U.S. patent application number 11/713142 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-13 for induction heater.
Invention is credited to Steve Cochran, Robert A. Olexy, John Self.
Application Number | 20070210075 11/713142 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38475392 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070210075 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Self; John ; et al. |
September 13, 2007 |
Induction heater
Abstract
A heating system and method for heating fluids are provided. The
heating system includes an enclosure with an inlet and outlet for
fluid flow, an induction coil, thermal transmitters placed in the
enclosure, and a power source for the induction coil. In one
preferred embodiment, the fuel processing system includes a heating
system that is at least partially filled with thermal transmitters
which receive electromagnetic energy and generate heat within the
heating system.
Inventors: |
Self; John; (Cullman,
AL) ; Olexy; Robert A.; (Parrish, FL) ;
Cochran; Steve; (Baton Rouge, LA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KEAN, MILLER, HAWTHORNE, D'ARMOND,;MCCOWAN & JARMAN, L.L.P.
ONE AMERICAN PLACE, 22ND FLOOR
P.O. BOX 3513
BATON ROUGE
LA
70821
US
|
Family ID: |
38475392 |
Appl. No.: |
11/713142 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60779247 |
Mar 2, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
219/628 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C01B 2203/0216 20130101;
C10J 2300/1861 20130101; C01B 2203/066 20130101; H05B 6/108
20130101; Y02P 20/145 20151101; C01B 2203/0233 20130101; C10J
2300/0973 20130101; C01B 2203/84 20130101; C10J 3/66 20130101; C10J
2300/1884 20130101; C10J 2200/158 20130101; C10K 3/006 20130101;
C10J 2300/0916 20130101; C01B 2203/0855 20130101; C01B 3/384
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
219/628 |
International
Class: |
H05B 6/10 20060101
H05B006/10 |
Claims
1. A heating system comprising: an enclosure having an inlet for
receiving fluid and an outlet for fluid to exit said enclosure; at
least one induction coil at least partially surrounding said
enclosure; at least one thermal transmitter placed within said
enclosure wherein said at least one thermal transmitter receives
electromagnetic energy from said at least one induction coil; and
at least one power supply for supplying current to said at least
one induction coil to heat said at least one thermal transmitter
wherein said heating system is used for heating fluids.
2. The heating system of claim 1 wherein said enclosure comprises a
substantially non-electrically conductive material.
3. The heating system of claim 1 wherein said enclosure comprises a
ceramic material or a composite thereof.
4. The heating system of claim 1 wherein said at least one thermal
transmitter comprises a material having an electrical resistance
higher than about 100 .mu.ohm-cm at 1800.degree. F.
5. The heating system of claim 4 wherein said thermal transmitter
is comprised of a non-magnetizable material.
6. The heating system of claim 1 wherein said thermal transmitter
comprises silicon carbide or a composite thereof.
7. The heating system of claim 1 further comprising a filter
installed within said enclosure but of a location at about said
outlet of said enclosure.
8. A heating system comprising: an enclosure having an inlet for
receiving fluid and an outlet for fluid to exit said enclosure
wherein said enclosure is comprised of a substantially
non-electrically conductive material; at least one induction coil
at least partially surrounding said enclosure; at least one thermal
transmitter placed within said enclosure wherein said at least one
thermal transmitter receives electromagnetic energy from said at
least one induction coil and wherein said thermal transmitter is
comprised of a material having an electrical resistance higher than
about 100 .mu.ohm-cm at 1800.degree. F. wherein said material is
also non-magnetizable; and at least one power supply for supplying
current to said at least one induction coil to heat said at least
one thermal transmitter; wherein said heating system is used for
heating fluid streams.
9. A heating system comprising: an enclosure having an inlet for
receiving fluid and an outlet for fluid to exit said enclosure
wherein said enclosure is comprised of a substantially
non-electrically conductive material; at least one induction coil
at least partially surrounding said enclosure; at least one thermal
transmitter placed within said enclosure wherein said at least one
thermal transmitter receives electromagnetic energy from said at
least one induction coil and wherein said thermal transmitter is
comprised of a material having an electrical resistance higher than
about 100 .mu.ohm-cm at 1800.degree. F. wherein said material is
also non-magnetizable and wherein said thermal transmitters are
coated or impregnated with a catalyst; and at least one power
supply for supplying current to said at least one induction coil to
heat said at least one thermal transmitter; wherein said heating
system is used for heating fluid streams.
10. A method of heating fluids comprising the steps of: a) charging
fluid into an enclosure wherein said enclosure is made of
substantially non-electrically conductive material; b) heating said
fluid in said enclosure to a desired temperature; c) providing at
least one thermal transmitter within said enclosure wherein said
thermal transmitter is made of a substantially non-magnetizable
material; and d) heating said enclosure with said at least one
induction coil.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein said enclosure is made of a
ceramic material or a composite thereof.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein said thermal transmitter is made
of silicon carbide or a composite thereof.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of prior U.S.
provisional application Ser. No. 60/779247 filed on Mar. 2, 2006
which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for
heating fluids, particularly to a method and apparatus for heating
fluids by way of induction heating.
[0003] Various types of fluid heating systems are employed in the
domestic, commercial, and industrial heating of fluids. There are
batch heated systems (i.e. Fluid-tank heaters) and there are
continuous heated systems (i.e. tankless fluid heaters). Both of
these heating systems may be electrically heated and/or they may be
gas-fired heated. However, these fluid heating systems can be
inefficient, costly, and may not produce an effective residence
time when heating the fluid.
[0004] Information relevant to attempts to address these problems
can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,175,689; 6,240,250; and 6,574,426.
However, each one of these suffers from the fact that they all
utilize electrical resistance as the heating means. Electrical
resistance heating may be inefficient, costly, and may have a
longer residence time compared to induction heating.
[0005] In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that a need still
exists for an improved process for heating fluids.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention is directed to a system and method for
heating fluids in which induction heating is employed in an
efficient manner to heat a fluid. The heating of fluids by way of
induction heating can result in the effective and rapid heating of
fluids which can be very advantageous for many fluid heating
applications. The induction fluid heating system comprises:
[0007] (a) an enclosure having an inlet for receiving fluid and an
outlet for fluid to exit said enclosure;
[0008] (b) at least one induction coil at least partially
surrounding said enclosure;
[0009] (c) at least one thermal transmitter placed within said
enclosure wherein said at least one thermal transmitter receives
electromagnetic energy from said at least one least one induction
coil; and
[0010] (d) at least one power supply for supplying current to said
at least one induction coil to heat said thermal transmitter
wherein said heating system is used for heating fluids.
[0011] The features of this invention will be apparent from the
following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] As noted above, the present invention relates to a system
and method for heating fluids in which induction heating is
employed in an efficient manner to provide for an effective fluid
heater.
[0014] "Fluid" is herein defined as one or more substances, as a
liquid or gas, that is capable of flowing and that changes its
shape at a steady rate when acted upon by a force tending to change
its shape.
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present
invention. In this preferred embodiment, inductively heated system
50 is used for heating fluids to a desired temperature. The desired
temperature will be dependent on the type of operation is which the
heating system is used. In addition, the design of the heating
system can be modified to be used in almost any system in which
fluids are heated.
[0016] The preferred embodiment of the heating system 50 depicted
in FIG. 1 shows an enclosure 51, thermal transmitters 52, induction
coil 53, and filter 55. The filter on this heating system is
optional.
[0017] The fields of use of the design depicted in FIG. 1 can
include any uses or operations wherein it is desired to heat a
fluid stream to a desired temperature. For example, this technology
can be utilized in such applications that include but are not
limited to, an on-demand hot water heater for personal or
industrial use, a steam generator, a pre-heater, a heat exchanger,
a scrubber or absorption unit, a reactor or any like device wherein
it is desired to efficiently and quickly heat a fluid.
[0018] In this embodiment, enclosure 51 would be made of a
substantially non-electrically conductive material. Preferably
enclosure 51 is substantially made of a ceramic material or a
composite thereof. Enclosure 51 is preferably at least partially
surrounded by at least one induction coil 53 whereby induction
heating is employed to heat a fluid to a desired temperature. The
desired material used to build the enclosure will be substantially
invisible to the electromagnetic energy generated by the induction
coil 53 so that the electromagnetic energy may penetrate the
enclosure to heat the thermal transmitters 52 discussed below in
more detail.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, enclosure 51 is filled with
thermal transmitters 52 which include, but are not limited to,
geometric structures substantially made of a material that has a
high electrical resistivity, a high melting point, and a thermal
conductivity. Thermal transmitters 52 receive electromagnetic
energy from induction coil 53 which preferably surrounds each
individual enclosure 51. Preferably, the induced electromagnetic
energy is transmitted at an effective frequency that allows the
energy to substantially penetrate enclosure 51 wherein the
induction energy transmits substantially throughout the volume of
thermal transmitters 52 so that the temperature of the thermal
transmitters 52 may be as uniform as possible. As thermal
transmitters 52 absorb the induced electromagnetic energy, thermal
transmitters 52 are heated to an effective temperature that is
sufficient to heat the fluid. The operating temperatures of the
thermal transmitters 52 will depend entirely on the desired
temperature of the outlet temperature of the fluid. The heating
properties of the thermal transmitters 52 are attributable to their
specific electrical conductivity and resistivity
characteristics.
[0020] Thermal transmitters 52 can be any suitable shape and size
that will fit enclosure 51. It is preferred that the thermal
transmitters 52 be of a cork screw shape about one inch in diameter
and about three inches in length. It is also preferred that the
thermal transmitters will be placed into the heating system 50 in
random order. Other shapes of thermal transmitters 52 that my be
utilized in the heating system may include but are not limited to:
(a) rasching rings; (b) Pall rings; (c) Berl saddles; and (d)
Intalox saddles, which are all conventional shapes for tower
packings.
[0021] In another preferred embodiment, thermal transmitters 52 may
be of a structured packing design wherein the structured packing
will be comprised of an ordered geometry rather than a random
packing configuration. This embodiment will also include a
combination of structured and random packing configuration as it
would be obvious to one skilled in the art to combine these two
configurations.
[0022] Preferably, the thermal transmitters 52 will have an
electrical resistance higher than about 100 .mu.ohm-cm at
1800.degree. F. and a thermal conductivity higher than about 195
BTU-in/ft.sup.2 -hr-.degree. F. at 1800.degree. F. The melting
point of thermal transmitters 52 is preferably higher than the
operating temperature of inductively heated system 50 and most
preferably about 50.degree. F. higher than the operating
temperature of inductively heated system 50. In addition, the
preferred melting point of thermal transmitters 52 is higher than
about 1000.degree. F., the more preferred is higher than about
1500.degree. F., and the most preferred is higher than about
2000.degree. F.
[0023] The preferred material for thermal transmitters 52 is
silicone carbide or a composite thereof. In addition, it is
preferred that the material for thermal transmitters 52 be
comprised of a substantially non-magnetizable material. It should
be understood, however, that any other materials that meet the
above referenced melting point, thermal conductivity, and
electrical resistivity can be used for constructing thermal
transmitters 52. Thermal transmitters 52 may be of sufficient
quantity and shape to disturb the flowing fluids sufficiently to
knock out any entrained solid particles carried by the fluid stream
thus acting as a particulate scrubber.
[0024] In another preferred embodiment, heating system 50 can be
operated in parallel with at least one additional heating system.
In addition, although not shown in any of the figures, heating
system 50 can be operated with at least one additional heating
system placed in series with heating system 50.
[0025] In a preferred embodiment, a filter 55 is installed at about
the outlet of the enclosure 5 1. This filter is purely optional and
the heating system can be operated without the filter 55. This
filter 55 is preferably made of materials which are compatible with
or the same as thermal transmitters 52 wherein filter 55 will have
an electrical resistance higher than about 100 .mu.ohm-cm at
1800.degree. F. and a thermal conductivity higher than about 195
BTU-in/ft.sup.2 -hr-.degree. F. at 1800.degree. F. The melting
point of filter 55 is preferably higher than the operating
temperature of inductively heated system 50 and most preferably
about 50.degree. F. higher than the operating temperature of
induction heating system. Filter 55 will also preferably be
comprised of a honeycomb structure capable of screening out at
least a portion of any particulates that may have passed through
induction heating system. Filter 55 may also be comprised of any
effective structure that is suitable for screening out such
particulates.
[0026] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention,
thermal transmitters 52 could be coated or impregnated with a
catalyst to help drive various chemical reactions, including but
not limited to an endothermic steam reforming reaction. In a
reactive environment, it would be preferable to place a filter 55
in the heating system to capture any particulate. The inductively
heated filter 55 could provide enough heat to cause the particulate
to further react and exit the system. The filter would prevent
particulates from entering a downstream process.
[0027] Insofar as the description above and the accompanying
drawings disclose any additional subject matter that is not within
the scope of the claims below, the inventions are not dedicated to
the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim
such additional inventions is reserved.
[0028] There are of course other alternate embodiments which are
obvious from the foregoing descriptions of the invention, which are
intended to be included within the scope of the invention, as
defined by the following claims.
* * * * *