U.S. patent application number 14/215685 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for corrugated indirect water heater coil.
The applicant listed for this patent is HTP, Inc.. Invention is credited to Spencer Rode, Phillip W. Stephens.
Application Number | 20140261242 14/215685 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51521675 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140261242 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rode; Spencer ; et
al. |
September 18, 2014 |
CORRUGATED INDIRECT WATER HEATER COIL
Abstract
A corrugated indirect heating coil is disclosed. The heating
coil includes an intake and an exhaust. Tubing connects the intake
and exhaust together in fluid communication. The tubing includes a
plurality of corrugations formed thereon to maximize surface area
for heat exchange. The tubing is preferably wound into coils and
supported by a frame.
Inventors: |
Rode; Spencer; (New Bedford,
MA) ; Stephens; Phillip W.; (Lakeville, MA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HTP, Inc. |
East Freetown |
MA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
51521675 |
Appl. No.: |
14/215685 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61790881 |
Mar 15, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
122/18.31 ;
165/181 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 1/08 20130101; F28F
9/013 20130101; F28D 7/024 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
122/18.31 ;
165/181 |
International
Class: |
F28F 1/08 20060101
F28F001/08; F24H 1/00 20060101 F24H001/00 |
Claims
1. A heating coil, comprising: an intake; an exhaust; and tubing
connecting the intake and exhaust in fluid communication, the
tubing including a plurality of corrugations.
2. The heating coil of claim 1, wherein the tubing is wound into a
plurality of coils.
3. The heating coil of claim 2, wherein an outer diameter of the
coils of the tubing is about 12.44'' to about 15.74''.
4. The heating coil of claim 2, wherein an outer diameter of the
coils of the tubing is about 12.25''.
3. The heating coil of claim 2, wherein the coils are supported by
a frame.
4. The heating coil of claim 1, wherein the intake includes a
threaded end.
5. The heating coil of claim 1, wherein the exhaust includes a
threaded end.
6. The heating coil of claim 1, wherein the corrugations have a
variation of between about 1.380'' to about 1.728'', at a troth of
the corrugation, to about 1.618'' to about 2.023'' at a peak of the
corrugation.
7. The heating coil of claim 6, wherein the corrugations have a
variation between a troth and a peck of the corrugation of between
about 1.392'' to about 1.601''.
8. The heating coil of claim 1, wherein the tubing is formed from
straight tubing having an exterior diameter of about 1.5'' and an
interior diameter of about 1.375''.
9. The heating coil of claim 1, wherein the tubing has a thickness
of between about 0.0112'' and about 0.0148''.
10. The heating coil of claim 1, wherein the tubing has an inner
diameter of between about 1.358'' to about 1.698''.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This patent document claims priority to earlier filed U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/790,881, filed on Mar. 15,
2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present patent document relates generally to water
heaters and more specifically to a corrugated indirect water heater
coil used in water heaters and other heater transfer
appliances.
[0004] 2. Background of the Related Art
[0005] Efficient transfer of heat between fluid circulating in a
coil to another heat transfer medium, such as heating hot water in
hot water heaters or in other HVAC systems, is desirable. The
industry is always seeking new ways to minimize energy loss in
appliances and maximize heat transfer between heat transfer
mediums.
[0006] Therefore, there is a perceived need in the industry for an
improved device for transferring heat in open and closed loop
heating systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The corrugated indirect heating coil solves the problems of
the prior art by providing a heater coil that includes corrugations
to maximize surface area and, thus, heat transfer, between heat
transfer mediums. The mediums may include water to water, steam to
water, glycol to water, brine to water, and the like, as is known
in the art, and may be used in open and closed loop systems, but is
not limited thereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description, appended claims, and accompanying
drawings where:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a heating coil;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-section view of a heating coil
tubing
[0011] FIG. 3 a partial cross-section view of an intake of a
heating coil tubing, Inset A of FIG. 2;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-section of an embodiment of a
heating coil illustrating the dimensions thereof;
[0013] FIG. 5 is an end view of an embodiment of a heating coil
illustrating the dimensions thereof;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-section of another embodiment of a
heating coil illustrating the dimensions thereof;
[0015] FIG. 7 is an end view of the tubing of another embodiment of
a heating coil illustrating the dimensions of the tubing; and
[0016] FIG. 8 is an end view of another embodiment of a heating
coil illustrating the dimensions thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Referring to the pages of the drawings, the heating coil is
shown generally at 100. The heating coil 100 includes a coiled
piece of tubing 102 with high thermal transfer capabilities. Such
coils are often made of copper, aluminum and other metals. The
tubing 102 includes an intake 104 and an exhaust 106, which may
include threaded ends 108a, 108b for attachment to the heating and
cooling system. The tubing 102 may be supported by a frame 110. The
height L1 of the coils of tubing 102, as measured from a centerline
the exhaust 106 and intake 104, is from about 15.23'' to about
16'', and the height L2, a measured from the bottom to the top of
the frame 110, is from about 17.72'' to about 18.63''. The coiled
tubing 102 is pitched, allowing for a compact design and flow of
heat transfer medium through the tubing 102. The distance D from
each coil of tubing 102 is from about 2'' to about 3'' and more
preferably from about 2.19'' to about 2.61''.
[0018] The tubing 102, between the intake 104 and exhaust 106,
includes a plurality of corrugations 112, which have a variation of
between about 1.392'' to about 1.601''. In other embodiments, the
variation may lie between about 1.380'' to about 1.728'', at the
troth of the corrugation 112, to 1.618'' to about 2.023'' at the
peak of the corrugation. The corrugated tubing 102 may be formed
initially from straight tubing having an exterior diameter of about
1.500'' and an interior diameter of about 1.375''. The corrugations
112 maximize surface area between the two heat exchange mediums,
enhancing energy efficiency.
[0019] The outer diameter D2 of the coils of the tubing 102 may be
from about 10'' to about 20'' or more preferably from about 12.44''
to about 15.74'' Other outer diameter of about 13.12'' and about
17.9'' are also desirable. The inner diameter D1 of the coils of
the tubing 102 may be from about 8.5'' to about 15'' or more
preferably from about 10.54'' to about 13.6''. In other
embodiments, the diameter D2 of the coils of tubing 102 may be
about 12.25''. Distance D3, from the coil of the tubing 102 to the
intake 104 (or exhaust 106) is from about 13.5'' to about 22'' or
more preferably from about 15.15'' to about 20.2''.
[0020] The thickness of the tubing 102 itself is preferably between
about 0.0112'' and about 0.0148''. The inner diameter of the tubing
102 itself may be about 1.358'' to about 1.698''.
[0021] The dimensions of the tubing 102 may be varied depending
upon the application intended and the system the heating coil 100
may be placed in. Specifically, the dimensions listed herein are
for heating applications for odd sized tanks, varying 15'' to 23''.
Industry standard dimensions are frequently even sizes, ranging
14'' to 26''. The heating coil includes dimensions optimal to
retrofit a variety of existing water heater systems on the
market.
[0022] Critically, the ratio of vari0ous dimension sin the
corrugations in relation to the dimensions of the coil of tubing
are need for manufacturability and optimal heat transfer.
Specifically, the range of the ratio of 2.023'' (Omajor) from FIG.
4 to the range identified as 12.44'' to 15.78'' in FIG. 5, and
exhibited again in FIGS. 6 and 8, respectively. Additionally, the
pitch between corrugations 112 to the inner diameter D1 of the
coiled tubing 102 allow for the manufacturability. While the heat
transfer performance is optimized by the range of ratios between
the Omajor dimension and Ominor (identified in FIG. 4 as 1.358'' to
1.698'') and the ratio of the pitch and wall thickness (identified
in FIG. 4 as the dimension from 0.0112'' to 0.0148'')
[0023] Therefore, it can be seen that the corrugated indirect
heating coil provides a novel solution to providing a heat exchange
coil that improves over existing heat exchange coils by providing a
more energy efficient way of transferring heat between two heat
exchange mediums. The corrugations in the tubing provide enhanced
surface area, thereby, maximizing the heat exchanged.
[0024] It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated
embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present
invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be
within the scope of the present invention except insofar as limited
by the appended claims.
* * * * *