# US 2017/0284698 A1 · Systems and methods to detect heater malfunction and prevent dry burning

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- Number: US 2017/0284698 A1
- Document ID: US20170284698A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/507,566
- Filed: 2014-08-29
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-29
- Assignees: Trane International Inc.; Trane Air Conditioning Systems (China) Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Trane International Inc.; Trane Air Conditioning Systems (China) Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Nipeng CONG; Hua ZHAO; Ping YUAN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284698A1

## CPC

- F24F 13/22: Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate
- F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
- F24F 11/32: Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
- H05B 1/028: {Airconditioning}
- H05B 3/78: Heating arrangements specially adapted for immersion heating
- F24F 11/52: Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
- F24F 2221/34: Heater, e.g. gas burner, electric air heater
- H05B 2203/021: Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A heater, e.g. an anti-freezing heater, is disclosed. The heater can be configured to set off an alarm when a heating element is broken or malfunction. The heater can also be configured to connect the heating element to a relatively low voltage when the heating element may experience a dry burning condition.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A heater comprising:
a heating element;
a power supply including a high voltage power and a low voltage power; and
a voltage selector configured to select the high voltage power or the low voltage power to the heating element;
wherein the voltage selector is configured to select the high voltage power or the low voltage power based on a temperature on the heating element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The heater of claim 1, wherein the voltage selector includes a thermostat positioned on the heating element.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The heater of claim 1, further comprising:
a monitoring alarm; and
a relay;
wherein the power supply, the relay, the monitoring alarm, the heating element, and the voltage selector are connected in series, forming a power circuit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The heater of claim 3, wherein the monitoring alarm is configured to set off an alarm when the power circuit is open.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The heater of claim 1, wherein the heating element is positioned on a component of a HVAC system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The heater of claim 1, where in the heating element is positioned on a waterbox of a HVAC system.

### Claim 7

A HVAC system, comprising:
an evaporator;
a heater configured to provide heat to the evaporator; wherein the heater includes:
a heating element;
a power supply including a high voltage power and a low voltage power; and
a voltage selector configured to select the high voltage power or the low voltage power to the heating element;
wherein the voltage selector is configured to select the high voltage power or the low voltage power based on a temperature on the heating element.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the voltage selector includes a thermostat positioned on the heating element.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the heater further comprising:
a monitoring alarm; and
a relay;
wherein the relay, the monitoring alarm, the heating element, the voltage selector, and the power supply are connected in series, forming a circuit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The HVAC system of claim 9, wherein the monitoring alarm is configured to set off an alarm when the circuit is open.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the heating element is positioned on the evaporator.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The HVAC system of claim 7, where in the heating element is positioned on a waterbox of the evaporator.

### Claim 13

A method of providing heat to a component in a HVAC system, comprising:
measuring a temperature of a heating element in the HVAC system;
when the temperature of the heating element exceeds a threshold, connecting the heating element to a high voltage power; and
when the temperature of the heating element is below a threshold, connecting the heating element to a low voltage power.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
when the heating element experiences malfunction, setting off an alarm.