Heat transfer using a heat driver loop
OwnerJack Langeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heat transfer fluid medium (25) within the closed system is arranged to boil to form a vapor in the evaporation section (12) and such that release of heat from the condensation section (11) to the fluid to be heated (4A) causes the vapor to condense to liquid in the condensation section (11). The conduit forms a loop (10) and back flow in the loop (10) is prevented by providing a trap (27) of liquid in the conduit at a position adjacent to or at the evaporation section (12). The flow around the loop (10) at high speed sufficient to carry all condensate forwardly is caused solely by application of energy to the system by the heat source (21) without mechanical pumping. Inert gases are collected immediately upstream of the trap (27) and can be purged therefrom.
Claims26
A method for transferring heat from a heat source to a fluid to be heated comprising:
- providing a heat source;
- providing a fluid to be heated at a position spaced from the heat source;
- providing a closed system including at least one conduit;
- providing an evaporation section of the closed system at the heat source;
- providing a condensation section of the closed system in the fluid to be heated;
- providing a heat transfer fluid medium within the closed system having a temperature of boiling from liquid to vapor such that heat from the heat source causes the liquid to boil to form a vapor in the evaporation section and such that release of heat from the condensation section to the fluid to be heated causes the vapor to condense to liquid in the condensation section;
- the at least one conduit forming a loop extending from the evaporation section through the condensation section and back to the evaporation section so as to conduct the heat transfer fluid medium from the evaporation section to the condensation section and back to the evaporation section;
- preventing back flow in the loop so that flow in the loop forming the conduit can occur in one direction only by providing a trap of liquid in the conduit at a position adjacent to or at the evaporation section;
- and causing a flow in the heat transfer medium around the loop by application of energy to the system by the heat source.
The method any preceding claim wherein the flow of the heat transfer medium around the loop is effected in response to the changes in state of the heat transfer medium.
The method any preceding claim wherein the flow of the heat transfer medium around the loop is caused by energy supplied substantially solely by the heat source.
The method any preceding claim wherein the flow of the heat transfer medium around the loop is caused without assistance from mechanical propulsion of the medium.
The method any preceding claim wherein the liquid trap provides a column of liquid defining a pressure greater than a pressure drop in the vapor caused by resistance to flow of the vapor in the conduit.
The method any preceding claim wherein at least part of the condensation section is raised above the evaporation section such that condensate can flow under gravity back to the evaporation section.
The method any preceding claim wherein the flow of vapor from the evaporation section to the condensation section is at sufficient velocity to carry all condensate forwardly to a position where it can flow around the loop under gravity back to the evaporation section.
The method any preceding claim wherein substantially all the vapor generated in the evaporation section is caused to condense in the condensation section.
The method any preceding claim wherein substantially no heat transferred is transferred to the fluid to be heated by cooling of the condensed liquid.
The method any preceding claim wherein the conduit is arranged relative to the evaporation section such that boiling of the liquid in the evaporation section causes non-vapor additives in the liquid in the evaporation section to be carried into the conduit with the vapor.
The method any preceding claim wherein the conduit is arranged relative to the evaporation section such that boiling of the liquid in the evaporation section does not cause liquid to bridge the conduit so as to act as a bubble pump.
The method any preceding claim wherein the conduit is arranged relative to the evaporation section such that the velocity of the vapor is greater than 500 ft/sec.
The method any preceding claim wherein the pressure in the system is less than 15 psi above atmospheric pressure.
The method any preceding claim wherein the vapor flow and the trap are arranged such that inert gases collecting in the system are driven to a location immediately upstream of the trap.
The method any preceding claim wherein the evaporation section comprises a container for the liquid with the conduit connected to the top of the container to receive vapor therefrom.
The method any preceding claim wherein there is provided an intermediate heating oil to transfer heat from the heat source to the evaporation section so as to allow protection of the structure of the conduit both at high temperatures against heat damage and at low temperatures against corrosion from condensate.
A method of heating oil in a storage tank comprising:
- locating the oil within a storage tank;
- providing a heat source outside the storage tank;
- providing at least one elongate conduit within the storage tank in the form of a loop extending from an inlet across the tank and returning to an outlet;
- and transferring heat from the heat source to the oil in the tank by a method any preceding claim.
A method of separating an emulsion of crude oil and water in a storage tank comprising;
- locating the oil within a storage tank;
- providing a heat source outside the storage tank;
- providing at least one elongate conduit within the storage tank in the form of a loop extending from an inlet across the tank and returning to an outlet;
- and separating the oil and water into layers within the tank by transferring heat from the heat source to the oil in the tank;
- wherein the heat is transferred by a method any preceding claim.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.