water, a heating element for heating the water, a heat exchange unit which contains the material, and a plurality of heat exchange tubes positioned in the heat exchange unit, which tubes are in heat transfer relation to the phase change material so that heat stored in the material can be transferred to the water. The phase change material is preferably heated from the top down to accommodate the changes in volume during thermocycling.
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