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US 10,161,639 B2Granted
Heat transfer apparatus and heat transfer system for masonry heater
OwnerJoseph Copelandinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and system for efficiently and safely transferring heat from a masonry heater to an external heating device using coil pipes and a liquid circulation pump. Circulation of a heat transfer liquid in the apparatus and system is controlled based on the measured temperature of the heat transfer liquid in the coil pipe on a return side of the masonry heater. Two additional sensors near the external heating device are used to control the flow rate of the circulation of the heat transfer liquid in the apparatus and system, thereby controlling the amount of heat actually transferred to the external heating device.
Claims30
A heat transfer apparatus for a masonry heater, the heat transfer apparatus comprising:
- a coil pipe having a first portion winding back and forth in a firebox of the masonry heater and positioned to be exposed to fire in the firebox, and a second portion extending between an exterior surface of the masonry heater and an interior surface of the masonry heater at the firebox, a liquid circulation path of the heat transfer apparatus extending continuously at least through the first portion and the second portion of the coil pipe;
- a first sensor disposed in the liquid circulation path within the first portion of the coil pipe which is within the firebox and exposed to fire in the firebox on a return side of the coil pipe, at least a portion of the first sensor extending at least partially through the second portion of the coil pipe in the liquid circulation path, the first sensor being configured to detect a temperature of a heat transfer liquid in the liquid circulation path at the return side of the coil pipe;
- a circulation pump configured to transfer the heat transfer liquid from the coil pipe to an output of the heat transfer apparatus as a result of the circulation pump being in an operational state;
- and
- a controller configured to control whether the circulation pump is in the operational state based at least in part on the temperature detected by the first sensor.
2 more elements
A heat transfer apparatus for a masonry heater, the heat transfer apparatus comprising:
- a coil pipe having a first portion winding back and forth in a firebox of the masonry heater and positioned to be exposed to fire in the firebox, and a second portion extending between an exterior surface of the masonry heater and an interior surface of the masonry heater at the firebox, a liquid circulation path of the heat transfer apparatus extending continuously at least through the first portion and the second portion of the coil pipe;
- a first sensor disposed in the liquid circulation path on a return side of the coil pipe, at least a portion of the first sensor extending at least partially through the second portion of the coil pipe in the liquid circulation path, the first sensor being configured to detect a temperature of a heat transfer liquid in the liquid circulation path at the return side of the coil pipe;
- a circulation pump configured to transfer the heat transfer liquid from the coil pipe to an output of the heat transfer apparatus as a result of the circulation pump being in an operational state;
- a controller configured to control whether the circulation pump is in the operational state based at least in part on the temperature detected by the first sensor;
- a second sensor that measures the temperature of the heat transfer liquid at the output of the heat transfer apparatus, downstream of the first sensor and the circulation pump;
- and
- a third sensor that measures the temperature of the heat transfer liquid at an input of the heat transfer apparatus, wherein the heat transfer liquid at the input of the heat transfer apparatus is liquid that was transferred from the output of the heat transfer apparatus to an external heating device, and that has reentered the heat transfer apparatus at the input of the heat transfer apparatus, and wherein the controller is configured to control a variable flow rate of the circulation pump based on a first temperature difference between the temperatures measured by the second sensor and the third sensor;
- and
- wherein the controller is configured to determine a first temperature difference between the temperatures measured by the second sensor and the third sensor, the controller is configured to increase the variable flow rate of the circulation pump as a result of the first temperature difference is greater than a first temperature threshold, and the controller is configured to decrease the variable flow rate of the circulation pump as a result of the first temperature difference is less than the first temperature threshold.
6 more elements
A heat transfer system comprising:
- a masonry heater having a firebox;
- a coil pipe having a first portion winding back and forth in the firebox and being positioned to be exposed to fire in the firebox, a second portion extending between an exterior surface of the masonry heater and an interior surface of the masonry heater at the firebox, a liquid circulation path extending continuously at least through the first portion and the second portion of the coil pipe;
- a first sensor disposed in the liquid circulation path within the first portion of the coil pipe which is within the firebox and exposed to fire in the firebox on a return side of the coil pipe, at least a portion of the first sensor extending at least partially through the second portion of the coil pipe in the liquid circulation path, the first sensor being configured to detect a temperature of a heat transfer liquid in the liquid circulation path at the return side of the coil pipe;
- a heating device connected to the return side of the coil pipe to absorb heat from the heat transfer liquid transferred from the masonry heater;
- a circulation pump configured to transfer the heat transfer liquid through the coil pipe to an output of the coil pipe as a result of the circulation pump being in an operational state;
- and
- a controller configured to control whether the circulation pump is in the operational state based at least in part on the temperature detected by the first sensor.
4 more elements
A heat transfer system comprising:
- a masonry heater having a firebox;
- a coil pipe having a first portion winding back and forth in the firebox and being positioned to be exposed to fire in the firebox, a second portion extending between an exterior surface of the masonry heater and an interior surface of the masonry heater at the firebox, a liquid circulation path extending continuously at least through the first portion and the second portion of the coil pipe;
- a first sensor disposed in the liquid circulation path on a return side of the coil pipe, at least a portion of the first sensor extending at least partially through the second portion of the coil pipe in the liquid circulation path, the first sensor being configured to detect a temperature of a heat transfer liquid in the liquid circulation path at the return side of the coil pipe;
- a heating device connected to the return side of the coil pipe to absorb heat from the heat transfer liquid transferred from the masonry heater;
- a circulation pump configured to transfer the heat transfer liquid through the coil pipe to an output of the coil pipe as a result of the circulation pump being in an operational state;
- a controller configured to control whether the circulation pump is in the operational state based at least in part on the temperature detected by the first sensor;
- a second sensor that measures the temperature of the liquid at the output of the coil pipe, downstream of the first sensor and the circulation pump;
- and
- a third sensor that measures the temperature of the liquid at an input of the coil pipe, wherein the liquid at the input of the coil pipe is liquid that was transferred from the output of the coil pipe to an external heating device, and that has reentered the coil pipe at the input of the coil pipe;
- and
- wherein:
- the controller is configured to control a flow rate of the circulation pump based on a first temperature difference between the temperatures measured by the second sensor and the third sensor,
- the controller is configured to determine a first temperature difference between the temperatures measured by the second sensor and the third sensor,
- the controller is configured to increase the flow rate of the circulation pump as a result of the first temperature difference being greater than a first temperature threshold, and
- the controller is configured to decrease the flow rate of the circulation pump as a result of the first temperature difference being less than the first temperature threshold.
12 more elements
A heat transfer apparatus for a masonry heater, the heat transfer apparatus comprising:
- a coil pipe having a first portion winding back and forth in a firebox of the masonry heater and positioned to be exposed to fire in the firebox, and a second portion extending between an exterior surface of the masonry heater and an interior surface of the masonry heater at the firebox, a liquid circulation path of the heat transfer apparatus extending continuously at least through the first portion and the second portion of the coil pipe;
- a first sensor disposed in the liquid circulation path within the first portion of the coil pipe which is within the firebox and exposed to fire in the firebox, the first sensor being configured to detect a temperature of a heat transfer liquid in the liquid circulation path;
- a circulation pump configured to transfer the heat transfer liquid from the coil pipe to an output of the heat transfer apparatus as a result of the circulation pump being in an operational state;
- and
- a controller configured to control whether the circulation pump is in the operational state based at least in part on the temperature detected by the first sensor.
2 more elements
A heat transfer system comprising:
- a masonry heater having a firebox;
- a coil pipe having a first portion winding back and forth in the firebox and being positioned to be exposed to fire in the firebox, a second portion extending between an exterior surface of the masonry heater and an interior surface of the masonry heater at the firebox, a liquid circulation path extending continuously at least through the first portion and the second portion of the coil pipe;
- a first sensor disposed in the liquid circulation path within the first portion of the coil pipe which is within the firebox and exposed to fire in the firebox, the first sensor being configured to detect a temperature of a heat transfer liquid in the liquid circulation path;
- a heating device connected to a return side of the coil pipe to absorb heat from the heat transfer liquid transferred from the masonry heater;
- a circulation pump configured to transfer the heat transfer liquid through the coil pipe to an output of the coil pipe as a result of the circulation pump being in an operational state;
- and
- a controller configured to control whether the circulation pump is in the operational state based at least in part on the temperature detected by the first sensor.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.