WO2010079458A2

WO2010079458A2 - Apparatus for and a method of heating a fluid

Info

Publication number: WO2010079458A2
Application number: PCT/IB2010/050062
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Michael Thoresson
Original assignee: Brits, Christo
Priority date: 2009-01-08
Filing date: 2010-01-08
Publication date: 2010-07-15
Also published as: WO2010079458A3

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for heating a fluid comprises a conduit (12) defining a flow path (12.4) for the fluid extending between an inlet (12.1) and an outlet (12.2) for the fluid. A turbine (14) is arranged to be driven by the fluid flowing in the flow path. A generator (16) of electricity is connected to be driven by the turbine. An electrical heating element (20) is connected to the generator to be energized by the electricity and to heat the fluid in a heating region (12.3) of the conduit (12).

Description

APPARATUS FOR AND A METHOD OF HEATING A FLUID

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

This invention relates to fluid heating apparatus and an associated method and more particularly to an apparatus for heating water and an associated method.

Hot water geysers comprising an insulated storage vessel (with a capacity of tens of liters) and an electrical heating element for heating the water in the vessel are well known in the art. A disadvantage of these known geysers is that all the water in the vessel is always kept above a certain thermostat controlled temperature. In practice, the water stored in the vessel may not be used for an extended period of time and then, to keep the entire volume of water at said temperature is unnecessary, wastes electricity and is hence unnecessarily costly.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for heating a fluid and an associated method with which the applicant believes the aforementioned disadvantages may at least be alleviated or which may provide a useful alternative for the known apparatus and methods, at least in some applications. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for heating a fluid comprising: a conduit defining a flow path for the fluid extending between an inlet for the fluid and an outlet for the fluid; a turbine arranged to be driven by the fluid flowing in the flow path; a generator for generating electricity and which is connected to be driven by the turbine; and an electrical heating element connected to the generator to be energized by the generated electricity and to heat the fluid flowing in the flow path.

The fluid may be a gas or a liquid, typically water.

The fluid may be heated in a heating region of the conduit located between the inlet and the outlet.

The heating region of the conduit may comprise a coiled part of the conduit. The heating region of the conduit may be upstream, alternatively downstream of the turbine.

In some embodiments, the heating element may be located inside the conduit and in the flow path.

In other embodiments, the heating element may be located outside and adjacent the conduit. In some such embodiments, the heating element may be looped around the conduit, which may be linear. In other such embodiments wherein the heating region comprises a coiled part of the conduit, the heating element may be intertwined with the coils, such as looped or threaded through or between the coils, to ensure optimum or suitable transmission of heat from the heating element to the fluid flowing through the heating region

At least the heating region and the heating element may be enclosed in a heat insulated enclosure.

The apparatus may comprise electronic circuitry connected between the generator and the heating element. The electronic circuitry may comprise a charge storage device, such as a rechargeable battery, and a charger for the charge storage device.

An electrical output terminal may be connectable to the charge storage device. In one application of the apparatus, a valve may be connected to the outlet. The valve may be provided by a manually operable hot water tap.

In another application, the conduit may be configured to be connectable in a water filtration circuit of a swimming pool. In a preferred form of this application, the conduit is configured to be connected between a swimming pool pump and an inlet for water into the swimming pool.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of heating a fluid comprising the steps of: causing the fluid to flow between a first point and a second point; utilizing the fluid flowing between the first and second points to drive a turbine; causing the turbine to drive an electrical generator to generate electricity; and utilizing the generated electricity to heat the fluid flowing between the first point and the second point. The fluid may be water and the second point may be connected to a tap, so that water flowing towards and through the tap is heated in real time and on demand, before it exits the tap.

In another form of the method, the second point may be connected to an inlet for water to a swimming pool, so that water flowing towards the swimming pool is heated before it enters the swimming pool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DIAGRAMS

The invention will now further be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrams wherein: figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment of the fluid heating apparatus according to the invention; figure 2 is a similar illustration of a second embodiment of the apparatus; figure 3 is a similar illustration of a third embodiment of the apparatus in one application thereof; figure 4 is a similar illustration of another application of the apparatus; and figure 5 is a similar illustration of a fourth embodiment of the apparatus. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus for heating a fluid, including, but not limited to water, is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in the figures.

The apparatus 10 comprises a conduit 12 defining a flow path 12.4 extending between a first point such as an inlet 12.1 to the conduit and a second point such as an outlet 12.2 form the conduit. A turbine 14 is arranged to be driven by fluid flowing in the flow path 12.4 between the inlet 1 2.1 and the outlet 12.2. A generator 16 for generating electricity is connected to be driven by the turbine 14. An electrical heating element 20 is connected to the generator 16 to be energized by the electricity and to heat the fluid flowing in the flow path 1 2.4 in a heating region 12.3 of the conduit. The heating region 12.3 is located between the inlet 12.1 and the outlet 12.2.

Electronic circuitry 18 is connected between the generator 16 and the heating element 20 to convert the electricity generated by the generator into a suitable form. The circuitry may comprise a voltage step-up transformer (not shown) and/or suitable converter components (also not shown). The circuitry 18 is dictated by an application of the apparatus 10, and would be well known to a person skilled in the art. In the embodiment shown in figure 2, the heating region 12.3 of the conduit 12 comprises a coiled region thereof. The conduit is made of a heat transmitting material and the heating element 20 is located outside of the flow path 12.4, but adjacent to and intertwined with the coils, such as looped or threaded through or between the coils, to ensure optimum or suitable transmission of heat from the heating element through the wall of the heating region of the conduit to the fluid flowing through the heating region 12.3.

In the application shown in figure 3, the apparatus 10 is employed inline, to heat water in real time and on demand, before the water exits through the outlet 12.2. More particularly, a valve (not shown) housed in a manually operable tap 30 is provided at or close to the outlet 1 2.2 from the conduit. In this embodiment (and also in other embodiments, which would be clear to the person skilled in the art) the heating element 20 may optionally be located inside the flow path 1 2.4.

It will be appreciated that, while the valve is closed, water does not flow in the flow path 12.4, the apparatus is in an off-status, the turbine is stationary and no electricity is generated. However, the apparatus is switched to an on-status when the valve is opened, to enable water to flow along the flow path 12.4 to exit through the outlet 1 2.2. The flowing water drives the turbine 14, which in turn drives the generator 1 6, to generate electricity in known manner. The electricity energizes the heating element 20, to heat the water before the water exits through the outlet. When the tap 30 is closed, the water flow is stopped and no electricity is generated. This off-status of the apparatus is maintained until the tap 30 is opened again, to cause water to flow along the flow path 12.4 and through the outlet 12.2, as hereinbefore described.

In the application shown in figure 4, the apparatus 10 is used in-line with a water filtration circuit 42 of a swimming pool 40 to heat filtered water before it re-enters the pool. A pump 44 circulates water in known manner through the circuit 42 from an outlet region 46 of the pool and causes the filtered water to be injected back into the pool at an inlet 48 into the pool. The apparatus 10 may be and preferably is installed adjacent said inlet 48 to the pool. Hence, while the pump 44 is running, water flowing through the flow path 12.4 drives the turbine 14. The turbine 14 drives the generator 16 and electricity generated by the generator energizes the heating element 20 to heat the water, before the water is injected into the pool via the inlet 48. In the embodiment shown in figure 5, the electronic circuitry 1 8 comprises or is connected to a charger 50 and the charger 50 is connected to a charge storage device, such as a rechargeable battery 52. The battery 52 is connected via a manually or automatically operable switch 54 to a load 56. In an application such as that shown in figure 4, the load may be a swimming pool light (not shown). The battery may also be connected or connectable via a suitable switch (also not shown) to an output terminal, connection or socket 58 for electricity generated by the generator 16 and stored on the charge storage device 52.

It will be appreciated that there are many variations in detail on the apparatus 10 and associated method without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims. For example, the heating region 12.3 may, instead of being downstream of the turbine 14 as shown in the figures, be upstream thereof. Furthermore, at least the heating region 12.3 and the heating element 20 may be located in a heat insulating housing or jacket (not shown). The conduit 12 may be made of a heat transmitting material. However, especially in embodiments wherein the heating element is located in the flow path 12.4, at least the heating region part 12.3 of the conduit and preferably also a part of the conduit downstream of the heating region 12.3 may be made of a heat insulating material. In some embodiments, this material may also be an electricity insulating material.

Claims

1 . Apparatus for heating a fluid comprising: a conduit defining a flow path for the fluid extending between an inlet for the fluid and an outlet for the fluid; a turbine arranged to be driven by the fluid flowing in the flow path; a generator for generating electricity and which is connected to be driven by the turbine; and an electrical heating element connected to the generator to be energized by the electricity and to heat the fluid flowing in the flow path.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid is heated in a heating region of the conduit located between the inlet and the outlet.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the heating region of the conduit comprises a coiled part of the conduit.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 and 3 wherein the heating region of the conduit is downstream of the turbine.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the heating element is located inside the conduit and in the flow path.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the heating element is located outside and adjacent the conduit.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein at least the heating region and the heating element are enclosed in a heat insulated enclosure.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 comprising electronic circuitry connected between the generator and the heating element.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a charge storage device and a charger for the charge storage device.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein an electrical output terminal is connectable to the charge storage device.

1 1 . Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein a valve is connected to the outlet.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 1 wherein the valve is provided by a manually operable hot water tap.

1 3. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the conduit is configured to be connectable in a water filtration circuit of a swimming pool.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the conduit is configured to be connected between a swimming pool pump and an inlet for water into the swimming pool.

15. A method of heating a fluid comprising the steps of: causing the fluid to flow between a first point and a second point; utilizing the fluid flowing between the first and second points to drive a turbine; causing the turbine to drive an electrical generator to generate electricity; and utilizing the generated electricity to heat the fluid flowing between the first point and the second point.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the fluid is water and wherein the second point is connected to a tap, so that water flowing towards the tap is heated before it exits the tap.

7. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the fluid is water and wherein the second point is connected to an inlet for water to a swimming pool, so that water flowing towards the swimming pool is heated before it enters the swimming pool.