NL1041697B1 - Device for the warming of amongst other tubes, piping systems or whatever mechanical or process support system. - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for the heating of any kind of tubes, by means of electricity conductors (wires, prints or other), placed lengthwise along the tube, connected to a power source. The conductors are connected every cm (or other measure) by resistance-conductors that emit heat when a current is fed into the conductors. The device is folded around the tube.

Description

Title: DEVICE FOR THE WARMING OF AMONGST OTHER TUBES, PIPING SYSTEMS OR WHATEVER MECHANICAL OR PROCESS SUPPORT SYSTEM.

The invention refers to a device, which is installed or arranged for the heating of any kind of tubes or piping system, either in terms of or intended for frost protection or heating of any kind of substance transported inside or to aid in heating of process or mechanical support systems. Heating is done by means of electricity conductors(cables, wires, prints, tapes or other), placed lengthwise along the tube, piping or similarly or otherwise configured on whatever mechanical or process support system, and which are connected to an (electrical) power source. The conductors are interconnected at certain distances, such as every cm or few cm's or other distance, depending on the application chosen and application dependent power requirements, by resistance-conductors (wires, prints, tapes or other) that emit heat when an electrical current is fed into or led through the conductors and the resistance-conductors. The device is folded or otherwise mounted around or on the tube or piping system or applied on whatever mechanical or process support system, or can be applied, in a properly adapted shape, to any other (e.g. geometrical) form or object, of whatever size or shape.

The technique of warming, heating or frost protecting of tubes, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system usually comprises of a single wire with a certain electricity-resistance, put (either or not spiralling) along the length of the tube, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system that needs to be heated. Because of its resistance, the wire will produce heat when electricity is conducted through the wire. This technique functions fine, but ineffectively and inefficiently as, dependent on its length, geometry or method of winding, chosen material of construction for the electric resistance-conductor, type and capacity of the electric power source, a larger part of the heat may or will be generated or dissipated unevenly over respectively into the object whereon it is applied or installed. Therefore, existing solutions will have more heat loss to the environment and require larger capacities to be installed in order to result in a sufficient or the desired heating effect.

Applicant of the present patent application has found that the net structure of warming or heating by any number of electric (resistance)conductors connected in parallel will more effectively and efficiently heat or warm up the tubes, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system, including the contents thereof or therein, to or at a preferred temperature, than existing solutions.

The (resistance-)conductors may be mounted, integrated or be applied on a sheet, tape or tape-like medium that can be rolled off along and folded around and fixed to the tube, so that the conductors' warmth or heat can be transmitted or transferred, directly or indirectly to and into the tube, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system. The sheet, tape or tape-like medium's dimensions, e.g. the sheet or tape width is in proportion to e.g. the circumference of the tube, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system that need to be heated or warmed up. E.g. by varying widths and lengths, proper adjustment to the diameter or size of the tube, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system can be achieved. The medium may be a (glue-on or adhesive) sheet, tape or tape-like onto or into which the wires, cables or any other chosen electrical conductor, both for supply or transport of electric current and the electric resistance-conductors, are mounted, integrated or applied. The device may also be produced by e.g. physical or melt processing of the substances forming a sheet, tape or tape-like support around or onto the prefabricated electrical (e.g. metallic) (resistance-)conductors or by means of e.g. adding electrical (e.g. metallic) (resistance-) conductors by e.g. Physical or Chemical Vapour Deposition of the (metallic)substances to respectively onto a sheet, tape or tape-like medium. A similar device may also be produced using the technique of 3D printing.

The net of conductors may also e.g. consist of just the electrically insulated conductive supply or transport wires or cables, which are (inter) connected by electrically insulated resistance conductors or wires, where mounting or installing the device onto the tube, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system is done e.g. by clamping or any other fixation after folding or otherwise applying the net or the like around or onto the tube, piping system or onto whatever mechanical or process support system of whatever (e.g. geometrical) shape or object of any dimensions.

The device may be supplemented, cladded, covered, combined or integrated with any heat-insulating material to keep the produced warmth or heat preferentially directed at as well as retained in, and in the contents of, the tube, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system of whatever (e.g. geometrical) shape or object of any dimensions.

The device may be supplemented with or connected to any control apparatus, e.g. for capacity and/or temperature, to regulate the effective heat transfer, to optimize efficiency and/or to minimize heat losses.

The devices improved effectiveness and efficiency derives from the fact that the electric resistance-conductors or resistance wires are connected in parallel along the full length of the electricity conducting supply or transport wires or cables, providing (almost) equal and full warming potential along the full length of the device. This, contrary to existing one-wire devices or systems where the resistance conductor is placed along the length of or wound around e.g. the tube or piping system, and the warming or heating potential or effect gradually diminishes along the length of such device or system resulting in an uneven heat distribution along the length of e.g. the pipe or piping system.

Further improved effectiveness and efficiency derives from the fact that the multiple electric resistance-conductors or resistance wires provide an enlarged contact surface with the tube, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system of whatever geometrical shape, and therewith provide an improved heat transfer effect, compared with existing solutions. This may be further promoted by installing, embedding, mounting or realizing in the device resistance conductors with a flat and wider shape rather than wires or cables. This all enables that lower currents and/or lower voltages will be needed to generate the desired or required warming or heating effect, the latter being also more constant and evenly distributed along the full length of the device, making the device substantially more effective and efficient than existing solutions.

The device can also be applied to any other (e.g. geometrical) form or object of any shape and dimensions, e.g. round, cylindrical or square containers or tanks, or large tubes, ducts or piping systems, e.g. which are applied for storage or transport of whatsoever substance, liquid, gas or solid, or applied as e.g. "meridians" around globes, or e.g. onto to aeroplane wings for deicing purposes. Multiple devices may for these purposes be applied in series and/or in parallel, if required for covering sufficient surface in order to generate the desired or required warming or heating effect.

The material, type and dimensions of, as well as spacing between the resistance conductors or resistance wires can be varied depending on the application and the desired or required heating effect or capacity. Herewith the current conducted through the device, and therefore the warming or heating capability or capacity, can be influenced or varied depending on the application and the desired or required heating effect.

The device may thus be applied e.g. for winterizing or frost protection of any facilities or systems or as an alternative heat exchanger to provide any warming or heating for process control for facilities or systems, e.g. to control the viscosity of substances transported in a piping or any other system, or to heat up -a substance, e.g. a liquid or gas, in a piping or duct systemor whatever mechanical or process support system of whatever (e.g. geometrical) shape of any dimensions.

In all cases, the heat generation requirements and therewith the amount of electricity fed through or supplied to the device will require proper electric insulation, with , insulating materials that have substance properties adjusted to the particular or specific application. The substance properties of any material or materials used to support, envelop or contain the conducting electricity supply or transport wires or cables and the resistance conductors or resistance wires, must be such that these prevent electric currents to the system to be heated, while having properties allowing for sufficient and efficient heat transfer.

The device may further be applied as part of or integrated in constructions, such as roads, bridges, walls(panels), pavements, gutters, sewage systems, etc.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention where 1 and 2 are the conductors (i.e. the electricity supply or transport wires or cables) and 3 are the connecting warmth or heat emitting resistance conductors or resistance wires and 4 is the material that the conductors may be installed or mounted on, enveloped by or attached to; 5 is the power supply.

Figure 2 shows the device folded or installed around or attached to a tube.

Claims (13)

1. Device installed or arranged for the heating of any kind of tubes or piping system, either in terms of or intended for frost protection or heating of any kind of substance transported inside or to aid in heating of process or mechanical support systems. Heating is done by means of electricity conductors(cables, wires, prints, tapes or other), placed lengthwise along the tube, piping or similarly or otherwise configured on whatever mechanical or process support system, and which are connected to an (electrical) power source. The conductors are interconnected at certain distances, such as every cm or few cm's or other distance, depending on the application chosen and application dependent power requirements, by resistance-conductors (wires, prints, tapes or other) that emit heat when an electrical current is fed into or led through the conductors and the resistance-conductors. The device is folded or otherwise mounted around or on the tube or piping system or applied on whatever mechanical or process support system, or can be applied, in a properly adapted shape, to any other (e.g. geometrical) form or object, of whatever size or shape.

2. Device according to claim 1, of which the improved effectiveness derives inter alia from the fact that the electric resistance-conductors or resistance wires are connected in parallel along the full length between the electricity- conducting supply or transport wires or cables, providing (almost) equal and full warming potential along the full length of the device. This, contrary to existing one-wire devices or systems where the resistance conductor is placed along the length of or wound around e.g. the tube or piping system, and the warming or heating potential or effect gradually diminishes along the length of such device or system resulting in an uneven heat distribution along the length of e.g. the pipe or piping system.

3. Device according to claims 1 and/or 2, of which the improved effectiveness and efficiency further derives from the fact that the multiple electric resistance-conductors or resistance wires provide an enlarged contact surface with the tube, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system of whatever geometrical shape, and therewith provide an improved heat transfer effect, compared with existing solutions. This may be further promoted by installing, embedding, mounting or realizing in the device resistance conductors with a flat and wider shape rather than wires or cables. This all enables that lower currents and/or lower voltages will be needed to generate the desired or required warming or heating effect, the latter also being more constant and evenly distributed along the full length of the device, making the device substantially more effective and efficient than existing solutions .

4. Device according to any preceding claim or claims, of which the (resistance-) conductors may be mounted, integrated or be applied on a sheet, tape or tape-like medium that can be rolled off along and folded around and fixed to the tube, so that the conductors' warmth or heat can be transmitted or transferred, directly or indirectly to and into the tube, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system. The sheet, tape or tape-like medium's dimensions, e.g. the sheet or tape width is in proportion to e.g. the circumference of the tube, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system that need to be heated or warmed up. E.g. by varying widths and lengths, proper adjustment to the diameter or size of the tube, piping system or. whatever mechanical or process support system can be achieved. The medium may be a (glue-on or adhesive) sheet, tape or tape-like onto or into which the wires, cables or any other chosen electrical conductor, both for supply or transport of electric current and the electric resistance-conductors, are mounted, integrated or applied. The device may also be produced e.g. by physical or melt processing of the substances forming a sheet, tape or tape-like support around or onto the prefabricated electrical e.g. metallic (resistance) conductors or by means of e.g. adding electrical (e.g. metallic) (resistance)conductors by e.g. Physical or Chemical Vapour Deposition of the (e.g. metallic)substances to respectively onto a sheet, tape or tape-like medium.

5. Device according to any preceding claim or claims,· where the net of conductors may also e.g.,consist of just the electrically insulated conductive supply or transport wires or cables, which are (inter)connected by electrically insulated resistance conductors or wires, where mounting or installing the device onto the tube, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system is done e.g. by clamping or any other fixation after folding or otherwise applying the net or the like around or onto the tube, piping system or onto whatever mechanical or process support system of whatever (e.g. geometrical) shape or object of any dimensions.

6. Device according to any preceding claim or claims which may be produced in any way, e.g. 3D printing.

7. Device according to any preceding claim or claims which may be supplemented, cladded, covered, combined or integrated with any heat-insulating material to keep the produced warmth or heat preferentially directed at as well as retained in, and in the contents of, the tube, piping system or whatever mechanical or process support system of whatever (e.g. geometrical) shape or object of any dimensions.

8. Device according to any preceding claim or claims which may be supplemented with or connected to any control apparatus, e.g. for capacity and/or temperature, to regulate the effective heat transfer, to optimize efficiency and/or to minimize heat losses.

9. Device according to any preceding claim or claims, which can also be applied to any other (e.g. geometrical) form or object of any shape and dimensions, e.g. round, cylindrical or square containers or tanks, or large tubes, ducts or piping systems, e.g. which are applied for storage or transport of whatsoever substance, liquid, gas or solid, or applied as e.g. "meridians" around globes, or e.g. onto to aeroplane wings for deicing purposes. Multiple devices may for these purposes be applied in series and/or in parallel, if required for covering sufficient surface in order to generate the desired or required warming or heating effect.

10. Device according to any preceding claim or claims, where the material, type and dimensions of, as well as spacing between the resistance conductors or resistance wires can be varied depending on the application and the desired or required heating effect or capacity. Herewith the current conducted through the device, and therefore the warming or heating capability or capacity, can be influenced or varied depending on the application and the desired or required heating effect.

11. Device according to any preceding claim or claims, which may be applied e.g. for winterizing or frost protection of any facilities or systems or as an alternative heat exchanger to provide any warming or heating for process control for facilities or systems, e.g. to control the viscosity of substances transported in a piping or any other system, or to heat up a substance, e.g. a liquid or gas, in a piping or duct system or whatever mechanical or process support system of whatever (e.g. geometrical) shape of any dimensions.

12. Device according to any preceding claim or claims, where in all cases, the heat generation requirements and therewith the amount of electricity fed through or supplied to the device will require proper electric insulation, with insulating materials that have substance properties adjusted to the particular or specific application. The substance properties of any material or materials used to support, envelop or contain the conducting electricity supply or transport wires or cables and the resistance conductors or resistance wires, must be such that these prevent electric currents to the system to be heated, while having properties allowing for sufficient and efficient heat transfer.

13. Device according to any preceding claim or claims, as part of or integrated in constructions, such as roads, bridges, walls(panels), pavements, gutters, sewage systems.