The mini is the same concept as out larger direct contact water heater except available in sizes up to 1 million BTU/HR. Ludell is the Patent Holder NO.4574775 of the direct contact water heating technology. The Direct Contact Water Heaters reduce the heating process to one step compared with a conventional boiler’s two. Unlike a typical 100-psi boiler system that provides 338 Deg. F. steam to a shell and tube heat exchanger to produce 180 Deg. F. water, these heaters produce 180 Deg. F. water instantly. And unlike a boiler, which introduces steam on the shell side of the heat exchanger as cold water passes through the tube side of the heat exchanger, these heaters introduce energy from a burner directly to cold water at 99% efficiency. These heaters are divided into three zones: an upper zone with a cold-water spray nozzle, a middle zone with stainless steel transfer packing media, and a lower combustion zone where heat from burner nozzle contacts water droplets. The units take up less floor space than a boiler with similar output, and they don’t require water that has been treated.