# US 2014/0360441 A1 · Method of generating heat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360441 A1 - Document ID: US20140360441A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/282,719 - Filed: 2014-05-20 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-23 - Inventors: Mark COLLINS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360441A1 ## CPC - F24H 1/12: in which the water is kept separate from the heating medium - F24H 9/2007: {for water heaters} - F24H 15/20: characterised by control inputs - F24H 15/212: Temperature of the water - F24H 15/238: Flow rate - F24H 15/31: of valves having only one inlet port and one outlet port, e.g. flow rate regulating valves - F24V 30/00: Apparatus or devices using heat produced by exothermal chemical reactions other than combustion - F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22) - F24V: COLLECTION, PRODUCTION OR USE OF HEAT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The invention provides a method for producing a supply of a heated fluid, which method comprises passing the fluid through a heat exchanger unit where it is heated by a heat source; characterised in that the heat source derives heat from the exothermic reaction of two or more chemical reactants. The chemical reactants are preferably an acid and a base. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for producing a supply of a heated fluid, the method comprising passing a fluid through a heat exchanger unit where it is heated by a heat source wherein the heat source derives heat from an exothermic reaction of two or more chemical reactants. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the exothermic reaction takes place inside a reactor within the heat exchanger. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the reactants are mixed together in a vessel that is separate from the heat exchanger and a stream of one of the mixed reactants and/or their reaction products is passed through the heat exchanger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger unit comprises: (a) a heat exchanger element through which the fluid may flow; (b) a reaction chamber having at least one inlet through which reactants may be introduced into the reaction chamber, and at least one outlet through which spent reactant may be removed from the reaction chamber; (c) a first dosing unit for introducing a controlled amount of a first reactant through an inlet into the reaction chamber; and (d) a second dosing unit for introducing a controlled amount of a second reactant through an inlet into the reaction chamber; wherein the first and second reactants react exothermically and wherein the heat thereby produced is exchanged with the fluid passing through the heat exchanger element, and wherein the introduction of the first and second reactants into the reaction chamber is controlled to produce a required level of heating. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the fluid is a liquid. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method according to claim 5 wherein the liquid is water. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4 wherein the heat exchanger element passes through the reaction chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method according to claim 7 wherein the heat exchanger element comprises a pipe passing through the reaction chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4 wherein each reactant is provided with its own inlet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4 wherein each dosing unit comprises a container having an aperture to permit a reactant to move towards the reaction chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the reactants comprise an acid and a base. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11 wherein the acid is selected from acids having a pKa value of >0. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12 wherein the acid is citric acid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the base is selected from bases having a pKb value of >0. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method according to claim 14 wherein the base is a carbonate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method according to claim 15 wherein the base is an amine selected from methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, ethylamine, diethylamine and triethylamine ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) A method according to claim 11 wherein the base is in the form of one of an aqueous solution and a gel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17 wherein the base is ethylamine comprising a 50-70% aqueous solution or gel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4 wherein metered amounts of the first and second reactants are introduced into the reaction chamber and the temperature of the fluid emerging from the heat exchanger is monitored, further metered amounts of the first and/or second reactants being introduced once the temperature of the fluid falls below a predetermined figure. ### Claim 20 A heat exchanger unit for heating a fluid, the heat exchanger unit comprising: (a) a heat exchanger element through which the fluid may flow; (b) a reaction chamber having at least one inlet through which reactants may be introduced into the reaction chamber, and at least one outlet through which spent reactant may be removed from the reaction chamber; (c) a first dosing unit for introducing a controlled amount of a first reactant through an inlet into the reaction chamber; and (d) a second dosing unit for introducing a controlled amount of a second reactant through an inlet into the reaction chamber; and (e) one or more sensors for monitoring a parameter indicative of at least one of (i) the completeness of the reaction between the reactants; (ii) the temperature of the fluid; and (iii) the rate of flow of reactants into the reaction chamber; and (f) a controller operatively linked to the one or more sensors for controlling flow of reactants into the chamber and flow of spent reactant out of the chamber.