9
How the Flo-Direct
®
Complete Thermal Exchange Gas-Fired Water Heater delivers unrivaled Performance
and Effi ciency.
Incoming water is introduced into the top of the water heater through a series of calibrated dispersion nozzles.
Cold water travels down through a bed of multifaceted stainless steel packing rings (Pall Rings) which break the
water into smaller and smaller droplets.
A burner is mounted on top of the unit, fi ring downward through a centrally located fl ame tube. The fl ame tube is
cooled by incoming cold water, and all of the fuel gasses are consumed within this fl ame tube. The design allows
all combustion to take place within a dry and cool environment, and produces very low levels of nitrous oxide (NO)
and carbon monoxide (CO).
Heat from the fl ame enters the lower chamber from the bottom of the fl ame tube, and travels slowly upward
through the packing rings. Effi cient heat transfer occurs as the descending water comes in contact with the rising
hot gasses as both pass through the bed of packing rings in opposite directions.
This “rain” of hot water then falls into the lower chamber and is pumped out to a storage tank. Water temperatures
up to 185°F are available within a minimum of 30 seconds after the unit starts. Outlet water temperature is set
with a valve controlling the incoming water fl ow.
More incoming water results in cooler outlet water temperatures, and less incoming water produces hotter outlet
water temperatures. The products of combustion are vented out of the top of the unit, and this exhaust is typically
within a few degrees of incoming water temperature.
The Result
The Armstrong Flo-Direct
®
CTE gas fi red water heater produces potable hot water instantaneously. There is no
fuel consumed for warm-up or idle time. No energy is lost through steam conversion or within a heat exchanger.
Virtually all of the fuel energy is transferred to the water.
Features
• CTE Compliant
• NSF certifi ed for food-grade water
• No internal moving parts
• Low-temperature exhaust
• Water temperature differential from 10°F to 140°F
• 99.7% or greater effi ciency
• Water treatment not required
• Stainless steel construction
• Takes up minimal fl oor space
• Ten year warranty on structure/two years on all
other components
CTE Technology
Developed from direct contact water heating science that was fi rst introduced more than two decades ago, Com-
plete Thermal Exchange (CTE) has revolutionized high effi ciency water heating methods. Today CTE enjoys a
proven record and has rapidly become the new standard in energy savings.
While traditional direct contact water heating offers energy savings from 40% to nearly 60% over conventional
boiler systems, Armstrong Flo-Direct
®
CTE gas fi red water heaters, using CTE technology feature a 99.7% ef-
fi ciency rating throughout each phase of its operation cycle. The sustained effi ciency of Flo-Direct
®
CTE gas fi red
water heaters are clearly the most energy effi cient method of hot water production on the market today.
Flo-Direct
®
Complete Thermal Exchange Gas Fired Water Heater
