US 10,145,586 B2 · Flameless heater

Abstract

A flameless heater includes a diesel engine, a hydraulic or electric load that is powered by the diesel engine thereby generating heat, a heat exchanger that transfers heat to air flowing through the air from the flameless heat source, and possibly other heat exchangers for heating the air flowing therethrough with engine coolant and/or with exhaust gases. The system may be operated to maintain relatively high load on the engine for at least the majority of the time so as to reduce or negate the need for parked regeneration. The system may also control airflow through the system and possibly other system parameters to obtain a given setpoint such as a given discharge air temperature. In one embodiment, airflow through the system is controlled by louvers under the power of an electric motor or other actuator controlled by the system's controller.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A flameless heater comprising:

a. a diesel engine;
b. a flameless heat source that is powered by the engine;
c. a plenum having an ambient air inlet and a heated air outlet;
d. a heater that receives heat energy from the heat source and that that heats air flowing through the plenum;
and
e. controls that control the engine, the heat source, and airflow through the plenum so as to maintain engine load at or above 35% of a maximum load for the engine for at least 75% of operation time, post warm up, so as to avoid the need for parked regeneration to avoid soot buildup.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flameless heater

Life of this patent

Flameless heater

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26