GB2035541A

GB2035541A - Improvements relating to fluid-heating units

Info

Publication number: GB2035541A
Application number: GB7840512A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-10-13
Filing date: 1978-10-13
Publication date: 1980-06-18

Abstract

A fluid heating unit is provided by a liquid circuit comprising a reservoir 9 of said liquid (e.g. an oil), a pump 3 connected to the reservoir (e.g. by a flow pipe 2 and a return pipe 4, 13) and incorporating on the outlet side of the pump (e.g. in a valve unit 5) a construction which causes heating of the liquid by friction before it is returned to the reservoir. The reservoir of heated liquid thus provides a heat supply which may be tapped either by means of a heat exchanger 10 or by a heat exchange device such as a coil in contact with the valve unit 5 and pipe 13. Water or air can be circulated through the heat exchanger for use in a central heating system. A thermostat 14 may control operation of the pump motor 7 to prevent overheating of said liquid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to heating units This invention is concerned with heating units for enabling fluid (such as water or air) to be heated. As such the unit could be used as part of a hot water supply system or a warm air central heating system.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a fluid heating unit comprising a liquid circuit incorporating a reservoir for the liquid, a pump, and a constriction in the circuit on the outlet side of the pump, and a heat exchange member in contact with or forming part of the circuit and arranged to allow the transfer of heat to the fluid from the liquid heated by passage through the constriction.

The action of forcing the liquid, such as an hydraulic liquid, through the restriction under pressure creates friction which in turn heats the liquid to a high temperature. The heat so produced is then utilised for the heating of the fluid (such as air or water) via the heat exchange member.

The heat exchange member may take various forms and preferably will be disposed within the reservoir in which case it could be in the form of a coil. As an alternative the heat exchange member could comprise an enclosure for the fluid to be heated through which will pass a portion of the liquid circuit. This portion of the liquid circuit could be in the form of a coil. As another possibility the heat exchange member could be in the form of a coiled pipe wound around the part of the circuit incorporating the constriction and through which will pass the fluid to be heated.

In its simplest form, the heat exchange member may be a radiator or a series of radiators through which the heated liquid will pass. Thus the fluid heating unit could comprise a complete central heating system with a circulation temperature higher than that of a conventional hot water system, allowing for a corresponding reduction in the size of the radiators supplied by the system, whilst still producing the same output If the constriction is in the form of a variable valve orifice then the degree of heating of the liquid can readily be modified without alterning the operating characteristics of the pump. Apart from a main control switch, operation of a motor driving the pump will ideally be controlled by a thermostat positioned adjacent, in contact with or within the heat exchange member.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one preferred embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic illustration of a preferred form of fluid heating unit.

An hydraulic liquid circuit shown in the drawing comprises a tank 1 providing a reservoir of hydraulic liquid connected by an outlet pipe 2 to the inlet of a pump 3, the pump outlet 4 returning via a valve 5 to a spray inlet 6 disposed within the tank 1. When the pump 3 is driven by a motor 7 the hydraulic liquid is driven round the circuit and forced through the constriction formed by the valve 5 so that heated hydraulic liquid is sprayed from the spray inlet 6 onto a baffle-plate 8 where it is then returned to the main body of hydraulic liquid 9 within the tank 1. By this means the hydraulic liquid within the tank 1 is gradually heated and this heat may be withdrawn by means of a heat exchanger 10.The heat exchanger 10 will have an inlet 11 supplying cold water and an outlet 1 2 for heated water which may then be used in a domestic hot water or central heating system, for example. The heat exchanger 10 may be in the form of a coil or a fluted or finned enclosure, for instance. Of course, heat may be withdrawn from the heated hydraulic liquid by other means such as a coiled heat exchanger wound around the valve unit 5 and/ or subsequent portions of the tubing 1 3 through which heated hydraulic liquid will be passing. In order to prevent hydraulic liquid from reaching excess temperature a thermostat 14 is provided to control operation of the motor 7 and to turn off the motor when a predetermined temperature has been reached.

It will be appreciated that cold air could be supplied by the inlet 11 to the heat exchanger 10 so that heated air would be produced from the outlet 1 2 for any convenient use such as domestic warm air central heating.

Use of the apparatus shown in the drawing can result in the production of a substantial heat increase of the hydraulic liquid, in the reservoir tank 1, whilst a relatively small fuel consumption is required by the motor to drive the liquid around the circuit. By this means useful heat can be obtained via the heat exchanger 10 at a fraction of the cost required for the operation of other conventional heating units such as an electric immersion heater in a hot water cylinder. The motor itself may be a petrol or diesel engine or an electric motor, for example.

Of course the apparatus shown in the drawing may be used with heating systems other than domestic central heating, such as factory heating or industrial process temperature control.

1. A fluid heating unit comprising a liquid circuit incorporating a reservoir for the liquid, a pump, and a constriction in the circuit on the outlet side of the pump, and a heat exchange member in contact with or forming part of the circuit and arranged to allow the transfer of heat to the fluid from the liquid

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to heating units This invention is concerned with heating units for enabling fluid (such as water or air) to be heated. As such the unit could be used as part of a hot water supply system or a warm air central heating system.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a fluid heating unit comprising a liquid circuit incorporating a reservoir for the liquid, a pump, and a constriction in the circuit on the outlet side of the pump, and a heat exchange member in contact with or forming part of the circuit and arranged to allow the transfer of heat to the fluid from the liquid heated by passage through the constriction.

The action of forcing the liquid, such as an hydraulic liquid, through the restriction under pressure creates friction which in turn heats the liquid to a high temperature. The heat so produced is then utilised for the heating of the fluid (such as air or water) via the heat exchange member.

The heat exchange member may take various forms and preferably will be disposed within the reservoir in which case it could be in the form of a coil. As an alternative the heat exchange member could comprise an enclosure for the fluid to be heated through which will pass a portion of the liquid circuit. This portion of the liquid circuit could be in the form of a coil. As another possibility the heat exchange member could be in the form of a coiled pipe wound around the part of the circuit incorporating the constriction and through which will pass the fluid to be heated.

In its simplest form, the heat exchange member may be a radiator or a series of radiators through which the heated liquid will pass. Thus the fluid heating unit could comprise a complete central heating system with a circulation temperature higher than that of a conventional hot water system, allowing for a corresponding reduction in the size of the radiators supplied by the system, whilst still producing the same output If the constriction is in the form of a variable valve orifice then the degree of heating of the liquid can readily be modified without alterning the operating characteristics of the pump. Apart from a main control switch, operation of a motor driving the pump will ideally be controlled by a thermostat positioned adjacent, in contact with or within the heat exchange member.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one preferred embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic illustration of a preferred form of fluid heating unit.

An hydraulic liquid circuit shown in the drawing comprises a tank 1 providing a reservoir of hydraulic liquid connected by an outlet pipe 2 to the inlet of a pump 3, the pump outlet 4 returning via a valve 5 to a spray inlet 6 disposed within the tank 1. When the pump 3 is driven by a motor 7 the hydraulic liquid is driven round the circuit and forced through the constriction formed by the valve 5 so that heated hydraulic liquid is sprayed from the spray inlet 6 onto a baffle-plate 8 where it is then returned to the main body of hydraulic liquid 9 within the tank 1. By this means the hydraulic liquid within the tank 1 is gradually heated and this heat may be withdrawn by means of a heat exchanger 10.The heat exchanger 10 will have an inlet 11 supplying cold water and an outlet 1 2 for heated water which may then be used in a domestic hot water or central heating system, for example. The heat exchanger 10 may be in the form of a coil or a fluted or finned enclosure, for instance. Of course, heat may be withdrawn from the heated hydraulic liquid by other means such as a coiled heat exchanger wound around the valve unit 5 and/ or subsequent portions of the tubing 1 3 through which heated hydraulic liquid will be passing. In order to prevent hydraulic liquid from reaching excess temperature a thermostat 14 is provided to control operation of the motor 7 and to turn off the motor when a predetermined temperature has been reached.

It will be appreciated that cold air could be supplied by the inlet 11 to the heat exchanger

10 so that heated air would be produced from the outlet 1 2 for any convenient use such as domestic warm air central heating.

Use of the apparatus shown in the drawing can result in the production of a substantial heat increase of the hydraulic liquid, in the reservoir tank 1, whilst a relatively small fuel consumption is required by the motor to drive the liquid around the circuit. By this means useful heat can be obtained via the heat exchanger 10 at a fraction of the cost required for the operation of other conventional heating units such as an electric immersion heater in a hot water cylinder. The motor itself may be a petrol or diesel engine or an electric motor, for example.

Of course the apparatus shown in the drawing may be used with heating systems other than domestic central heating, such as factory heating or industrial process temperature control.

1. A fluid heating unit comprising a liquid circuit incorporating a reservoir for the liquid, a pump, and a constriction in the circuit on the outlet side of the pump, and a heat exchange member in contact with or forming part of the circuit and arranged to allow the transfer of heat to the fluid from the liquid heated by passage through the constriction.

2. A heating unit according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange member is disposed within the reservoir.

3. A heating unit according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchange member is in the form of a coil.

4. A heating unit according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange member comprises an enclosure for the fluid to be heated through which will pass a portion of the liquid circuit.

5. A heating unit according to claim 4, wherein the portion of the liquid circuit passing through the enclosure is in the form of a coil.

6. A heating unit according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange member is in the form of a coiled pipe wound around the part of the circuit incorporating the constriction and through which will pass the fluid to be heated.

7. A heating unit according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange member is a radiator or a series of radiators through which the heated liquid will pass.

8. A heating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the constriction is in the form of a variable valve orifice.

9. A heating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a motor is provided to drive the pump and a thermostat is positioned adjacent, in contact with, or within the heat exchange member and is connected to control operation of the pump motor.

10. A heating unit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.