Self-contained flameless heat transfer fluid heating system

A closed loop heating system comprising:

• an internal combustion engine provided with engine coolant flowing to and from the engine, and heated hereby;
• a reservoir having a supply of heat transfer fluid;
• a pump in fluid communication with the reservoir and configured for transferring the heat transfer fluid;
• a fluid heat exchanger in fluid communication with the pump and the internal combustion engine configured to receive heated engine coolant from the internal combustion engine, and to transfer heat from the heated engine coolant to the heat transfer fluid to heat the transfer fluid and provide heated transfer fluid;
• a heat generator in fluid communication with the fluid heat exchanger and configured to receive the heated transfer fluid directly in a free flow therefrom and to circulate the heated transfer fluid from the fluid heat exchanger within the heat generator to further heat the heated transfer fluid;
• a control valve having an inlet in fluid communication with the heat generator, and first and second outlets configured to discharge the heated transfer fluid rescued from the heat generator, control valve inlet being configured for directly receiving the heated transfer fluid from the heat generator;
• a first fluid delivery conduit arranged to provide the heated transfer fluid from the first outlet of the control valve to a hose structure having an extendable and retractable closed loop conduit arrangement configured to apply radiant heat to a surface in a ground loop mode during which the heated transfer fluid has heat removed therefrom;
• a first fluid return conduit configured to return the heated transfer fluid with heat removed from the hose structure to a first inlet on the reservoir;
• a second fluid delivery conduit arranged to provide the heated transfer fluid from the second outlet of the control valve to an inlet of a fluid to air heat exchanger configured to provide a source of heated air in an air heat mode during which the heated transfer fluid has heat removed;
• and
• a second fluid return conduit separate from the first fluid return conduit configured to return the heated transfer fluid with heat removed to a second inlet on the reservoir,
• wherein the control valve is configured to selectively control flow of the heated transfer fluid from the heat generator in a first mode to the conduit arrangement, in a second mode to the fluid to air heat exchanger, and in a third mode to both the conduit arrangement and the fluid to air heat exchanger.

A closed loop heating system comprising:

• an internal combustion engine provided with engine coolant and exhaust gases that are heated by the engine;
• a reservoir containing a supply of heat transfer fluid and having a supply outlet and a return inlet;
• a pump driven by the internal combustion engine in fluid communication with the reservoir for circulating the heat transfer fluid within the system, the pump having an inlet connected to the supply outlet of the reservoir, and an outlet for discharging the heat transfer fluid therefrom;
• a fluid heat exchanger in fluid communication with the pump and the internal combustion engine, the fluid heat exchanger receiving heated engine coolant from the internal combustion engine and transferring heat from the heated engine coolant to the heat transfer fluid to heat the heat transfer fluid, the fluid heat exchanger having a fluid inlet connected to the outlet of the pump, and a fluid outlet for discharging heated transfer fluid therefrom;
• a heat generator driven by the internal combustion engine and in fluid communication with the fluid heat exchanger, the heat generator being configured to receive the heated transfer fluid in a free flow directly from the fluid heat exchanger, and further to circulate the heated transfer fluid within the heat generator to cause further heating of the heated transfer fluid therein, the heat generator having an inlet connected to the fluid outlet of the fluid heat exchanger, and an outlet for discharging the heated transfer fluid therefrom;
• a control valve arrangement defined by a three-way control valve having an inlet connected to the outlet of the heat generator, and configured for directly receiving the heated transfer fluid from the outlet of the heat generator, and first and second outlets for discharging the heated transfer fluid received from the heat generator;
• a fluid to air heat exchanger in fluid communication with the heat generator and the reservoir, the fluid to air heat exchanger configured to receive heated heat transfer fluid from the heat generator and transfer heat from the heat transfer fluid to a volume of air without requiring the heated transfer fluid to be heated by the exhaust gases of the engine, the fluid to air heat exchanger having an inlet connected to the first outlet of the three-way control valve, and an outlet connected to the return inlet of the reservoir, and
• an extendable closed loop conduit arrangement in fluid communication with the heat generator and the reservoir, the extendable closed loop conduit arrangement having an inlet connected to the second outlet of the three-way control valve, and an outlet connected to the return inlet of the reservoir,
• wherein the three-way control valve is configured to selectively control flow of the heated transfer fluid from the heat generator in one mode to the fluid to air heat exchanger, in another mode to the extendable closed loop conduit arrangement and in yet another mode, to both the fluid to air heat exchanger and the extendable closed loop conduit arrangement.