Electric Heating Systems and Associated Methods

• US 20110127254A1
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Innovaheat LLC
• Original Assignee: Cypress Technology, LLC
• Inventors: Singson, Priscilla G., Ramey, Earl, Singson, Florencio
• Application Number:
  US12/756,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20110127254A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/438
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0158 Floor heating or cooling systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/16 mounted on, or adjacent to, a ceiling, wall or floor
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/0417 portable or mobile
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/081 using electric energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/0073 Arrangement or mounting of means for forcing the circulation of air
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Abstract

Electric heating systems and associated methods that circulate a heating medium (e.g., antifreeze) and may comprise a tank, a pump, a motor blower, and/or a heater core. In certain applications, the electric heating systems may be used to heat the floor of a farm enclosure, such as the ground of a poultry house.

Claims

1. An electric heating system for heating a floor of a farm enclosure, the electric heating system comprising:

a tank for storing a heating medium;

an electric heating element disposed in the tank for heating the heating medium in the tank;

a pump for circulating the heating medium in the electric heating system; and

conduit fluidly connecting the pump and the tank, wherein at least a substantial portion of the conduit is located beneath a top surface of the floor.

2. The electric heating system of claim 1, wherein the heating medium is present in the tank, and wherein the heating medium comprises antifreeze.

3. The electric heating system of claim 1, wherein the tank comprises black iron.

4. The electric heating system of claim 1, further comprising a relief valve disposed in a top of the tank.

5. The electric heating system of claim 1, further comprising a thermostat for controlling the electric heating element.

6. The electric heating system of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises black iron.

7. The electric heating system of claim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a material having a thermal conductivity at 25°

C. of greater than or equal to 10 W/(m°

C.).

8. The electric heating system of claim 1, wherein the substantial portion of the conduit is located a distance of about 4 inches to about 8 inches beneath the top surface of the floor.

9. The electric heating system of claim 1, wherein the substantial portion of the conduit is arranged in rows beneath the top surface of the floor with the rows spaced a distance of about 9 inches to about 24 inches.

10. The electric heating system of claim 1, wherein the floor is a dirt floor, and wherein the substantial portion of the conduit is buried in the ground beneath the top surface of the dirt floor.

11. The electric heating system of claim 1, wherein the floor is a concrete floor, and wherein the substantial portion of the conduit is located within the concrete floor.

12. The electric heating system of claim 1, wherein the farm enclosure comprises a poultry house.

13. An electric heating system for heating a dirt floor of a poultry house, the electric heating system comprising:

a tank containing a heating medium comprising antifreeze;

an electric heating element disposed in the tank for heating the heating medium in the tank;

a pump for circulating the heating medium in the electric heating system; and

conduit fluidly connecting the pump and the tank, wherein the conduit comprises a buried portion that is in ground beneath a top surface of the dirt floor, wherein the conduit comprises a material having a thermal conductivity at 25°

C. of greater than or equal to 10 W/(m°

C.).

14. The electric heating system of claim 13, wherein the material comprises black iron.

15. The electric heating system of claim 13, wherein the material comprises a metal.

16. The electric heating system of claim 13, wherein the buried portion of the conduit is located a distance of about 4 inches to about 8 inches beneath the top surface of the floor.

17. The electric heating system of claim 13, wherein the buried portion of the conduit is arranged in rows beneath the top surface of the floor with the rows spaced a distance of about 9 inches to about 24 inches.

18. The electric heating system of claim 13, wherein the farm enclosure comprises a chicken house.

19. A method of heating a floor of a farm enclosure comprising:

heating a liquid in a tank with an electric heating element, wherein the liquid comprises antifreeze;

circulating the liquid beneath a top surface of the floor such that the liquid heats the floor; and

returning the liquid to the tank.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the floor is a dirt floor, and wherein the circulating comprises circulating the liquid in ground beneath the top surface of the dirt floor.