Patent ID: 7020387

Claim:
A tankless water heater comprising: a cold water inlet for receipt of water to be selectively heated by said water heater; a hot water outlet in fluid communication with said cold water inlet for discharge of hot water heated by said water heater; a water passageway connecting said cold water inlet to said hot water outlet; a fuel cell; a fuel inlet for receipt of a fuel; an oxidant inlet for receipt of an oxidant gas; an exhaust outlet for exhaust of effluent gases a heating mechanism located in temperature conductive communication with said water passageway, said heating mechanism being electrically connected to said fuel cell such that said fuel cell is capable of providing electrical current to said heating mechanism for selectively heating water flowed into said cold water inlet for discharge by said hot water outlet; wherein said oxidant inlet and said exhaust outlet are so configured and located, one with respect to the other, such that, during water heater operation, effluent gases which exit said water heater are capable of heating oxidant gases entering said water heater.