Heater with replaceable cartridge
AssigneeAlgas-SDI International LLC
InventorsMichael J. Kirby, George M. Zimmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A catalytic tank heater includes a removably attached catalytic heater cartridge having catalytic material. The heater is attached to an LPG tank to position the catalytic heater cartridge to face the tank. The catalytic heater cartridge covers a plenum chamber of the catalytic tank heater. A fuel distribution header and heating element are positioned within the plenum chamber and are controlled to initiate combustion of the catalytic material to heat the tank. Vapor from the tank is provided as fuel to the catalytic tank heater, and is regulated to increase heat output as tank pressure drops. The catalytic heater cartridge can be replaced with a new cartridge while at the location of the tank on a property.
Claims21
A system, comprising:
- a catalytic heater housing having an open space defining a plenum chamber;
- a fuel supply line coupled to the catalytic heater housing and configured to deliver fuel to the plenum chamber from a fuel supply;
- a heating element positioned within the catalytic heater housing and adjacent the plenum chamber;
- and
- at least one catalytic heater cartridge containing a layer of catalyst material, the at least one catalytic heater cartridge being positioned adjacent the heating element and removably attached to the catalytic heater housing and covering the plenum chamber with a gas-tight seal to provide a substantially gas-tight seal to the plenum chamber within the catalytic heater housing.
A system, comprising:
- a cylindrical storage tank configured to receive contents under pressure;
- a catalytic tank heater having an open space defining a plenum chamber;
- a main fuel inlet configured to deliver fuel to the plenum chamber;
- and
- a replaceable catalytic heater cartridge having a catalyst layer, the cartridge removably coupled to the catalytic tank heater and covering the plenum chamber, the cartridge facing the storage tank and spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to permit passage of air between the cartridge and the storage tank, and sufficiently close that substantially any heat radiated outward from a face of the cartridge impinges on a wall of the storage tank, the cartridge configured to be removed from the catalytic tank heater and replaced with a replacement catalytic heater cartridge without removing the catalytic tank heater from the storage tank.
A method, comprising:
- removably securing a catalytic heater cartridge to a catalytic tank heater, the catalytic heater cartridge having a catalyst layer and covering a plenum chamber of the catalytic tank heater to provide a substantially gas-tight seal to the plenum chamber;
- attaching the catalytic tank heater to a storage tank, or positioning the catalytic tank heater adjacent to the storage tank, such that the catalytic heater cartridge faces the storage tank and is spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to permit passage of air between the catalytic heater cartridge and the storage tank;
- removing the catalytic heater cartridge from the catalytic tank heater;
- and
- replacing the catalytic heater cartridge with a replacement catalytic heater cartridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.