JP4711132B2 - Fluid heating tube and heating method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fluid heating tube for heating a fluid and a heating method thereof.

  Conventionally, exothermic tubes used as water supply hoses for home water supply, hot water supply, etc. are known, but the water supply hose is water remaining in the hose in outdoor use, especially in cold areas. In view of the problem of freezing, there is the following proposal in order to generate heat at a constant temperature over the entire length of the hose (see Patent Document 1).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 7, a cylindrical synthetic resin exothermic tube composed of an inner layer tube 11 and an outer layer tube 12, which does not cross each other between the inner layer tube 11 and the outer layer tube 12. Two bare copper wires 13a and 13b and one heating fiber 14 are embedded, and the bare copper wires 13a and 13b are in contact with the heating fiber 14 at a predetermined interval. As a result, since the heating fiber 14 is in contact with the bare copper wires 13a and 13b at regular intervals, heat is generated from the bare copper wires 13a and 13b by passing an electric current through the bare copper wires 13a and 13b embedded in the exothermic tube. The parallel circuits formed of the fibers 14 are formed at equal intervals, and the entire tube can generate heat at a constant temperature regardless of the length of the tube.

However, there is a problem that the contact area between the tube and the heat source (such as a plate-like or string-like heater) is small, and it cannot be heated uniformly over the entire length.
JP 2004-162827 A (pages 2 and 3, FIG. 1)

  Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide a fluid heating tube capable of uniformly raising the fluid flowing through the conductive resin tube over the entire length to a high temperature even at a relatively low voltage, and a heating method therefor. .

(Invention of Claim 1)
In the fluid heating tube of the present invention, a plurality of foamed ropes that are heated and swollen are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of a conductive resin tube for transferring a fluid, and a pair of foamed ropes facing the back of the foamed ropes. Has a conductive layer formed on at least the surface facing the resin tube, and the contact integration between the resin tube and the foamed rope is realized by a non-conductive exterior material.
(Invention of Claim 2)
The fluid heating tube according to the present invention relates to the invention according to the first aspect, and the foamed ropes having a pair of conductive layers are arranged on a diameter line of the resin tube.
(Invention of Claim 3)
The fluid heating tube according to the present invention relates to the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a non-conductive foam rope is provided between the foamed ropes on which the conductive layer is formed, following the outer peripheral surface of the resin tube. .
(Invention of Claim 4)
The fluid heating tube according to the present invention relates to the invention of claim 3 above, and on the outer peripheral surface of the resin tube, a foamed rope having a conductive layer and a non-conductive foamed rope are densely arranged.
(Invention of Claim 5)
The fluid heating tube according to the present invention relates to the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and the exterior material is a cylindrical member made of resin or rubber.
(Invention of Claim 6)
The fluid heating tube according to the present invention relates to the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and the exterior material is formed by winding a tape.
(Invention of Claim 7)
The fluid heating tube according to the present invention relates to the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and the foamed rope and the non-conductive foamed rope on which the conductive layer is formed have a substantially circular cross section.
(Invention of Claim 8)
A heating method for a fluid heating tube according to the present invention is a method for increasing the temperature of a fluid in the tube using the fluid heating tube according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fluid heating tube is a pair of foamed ropes. A voltage is applied between the formed conductive layers to heat the resin tube, and the foamed rope formed with the conductive layer is swollen by the heat generation, whereby the contact area between the resin tube and the foamed rope formed with the conductive layer is increased. The electrical resistance between the two was decreased to increase the temperature of the fluid with high efficiency.

  Here, using the fluid heating tube according to the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, the following operation and effect can be achieved by adopting the heating method according to the eighth aspect.

  When a voltage is applied between the conductive layers formed on the pair of foam ropes, the resin tube generates heat almost simultaneously over the entire length, and the fluid flowing through the resin tube is heated through the resin tube due to the heat generation. At this time, the foamed rope on which the conductive layer is formed is heated and swelled by the heat generation, and the contact area with the resin tube is increased, thereby reducing the contact electrical resistance between the conductive layer and the resin tube. Accordingly, since the flow of electricity is improved, the temperature can be increased uniformly to a high temperature even at a relatively low voltage.

  In addition, when the foamed rope having the conductive layer and the nonconductive foamed rope are densely arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the resin tube, the heat retention effect is achieved by the above-described improvement in the degree of heating and the presence of the nonconductive foamed rope. Will also be excellent.

  The present invention is configured as described above and has the following effects.

  According to the fluid heating tube and the heating method of the present invention, the fluid flowing through the conductive resin tube can be uniformly heated to a high temperature even at a relatively low voltage over the entire length.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Example 1
1 is a sectional view of a fluid heating tube T according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a state in which the fluid heating tube T of FIG. 1 is used, and FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state which the electroconductive foaming rope 2 and the nonelectroconductive foaming rope 3 currently used for (2) heat-swelled is shown.
(Basic form of this fluid heating tube T)
As shown in FIG. 1, the fluid heating tube T according to the first embodiment includes a pair of conductive foamed ropes 2, 2 that are heated and swelled on the outer peripheral surface of a conductive resin tube 1 for transferring a fluid. Contact arrangement is made in a back-facing manner (at intervals of 180 °), and contact integration between the resin tube 1 and the foamed rope 2 is realized by the non-conductive exterior material 4. Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, between the foamed ropes 2 and 2, two heat-swelling non-conductive foamed ropes 3 and 3 that are in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the resin tube 1 are provided. It is assumed that six foamed ropes are arranged in a space part between the resin tube 1 and the exterior material 4 so as to contact both inside and outside.

  In the fluid heating tube T, the pair of foamed ropes 2 and 2 function as electrodes to which a voltage is applied, and the non-conductive foamed ropes 3 function as normal heat insulating materials.

  In the conductive foamed rope 2 described above, almost the entire foamed rope extending from the surface to the inside has conductivity.

Hereinafter, the resin tube 1, the conductive foamed rope 2, the nonconductive foamed rope 3, and the exterior material 4 constituting the fluid heating tube T will be described.
(About the configuration of the conductive resin tube 1)
The resin tube 1 should be appropriately selected according to the type of fluid. For example, when used for hot water supply or water supply in a house, the fluid has conductivity, so abnormal temperature rise due to short circuit overcurrent, boiling, etc. In order to prevent this, it is safe that the wetted part on the inner surface has a two-layer structure formed of an insulating layer (for example, polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, polybutene, or fluorine resin).

  Further, when the resin tube 1 has a single-layer structure, in an application where ice frozen in the resin tube 1 needs to be thawed within a predetermined time, a short circuit can be obtained by using the water in the resin tube 1 as a conductor. As a result, the resistance value decreases and the current value increases. As a result, there is an advantage that the total heat generation amount is increased and the thawing time can be shortened.

Here, the resin tube 1 contains a conductive substance (for example, carbon or metal powder) in a resin (for example, a fluororesin such as PTFE, an elastomer such as polyurethane) having a property of generating heat by conduction.
(About the configuration of the conductive foamed rope 2)
The foamed rope 2 is a flexible one formed by foaming rubber (silicon rubber or the like) or resin to which carbon or metal powder is added, and the shape thereof is a rope shape having a substantially circular cross section.

In addition, the foamed rope 2 may be one in which a conductive material such as a copper foil is applied on the side that contacts the outer surface of the resin tube 1. That is, it is only necessary to have a function as the same conductor as the copper wire used as the power supply line.
(About the configuration of non-conductive foam rope 3)
The non-conductive foamed rope 3 is formed by foaming a general material that does not contain a resin having a property of conducting electricity by being electrically conductive, and has a substantially circular cross section. The diameter is the same as that of the foamed rope 2.

This non-conductive foamed rope 3 serves not only as an electrical insulating material but also as a heat insulating material.
(About the structure of the exterior material 4)
The exterior material 4 is a cylindrical cover formed of resin or rubber such as polyethylene, PVC, or polyurethane excellent in electrical insulation and heat resistance, and is a covering cover formed by extrusion molding.

In addition, if a metal braid etc. are added to the outer surface of this exterior material 4, and it can take an earth, safety can be improved.
(About the mode and effect of using this fluid heating tube T)
When this fluid heating tube T is used, a voltage is applied between one foamed rope 2 and the other foamed rope 2, thereby causing the conductive resin tube 1 to generate heat, and the inside of the resin tube 1. Raise the temperature of the fluid.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, when a voltage is applied between one foamed rope 2 and the other foamed rope 2, the resin tube 1 generates heat almost simultaneously through the two foamed ropes 2, 2.

  Furthermore, the fluid flowing through the resin tube 1 is heated by the heat generation. At this time, the foamed rope 2 is heated and swollen by the heat generation, and the contact area with the resin tube 1 is as shown in FIG. As a result, the contact electrical resistance between the surface of the resin tube 1 and the conductive foamed rope 2 as an electrode decreases. Accordingly, since the flow of electricity is improved, the temperature can be increased uniformly to a high temperature even at a relatively low voltage.

  When the foamed rope 2 and the nonconductive foamed rope 3 are densely arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the resin tube 1 as shown in FIG. 1, the improvement in the degree of heating and the nonconductive foamed rope 3 are Due to its presence, the heat retention effect is also excellent.

That is, according to this fluid heating tube T and its heating method, the fluid flowing through the resin tube 1 can be uniformly obtained at a high temperature with a relatively low voltage over its entire length.
(Other)
In the first embodiment, the exterior material 4 is a cylindrical material formed of resin or rubber, but is not limited to this, and a material formed by taping can also be used.

  In the first embodiment, four non-conductive foam ropes 3 are used. However, the number of non-conductive foam ropes 3 is not limited to this, and more may be used. .

  In the first embodiment, the cross-sectional shapes of the conductive foamed rope 2 and the nonconductive foamed rope 3 may be other than circular.

  The conductive foamed rope 2 and the nonconductive foamed rope 3 are preferably arranged in a spiral shape in the longitudinal direction, but may be arranged linearly in the longitudinal direction.

  In Example 1 described above, the conductive foamed rope 2 is substantially entirely foamed from the outer surface to the inner surface, but is not limited to this, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In addition, the electrode may be configured such that a stretchable conductive tape 20 (other conductive resin, fiber, metal, etc.) is attached to the outer surface of the non-conductive foamed rope 3. Or you may make it stick on the surface of the resin tube 1 directly. Further, a conductive paint containing a conductive material may be used. 5 shows a state before the conductive foamed rope 2 and the nonconductive foamed rope 3 used in the fluid heating tube T are heated and swollen, and FIG. 6 is used in the fluid heating tube T. The conductive foamed rope 2 and the non-conductive foamed rope 3 are in a state where they are heated and swollen.

Sectional drawing of the tube for fluid heating which is Example 1 of this invention. The conceptual diagram explaining the state which uses the tube for fluid heating of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the state which the foaming rope used for the said tube for fluid heating and the nonelectroconductive foaming rope heat-swelled. Sectional drawing of the tube for fluid heating of the 1st other Example. Sectional drawing of the tube for fluid heating of the 2nd other Example. Sectional drawing which shows the state which the foaming rope and the nonelectroconductive foaming rope heat-swelled in the tube for fluid heating of the 2nd other Example. The perspective view which shows the conventional exothermic tube (FIG. 1 of patent document 1)

Explanation of symbols

T Fluid heating tube 1 Resin tube 2 Foam rope 3 Non-conductive foam rope 4 Exterior material

Claims (8)

A plurality of foamed ropes that are heated and swelled are arranged in contact with the outer peripheral surface of a conductive resin tube for transferring a fluid, and a pair of back-facing foamed ropes of the foamed ropes are at least on the surface facing the resin tube A fluid heating tube, wherein a conductive layer is formed and contact integration between the resin tube and the foamed rope is realized by a non-conductive exterior material. 2. The fluid heating tube according to claim 1, wherein the foamed rope having the pair of conductive layers is arranged on a diameter line of the resin tube. 3. The fluid heating tube according to claim 1, wherein a non-conductive foam rope is provided between the foamed ropes on which the conductive layers are formed, following the outer peripheral surface of the resin tube. 4. The fluid heating tube according to claim 3, wherein a foamed rope having a conductive layer and a non-conductive foamed rope are densely arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the resin tube. The fluid heating tube according to claim 1, wherein the exterior material is a cylindrical member made of resin or rubber. The fluid heating tube according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the exterior material is formed by rolling a tape. The fluid heating tube according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the foamed rope and the non-conductive foamed rope on which the conductive layer is formed have a substantially circular cross section. A method for heating the fluid in the tube using the fluid heating tube according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a voltage is applied between the conductive layers formed on the pair of foamed ropes. The resin tube generates heat and the foamed rope formed with the conductive layer is swollen by the heat generation, thereby increasing the contact area between the resin tube and the foamed rope formed with the conductive layer, thereby reducing the contact electrical resistance between them. A method for heating a fluid heating tube, wherein an efficient temperature rise of the fluid is obtained.

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