Temperature control system for remote water tanks
OwnerMike Liskinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to preventing or lessening ice in remote water tanks. The remote water tanks can include a body at least partially defining a chamber that receives a liquid and having an open top portion that provides one or more animals access to the liquid. Further, a heat exchanger can be at least partially received within the chamber, and can receive a thermal transfer fluid that is circulated therethrough to maintain a temperature of the liquid in the chamber. Also, an external heat collector can be in fluid communication with the heat exchanger to transfer solar or other heat to the thermal transfer fluid as the thermal transfer fluid is circulated therethrough.
Claims20
A solar powered watering system, comprising:
- an open air water tank at least partially defining a chamber that receives water therein, and having an at least partially open top portion that provides exterior access to the water in the chamber of the water tank;
- a heat exchanger at least partially received within the chamber, and comprising a closed loop tubing component having a thermal transfer fluid circulated therethrough to warm the water in the chamber of the water tank;
- the closed loop tubing component being at least partially submerged in the water and spaced from a bottom of the water tank;
- a heat collector in fluid communication with the closed loop tubing component of the heat exchanger that transfers heat to the thermal transfer fluid as the thermal transfer fluid is continuously or dynamically circulated through the heat exchanger and the closed loop tubing component;
- and
- one or more sensors operable to detect a temperature of the water in the chamber of the water tank,
- wherein when the one or more sensors detects that the temperature of the water is below a first threshold temperature, a pump in fluid communication with the heat exchanger starts circulation of the thermal transfer fluid through the closed loop tubing component and the pump turns off when the water is at or above a second threshold temperature greater than the first threshold temperature.
A method of controlling temperature of water received in a chamber of an open air water tank, comprising:
- circulating a thermal transfer fluid through a heat exchanger with a closed loop of tubing that is at least partially submerged in the water;
- wherein the closed loop of tubing is spaced from a bottom of the water tank and includes at least one coil section in the water;
- heating the thermal transfer fluid using one or more heat collectors in communication with the tubing as the thermal transfer fluid is circulated through the heat exchanger and the tubing;
- determining a temperature of the water in the chamber of the water tank;
- and
- upon a determination that the temperature of the water is below a first threshold temperature, starting a pump in fluid communication with the heat exchanger to facilitate the circulation of the thermal transfer fluid through the closed loop of tubing and turning off the pump when the water is at or above a second threshold temperature greater than the first threshold temperature.
A solar powered watering system, comprising:
- an external heat collector comprising one or more solar thermal collectors;
- an open air water tank configured to receive water therein, wherein the water tank has sidewalls at least partially formed from low thermal conductivity materials selected from the group comprising:
- rubber, plastic, polymeric material, polyethylene, metallic materials, steel, copper, aluminum, concrete, cementitious materials, composite materials, fiber reinforced composite materials, and combinations of these materials;
- a heat exchanger comprising a closed loop of tubing containing thermal transfer fluid;
- wherein the closed loop of tubing is at least partially submerged in the water and is not integral with a bottom of the water tank;
- and,
- wherein when one or more sensors detects that the temperature of the water is below a first threshold temperature, a pump in fluid communication with the heat exchanger starts circulation of the thermal transfer fluid through the closed loop tubing and the pump turns off when the water is at or above a second threshold temperature greater than the first threshold temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.