Hotshot Drain Water Heat Recovery System

Abstract

A significant portion of a typical household’s energy bill comes from hot water heating. Among the processes within a home that use hot water, the shower consumes the majority of this energy. The Hotshot aims to reduce the shower’s energy demand by capturing heat from the outgoing grey water and transferring it to the showers incoming cold water stream, thus reducing the demand on the water heater. This will reduce both the cost of using the shower and ultimately reduce a family’s carbon footprint. The system uses a gravity fed plate heat exchanger (PHE) that is typically installed in the basements. Drain water from the shower is run through the heat exchanger and then is diverted back to the home’s primary drain. The system is to be designed and tested with an emphasis on maintenance, cost efficiency, and installation. A product that meets these design requirements with documentation will be attractive to a large number of consumers, and in turn, will create a successful business.