Waste heat recovery apparatus and method for boiler system

1. An apparatus for recovery of waste heat in a boiler system comprising:

a closed vessel for heating liquid under pressure to create steam;

said closed vessel connected to a steam utilizing device;

said steam utilizing device connected to a steam trap;

said steam trap capable of separating steam after use by said steam utilizing device from condensate;

said steam trap connected to a feed water tank capable of receiving said condensate from said steam trap;

said feed water tank connected to a feed water pump for pumping said condensate as feed water back into said closed vessel;

said feed water tank having a heat exchanger therein;

said heat exchanger having inlet and outlet connections to a water supply vessel, wherein said heat exchanger is capable of cycling water from and to said water supply vessel, such that said water cycled through the heat exchanger is not returned to said closed vessel;

whereby heat loss when said feed water waits in said feed water tank to be pumped back into said closed vessel can be recovered to be applied for heating water cycled through said heat exchange from and to said water supply vessel.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said closed vessel further having a pressure gage and exhaust pipe.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said closed vessel is connected to said steam utilizing device via a steam supply pipe.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said steam trap is connected to said feed water tank via a condensate steam pipe.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said feed water pump is connected to a check valve for regulating return of said feed water to said closed vessel.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said inlet connection of said heat exchanger is connected to an end of said water supply vessel.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said outlet connection of said heat exchanger is connected to an end of said water supply vessel.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said outlet connection of said heat exchanger is connected to an end of said water supply vessel via a hot water circulation pipe.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said inlet connection of said heat exchanger to said water supply vessel is bisected by connection to a make-up water source.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a circulation pump is connected in relation to said inlet connection of said heat exchanger bisected by connection to a make-up water source.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said water supply vessel has thermostat located thereon for regulating said circulation pump.

12. A method for recovery of waste heat in a boiler system comprising:

heating liquid under pressure in a closed vessel to create steam;

applying said steam to a steam utilizing device;

collecting steam after use by said steam utilizing device in a steam trap;

separating said steam from condensate in said steam trap;

collecting said condensate from said steam trap as feed water into feed water tank;

pumping said feed water back into said closed vessel;

cycling water from a water supply vessel into heat exchanger located in said feed water tank, so as to permit heat transfer between said feed water in said feed water tank with said water from said water supply vessel in flow through said heat exchanger;

cycling water from heat exchanger back into said water supply vessel;

wherein heat loss recovered when said feed water waits in said feed water tank to be pumped back into said closed vessel can be applied to heating water cycled through said heat exchange to said water supply vessel.

13. In a method for recovering waste heat in a boiler system, of the type wherein liquid is heated under pressure in a closed vessel to create steam, said steam applied to a steam utilizing device, said steam after use by said steam utilizing device collected in a steam trap, said steam converted into condensate in said steam trap, said condensate collected from said steam trap as feed water into a feed water tank, said feed water pumped back into said closed vessel, the improvement comprising:

providing a heat exchanger in said water feed tank so that water cycled through said heat exchanger can be warmed by heat from water in said feed water tank.