WO2017125771A1

WO2017125771A1 - Electric water heater

Info

Publication number: WO2017125771A1
Application number: PCT/HU2017/000003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dániel FATUSKA; Andor GÁSPÁR
Original assignee: Dániel FATUSKA; Gáspár Andor
Priority date: 2016-01-19
Filing date: 2017-01-19
Publication date: 2017-07-27
Also published as: WO2017125771A8

Abstract

The invention relates to a heater device (1) for heating an electrically conductive liquid, comprising a multiple-part housing having a bottom portion (3), a side wall (4), a cap portion (2) comprising a liquid inlet opening (5) and a liquid outlet opening (6), and an inlet pipe (7) connected to the liquid inlet opening (5), an alternating electrode (11) comprising multiple through-bores, the alternating electrode being arranged horizontally inside the housing, multiple receiver electrodes (12), arranged above one another inside the housing substantially parallel with the plane of the alternating electrode (11) and being spaced apart from one another and from the alternating electrode (11), and electrically insulating spacers (9) and spacer rings (8) adapted for retaining the electrodes at predetermined respective relative positions, where the electrically conductive liquid enters the inner space (10) through the inlet pipe (7) connected to the liquid inlet opening (5), and where the electrically conductive liquid flows through the through-bores and receiver electrodes (12) disposed on the alternating electrode (11) while being heated up by an alternating electric power applied between the alternating electrode (11) and one of the receiver electrodes (12). The heater device according to the invention is characterized in that each receiver electrode (12) is an electrically conductive hemispherical mesh adapted to have a favourable, effect on the flow of bubbles generated inside the liquid at the rim (15) of the through-bores (14) of the alternating electrode (11).

Description

Electric water heater

Technical field

The invention relates to a heater device for heating an electrically conductive liquid.

Background art

A heating device for heating an electrically conductive liquid, preferably water, is disclosed in the patent description US 4,730,098. The device has a housing comprising a housing body and a cap portion having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet opening, with at least one but preferably multiple pairs of electrodes being arranged inside the housing. For flow direction purposes there are short pipe sections included between the electrodes. The pairs of electrodes are electrically connected to a preferably alternating-voltage power source adapted for heating the liquid, preferably water, that is situated between the electrode plates.

The inlet pipe is connected to a water source through a pipe, with the liquid outlet being connected through a pipe to the inlet of the device utilizing the hot water. The direction of flow of the liquid therefore points from the inlet pipe towards the outlet pipe. The flow passes through the inlet pipe and into the lower part of the device, from where it is directed first upwards through bores formed in the electrodes through the two portions bounded by pipe sections and then downwards through further bores formed in the electrodes, and being finally directed upwards again between the pipe sections and the outer wall as far as through the outlet opening.

The document with the publication number WO 2011/082441 A2 discloses a device for heating a liquid comprising a multiple-part housing having an inlet and an outlet, and at least two electrodes arranged inside the housing. The electrodes are electrically connected to a pulse generator. The device is adapted for heating an electrically conductive liquid flowing between the electrodes. The device further comprises a retarder chamber for the liquid.

A common drawback of known technical solutions is that the flow path taken by the liquid is long and has a lower cross section area, resulting in a low potential flow rate of the liquid flowing through the device. Disclosure of invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a water heater device adapted for eliminating the disadvantages of known solutions.

The heater device according to the invention is based on the recognition that such a pair of electrodes is applied which consists of an alternating electrode and multiple receiver electrodes that can be activated independent of one another, where the distance between the pair of electrodes can be adjusted without any moving parts. The distance between the pair of electrodes can be adjusted by activating different receiver electrodes.

The objective of the invention is fulfilled by providing a heater device that comprises a multiple-part housing having a bottom portion, a side wall, and a cap portion comprising a liquid inlet opening and a liquid outlet opening, and an inlet pipe connected to the liquid inlet opening, an alternating electrode comprising multiple through-bores, the alternating electrode being arranged horizontally inside the housing, multiple receiver electrodes, arranged above one another inside the housing substantially parallel with the plane of the alternating electrode and being spaced apart from one another and from the alternating electrode, electrically insulating spacers and spacer rings adapted for retaining the electrodes at predetermined respective relative positions, where the electrically conductive liquid enters the inner space through the inlet pipe connected to the liquid inlet opening, and where the electrically conductive liquid flows through the through-bores and receiver electrodes while being heated up by an alternating electric power applied between the alternating electrode and one of the receiver electrodes, the device being characterized in that each receiver electrode is an electrically conductive hemispherical mesh adapted to have a favourable effect on the flow of bubbles generated inside the liquid at the rim of the through-bores of the alternating electrode.

In a preferred embodiment of the heater device according to the invention the receiver electrodes, with each receiver electrode being implemented as an electrically conductive hemispherical mesh, can be individually included in or excluded from the circuit in order to adjust the distance between the alternating electrode and the active receiver electrode as a function of the power consumption of the liquid flowing through the device, such that at any given time only a single receiver electrode is included in the circuit. In a preferred embodiment of the heater device according to the invention the electric connections to the receiver electrodes implemented as an electrically conductive hemispherical mesh and the alternating electrode are provided through a further bore disposed on the cap portion.

In a preferred embodiment of the heater device according to the invention a thermometer unit is introduced into the inner space through the further through-bore.

In a preferred embodiment of the heater device according to the invention the through-bores situated on the alternating electrode are arranged according to multiple different geometric patterns adapted for affecting the flow rate of the liquid flowing through the device.

Brief description of drawings

A preferred embodiment of the heater device according to the invention is explained below in detail referring to the attached drawings, where

Fig. 1 is the sectional view of the heater device according to the invention,

Fig. 2a is a top plan view of the alternating electrode of the heater device according to Fig. 1, showing a preferred bore arrangement,

Fig. 2b is a top plan view of the alternating electrode of the heater device according to Fig. 1, showing another preferred bore arrangement, and

Fig. 3 is the schematic circuit diagram of the control circuits belonging to each of the electrodes.

Best mode of carrying out the invention

Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of the heater device 1 according to the invention that is adapted for heating an electrically conductive liquid, preferably water.

The housing of the heater device 1 is formed of a preferably cylindrical side wall 4, a bottom portion 3 closing off the side wall 4 from below, and a cap portion 2 adapted to close off the side wall 4 at the top. The cap portion 2 comprises a liquid inlet opening 5 and a liquid outlet opening 6, with an electrically insulating inlet pipe 7 being inserted into the liquid inlet opening 5 and with an outlet branch 13 being inserted into the liquid outlet opening 6.

In the inner space 10 of the housing there are arranged an alternating electrode 11 and multiple receiver electrodes 12, the receiver electrodes being spaced apart from one another and from the alternating electrodes 11 by electrically insulating spacers 9 and spacer rings 8, and being arranged substantially parallel with the plane of the alternating electrode 11.

The receiver electrodes 12 are implemented essentially as an electrically conductive hemispherical mesh that is seated at the rim 15 of the through-bores 14 of the alternating electrode 11 and is adapted for favourably affecting the flow of the bubbles generated by heating in the liquid - preferably water - held in the heater device. The hemispherical meshes are formed such that the bubbles generated in the higher current-drain region proximate to the edges of the alternating electrode 11 are directed towards the centre of the liquid column, where a larger quantity of bubbles is collected as the alternating electrode 11 meets the central bubble column situated at a greater distance from the hemispherical mesh, followed by the bubbles being released through the circular aperture located between the upper rim of the hemispherical mesh and the inlet opening 7 in a pulse-like manner at a resulting tipping point.

The alternating electrode 11 and the receiver electrodes 12 of the heater device are electrically separated from one another those are connected respectively to an alternating electric power provided by a circuit known per se and to the neutral point corresponding to the alternating voltage of the circuit. To adjust the distance between the alternating electrode 11 and the active receiver electrode 12, depending on the power drain of the electrically conductive liquid - essentially, water - flowing through the device the electrodes can be connected to and disconnected from the neutral point of the circuit in a manner known per se. At any given time only a single receiver electrode 12, selected depending on the actual temperature, is connected to the neutral point, thereby adjusting the distance between the currently operating electrodes. When a different electrode is connected, the current drain of the affected flow section drops significantly. The alternating electrode 11 and the receiver electrodes 12 of the heater device are connected in a manner known to the skilled person through a further through-bore disposed on the cap portion 2. Alternatively, a conventional circuit monitoring current drain can also be utilized, in which case the switching point is determined by current drain rather than temperature.

Other electrical devices, such as a thermometer adapted for measuring inside temperature can also be connected through the through-bore formed in the cap portion 2. The spacers 9 and spacer rings 8 are arranged such that the receiver electrodes 12 implemented as a hemispherical conductive mesh are seated on them and are retained in a predetermined position. The insulating spacers 9 and spacer rings 8 are adapted to prevent the applied electric current from bypassing the flowing electrically conductive liquid and short-circuiting the alternating electrode 11 and the receiver electrodes 12.

There are disposed multiple regularly arranged through-bores 14 in the alternating electrode 11. The arrangement of the through-bores 14 may be modified depending on the desired current drain and liquid flow rate. The bores are arranged such that the differently sized and situated bores facilitate the mixing of the liquid and thus allow for more even and quicker heating. Such exemplary preferred bore arrangements are illustrated in Figs. 2a and 2b.

The thickness of the electrode sheet material is basically related to the heating rate and the thermal inertia of the liquid column. With a lower-thickness (thinner) alternating electrode 11 faster heating can be achieved, but the heated liquid mass also loses heat faster. With a thicker alternating electrode 11 the heating rate is lower but thermal inertia is higher.

p =p20(l+a20At)

where

p20 is the specific resistance measured at 20 °C

a20 is the temperature coefficient measured at 20 °C

At = t - 20 °C

According to the formula above, if the alternating electrode 11 and the receiver electrodes 12 are regarded as part of the liquid, and therefore the whole mass is treated as a single homogeneous one, since specific resistance is constantly changing, by calculating the specific thermal capacity of the liquid and the electrodes in a mass-proportional manner the input power required for a temperature change At can be calculated.

Each receiver electrode of the heater device according to the invention can be connected applying, by way of example, the two-stage circuit illustrated in Fig. 3. The first circuit stage Kl is a low-voltage stage comprising a voltage divider section that can be controlled with a variable resistor 16, another voltage divider section controlled by a thermistor 17 disposed inside the liquid column, and a comparator circuit 18 adapted for processing the output signals known per se provided by the two voltage dividers. The output signal of the comparator controls the second circuit stage in an electrically isolated manner, preferably through an opto-isolator circuit 19 that is directly connected to one of the alternating electrode 11 and the receiver electrodes 12. Applying the circuits corresponding thereto, the receiver electrode 12 to be connected can be selected as desired. The operation of the variable resistor 16 of the voltage divider adapted to be adjusted utilizing the variable resistor 16 and the selection of the receiver electrode 12 can be coordinated applying external control means in a manner known per se.

During the heating process the electrically conductive liquid, preferably water, enters the lower part of the internal space 10 bounded by the housing through the electrically insulating inlet pipe 7 connected to the liquid inlet opening 5, where it flows through the through-bores 14 formed in the alternating electrode 11. At the rim 15 of the through-bores 14 cavitation bubbles are generated in the liquid flowing through the device. The bubbles have an effect on the further flow of the liquid. The bubble-liquid mixture thus produced flows through the electrically conductive hemispherical mesh constituting the receiver electrode 12 while being heated up by the alternating electric power applied between the alternating electrode 11 and one of the electrically conductive hemispherical meshes constituting the receiver electrodes 12, with the electrically conductive hemispherical mesh constituting the receiver electrode 12 having a favourable effect on the bubbles and thereby on the flow of the liquid. The liquid heated up as described above leaves the heater device 1 through the liquid outlet opening 6. During the process the current drain of the device, and thus the electric power applied to the flowing liquid, can be adjusted by connecting the electrically conductive hemispherical meshes constituting the receiver electrodes 12 as desired, thereby making the heating process more economical.

The advantage of the heater device according to the invention is that it can be utilized for heating the electrically conductive medium, preferably water, flowing through it with lower electric current consumption compared to existing technical solutions. List of reference numerals

1 - heater device

2 - cap portion

3 - bottom portion

4 - side wall

5 - inlet opening

6 - outlet opening

7 - inlet pipe

8 - spacer ring

9 - spacer

10 - inner space

11 - alternating electrode

12 - receiver electrode

13 - outlet branch

14 - through-bore

15 - rim

16 - variable resistor

17 - thermistor

18 - comparator circuit

19 - opto-isolator

Claims

1. Heater device (1) for heating an electrically conductive liquid, comprising a multiple-part housing having a bottom portion (3), a side wall (4), a cap portion (2) comprising a liquid inlet opening (5) and a liquid outlet opening (6), and an inlet pipe (7) connected to the liquid inlet opening (5), an alternating electrode (11) comprising multiple through-bores, the alternating electrode being arranged horizontally inside the housing, multiple receiver electrodes (12), arranged above one another inside the housing substantially parallel with the plane of the alternating electrode (11) and being spaced apart from one another and from the alternating electrode (11), and electrically insulating spacers (9) and spacer rings (8) adapted for retaining the electrodes at predetermined respective relative positions, where the electrically conductive liquid enters the inner space (10) through the inlet pipe (7) connected to the liquid inlet opening (5), and where the electrically conductive liquid flows through the through-bores and receiver electrodes (12) disposed on the alternating electrode (11) while being heated up by an alternating electric power applied between the alternating electrode (11) and one of the receiver electrodes (12), characterized in that each receiver electrode (12) is an electrically conductive hemispherical mesh adapted to have a favourable effect on the flow of bubbles generated inside the liquid at the rim (15) of the through-bores (14) of the alternating electrode (11).

2. The heater device (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the receiver electrodes (12), with each receiver electrode being implemented as an electrically conductive hemispherical mesh, can be individually included in or excluded from the circuit in order to adjust the distance between the alternating electrode (11) and the active receiver electrode (12) as a function of the power consumption of the liquid flowing through the device, such that at any given time only a single receiver electrode (12) is included in the circuit.

3. The heater device (1) according to any one of Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electric connections to the receiver electrodes (12) implemented as an electrically conductive hemispherical mesh and the alternating electrode (11) are provided through a further bore disposed on the cap portion (2).

4. The heater device (1) according to any one of the previous Claims, characterized in that a thermometer unit is introduced into the inner space (10) through the further through-bore.

5. The heater device (1) according to any one of the previous Claims, characterized in that the through-bores situated on the alternating electrode (11) are arranged according to multiple different geometric patterns adapted for affecting the flow quantity of the liquid flowing through the device.