Self-Contained Modular Heater

• US 20070261823A1
• Filed: 04/08/2007
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OmniTherm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: OmniTherm, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, John, Fugate, Douglas, Wilson, Edwin, Masters, W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,766,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/110
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/00 Domestic hot-water supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/0073 Arrangements for preventing the occurrence or proliferation of microorganisms in the water
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/26 Internal combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0034 using liquid heat storage material
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 21/0003 the heat being recuperated from exhaust gases F28D21/0014 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for heating a fluid without a flame. The modular heater (apparatus) that includes an enclosure, a dynamic heat generator disposed within the enclosure, an electric motor disposed within the enclosure, a first fluid connector attached to the enclosure, a second fluid connector attached to the enclosure and an electrical connector attached to the enclosure. The electric motor drives the dynamic heat generator to heat the fluid to a specified temperature without a flame. The first fluid connector connects the dynamic heat generator to a fluid source. The second fluid connector connects the dynamic heat generator to a fluid storage. The electrical connector connects the electric motor to a power source.

Claims

1. A method for heating a fluid without a flame comprising the steps of:

providing a power source for an electric motor disposed within a modular heater;

pumping the fluid to a dynamic heat generator disposed within the modular heater;

heating the fluid to a specified temperature without the flame using the dynamic heat generator driven by the electric motor; and

providing the heated fluid to an output.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of substantially removing solids from the fluid.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the step of substantially removing solids from the fluid is performed with one or more filters, one or more screens, a hydrocyclone or a combination thereof.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of pre-heating the fluid before the fluid is heated by the dynamic heat generator.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of filtering the fluid before the fluid is heated by the dynamic heat generator.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a temperature of the fluid;

turning the electric motor on whenever the temperature is below a minimum temperature; and

turning the electric motor off whenever the temperature is above a maximum temperature.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the specified temperature is a range of temperatures between a minimum temperature and a maximum temperature, or is greater than or equal to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or is greater than a temperature required to kill pathogens within the fluid, or is greater than or equal to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, or is greater than or equal to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to desalinate saltwater, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to melt paraffin, is greater than or equal to a temperature required to create steam, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to preheat an engine, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to heat a crew area of a vehicle, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to heat a cargo area of a vehicle.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling the specified temperature by adjusting a flow rate of the fluid through the dynamic heat generator.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electric motor is a variable speed motor and further comprising the step of controlling the specified temperature by varying a speed of the variable speed motor.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of using the heated fluid to produce electricity, provide radiant heat, provide drinking water, melt paraffin in an oil well, produce steam, produce steam to reform a petroleum fuel to produce hydrogen for use in a fuel cell, preheat an engine, heat a crew area of a vehicle, or heat a cargo area of a vehicle.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of storing or circulating the heated fluid.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the modular heater comprises:

an enclosure having the dynamic heat generator and the electric motor disposed therein;

a first fluid connector attached to the enclosure to connect the dynamic heat generator to a fluid source;

a second fluid connector attached to the enclosure to connect the dynamic heat generator to the output; and

an electrical connector attached to the enclosure to connect the electric motor to a power source.

13. A system for heating a fluid to at least a specified temperature without a flame comprising:

a modular heater comprising a dynamic heat generator driven by an electric motor disposed within an enclosure wherein the dynamic heat generator is driven by the electric motor to heat the fluid to a least the specified temperature without a flame;

a power source electrically connected to the electric motor; and

a pump connected to the dynamic heat generator.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the specified temperature is a range of temperatures between a minimum temperature and a maximum temperature, or is greater than or equal to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or is greater than a temperature required to kill pathogens within the fluid, or is greater than or equal to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, or is greater than or equal to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to desalinate saltwater, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to melt paraffin, is greater than or equal to a temperature required to create steam, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to preheat an engine, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to heat a crew area of a vehicle, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to heat a cargo area of a vehicle.

15. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the pump is connected to a fluid source.

16. The system as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

one or more heat exchangers connected to the pump and the dynamic heat generator such that the heated fluid from the dynamic heat generator is provided to an output and is used to pre-heat the fluid from the pump before the fluid is heated by the dynamic heat generator; and

first filter connected between the pump and the one or more heat exchangers or a second filter connected between the one or more heat exchangers and the output.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the first and second filters comprise one or more carbon-based filters, one or more sand-based filters, one or more screens or a combination thereof.

18. The system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a solids separator connected between the pump and the one or more heat exchangers.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the solids separator comprises one or more filters, one or more screens, a hydrocyclone or a combination thereof.

20. The system as recited in claim 18, further comprising a second pump connected between the solids separator and the one or more heat exchangers.

21. The system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a second heat exchanger connected between the pump and the dynamic heat generator to transfer heat from a prime mover to the fluid before the fluid is heated by the dynamic heat generator.

22. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the heated fluid is used to produce electricity, provide radiant heat, provide drinking water, melt paraffin in an oil well, produce steam, produce steam to reform a petroleum fuel to produce hydrogen for use in a fuel cell, preheat an engine, heat a crew area of a vehicle, or heat a cargo area of a vehicle.

23. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the system is portable.

24. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the dynamic heat generator comprises:

a stationary housing having an input, an output, and a first set of radial vanes within the stationary housing; and

a rotor disposed within the stationary housing having a second set of radial vanes.

25. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the modular heater comprises:

an enclosure having the dynamic heat generator and the electric motor disposed therein;

a first fluid connector attached to the enclosure to connect the dynamic heat generator to the pump;

a second fluid connector attached to the enclosure to connect the dynamic heat generator to an output; and

an electrical connector attached to the enclosure to connect the electric motor to the power source.

26. A modular heater comprising:

an enclosure;

a dynamic heat generator disposed within the enclosure to heat a fluid to a specified temperature without a flame;

an electric motor disposed within the enclosure to drive the dynamic heat generator;

a first fluid connector attached to the enclosure to connect the dynamic heat generator to a fluid source;

a second fluid connector attached to the enclosure to connect the dynamic heat generator to a fluid storage; and

an electrical connector attached to the enclosure to connect the electric motor to a power source.

27. The modular heater as recited in claim 26, wherein the power source and the electrical connector are disposed with the enclosure.

28. The modular heater as recited in claim 26, further comprising a pump disposed within the enclosure and connected between the first fluid connector and the dynamic heat generator.

29. The modular heater as recited in claim 26, wherein the first fluid connector, the second fluid connector and the electrical connector comprise a quick-connect system.

30. The modular heater as recited in claim 26, further comprising a controller electrically connected to the electric motor and disposed within or attached to the enclosure.

31. The modular heater as recited in claim 26, wherein the specified temperature is a range of temperatures between a minimum temperature and a maximum temperature, or is greater than or equal to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or is greater than a temperature required to kill pathogens within the fluid, or is greater than or equal to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, or is greater than or equal to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to desalinate saltwater, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to melt paraffin, is greater than or equal to a temperature required to create steam, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to preheat an engine, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to heat a crew area of a vehicle, or is greater than or equal to a temperature required to heat a cargo area of a vehicle.

32. The modular heater as recited in claim 26, wherein the heated fluid is used to produce electricity, provide radiant heat, provide drinking water, melt paraffin in an oil well, produce steam, produce steam to reform a petroleum fuel to produce hydrogen for use in a fuel cell, preheat an engine, heat a crew area of a vehicle, or heat a cargo area of a vehicle.

33. The modular heater as recited in claim 26, wherein the modular heater is portable.

34. The modular heater as recited in claim 26, wherein the dynamic heat generator comprises:

a stationary housing having an input, an output, and a first set of radial vanes within the stationary housing; and

a rotor disposed within the stationary housing having a second set of radial vanes.