System for heating liquids

• US 20070176010A1
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Speldrich, Jamie, Figi, Bruce
• Application Number:
  US11/327,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20070176010A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 237/2.A
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/684 Structural arrangements; Mounting of elements, e.g. in relation to fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/6842 with means for influencing the fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/69 of resistive type
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/022 Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/34 flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs

Abstract

A system and method for heating a fluid include a base and a cover, and a flexible heating element maintained between the base and the cover. A wall plate can be provided to which the flexible heating element is connected to create a sealed fluidic flow path encased between the base and the cover, which provides a geometry that creates at least one air pocket for thermal isolation. A fluid can then flow through the fluidic flow path in order to be heated by the flexible heating element, thereby permitting the fluid to be heated to a desired temperature within a particular timeframe. The flexible heater can be formed from, for example, copper. The fluid is mixed in the fluidic flow path to ensure a uniform temperature of the liquid at an exit of the fluidic flow path.

Claims

1. A system for heating a fluid, comprising:

a base and a cover;

a flexible heating element maintained between said base and said cover; and

a wall plate to which said flexible heating element is connected to create a sealed fluidic flow path encased between said base and said cover to provide a geometry that creates at least one air pocket for thermal isolation, wherein a fluid flows through said fluidic flow path in order to be heated by said flexible heating element, thereby permitting said fluid to be heated to a desired temperature within a particular timeframe.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said flexible heater comprises copper.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said fluid is mixed in said fluidic flow path to ensure a uniform temperature of said liquid at an exit of said fluidic flow path.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said geometry that creates said at least one air pocket for thermal isolation comprises a wall geometry associated with said wall plate in conjunction with an air barrier to ensure an efficient use of heat generated by said flexible heating element.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said base and said cover comprise a polyimide film.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said polyimide film remains stable in a range of temperatures from approximately −

269°

C. to 400°

C.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said wall plate comprises plastic.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said flexible heating element comprises an operating wattage of approximately 70 Watts.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said flexible heating element comprises a resistance element.

10. A system for heating a fluid, comprising:

a base and a cover, wherein said base and said cover comprise a polyimide film;

a flexible heating element maintained between said base and said cover; and

a wall plate to which said flexible heater is connected to create a sealed fluidic flow path encased between said base and said cover to provide a geometry that creates at least one air pocket for thermal isolation, wherein a fluid flows through said fluidic flow path in order to be heated by said flexible heating element, thereby permitting said fluid to be heated to a desired temperature within a particular timeframe and wherein said fluid is mixed in said fluidic flow path to ensure a uniform temperature of said liquid at an exit of said fluidic flow path.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said flexible heater comprises copper.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said geometry that creates said at least one air pocket for thermal isolation comprises a wall geometry associated with said wall plate in conjunction with an air barrier to ensure an efficient use of heat generated by said flexible heating element.

13. A method for heating a fluid, comprising:

providing a base and a cover;

maintaining a flexible heating element maintained between said base and said cover; and

connecting a wall plate to said flexible heater to create a sealed fluidic flow path encased between said base and said cover to provide a geometry that creates at least one air pocket for thermal isolation, wherein a fluid flows through said fluidic flow path in order to be heated by said flexible heating element, thereby permitting said fluid to be heated to a desired temperature within a particular timeframe.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising configuring said flexible heater from copper.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising mixing said fluid in said fluidic flow path to ensure a uniform temperature of said liquid at an exit of said fluidic flow path.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein configuring said geometry that creates said at least one air pocket for thermal isolation to comprise a wall geometry associated with said wall plate in conjunction with an air barrier to ensure an efficient use of heat generated by said flexible heating element.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said base and said cover comprise a polyimide film.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said polyimide film remains stable in a range of temperatures from approximately −

269°

C. to 400°

C.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising configuring said wall plate from plastic.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising forming said flexible heating element from a resistance element.