# US 6,816,670 B1 · Fluid heat exchanging system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,816,670 B1 - Document ID: US6816670B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/812,711 - Filed: 2001-03-19 - Granted: 2004-11-09 - Earliest claimed: 2001-03-19 - Assignees: Renau Corporation - Inventors: Karol Renau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6816670B1 ## CPC - A47J 31/542: {Continuous-flow heaters} - F24H 1/121: {using electric energy supply} - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22) ## Abstract In a system and method for exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, the system includes a heat exchanger, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, adapted to store heat energy, and to enable heat energy to be exchanged with the fluid to heat the fluid. The heat exchanger enables the fluid to rapidly attain and maintain a stable heated fluid temperature, and a stable fluid dispensing temperature. The system further includes a fluid inlet, for enabling the fluid to flow into the heat exchanger, and a fluid outlet, for enabling the heated fluid to flow out of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a channel therein, adapted to enable the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and to enable the fluid to be retained therein for efficient and effective heating of the fluid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, comprising: a heat exchanger, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, adapted to store heat energy, and to enable heat energy to be exchanged with the fluid to wheat the fluid, having a channel therein adapted to enable the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and to enable the fluid to be retained therein, comprising: a heating element, for heating the fluid; a channel, for enabling the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and for enabling the fluid to be stored therein; and a storing element, for enabling the storing of fluid in the channel, the heating of the fluid stored in the channel by the heating element to a stored heated fluid temperature, and the maintaining of the fluid in the channel at the stored heated fluid temperature, and for enabling the fluid to be substantially rapidly heated by the heating element to a fluid dispensing temperature above the stored heated fluid temperature for dispensing of the fluid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is comprised of aluminum. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a sealing element for sealing the heat exchanger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid inlet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid outlet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensing element for sensing the temperature of the heat exchanger, and for controlling and stabilizing the temperature thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a system for dispensing the fluid, which includes the heat exchanger therein. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid inlet, for enabling the fluid to flow into the channel, and a fluid outlet, for enabling the fluid to flow out of the channel, and wherein the storing element is further adapted to retain heat, such that, upon turning off the heating element and the fluid inlet after dispensing fluid, any fluid remaining in the channel evaporates through the fluid outlet responsive thereto. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a flow-controlling element for controlling the flow of the fluid from the fluid outlet for dispensing thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an operation-controlling element for controlling the operation of the system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the storing element is adapted to enable the fluid to be in direct contact therewith. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the heating element is generally m-shaped. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the heating element is adapted to be connected to a heating source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the channel is in the shape of a spiral. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the heat exchanger is located generally in the upper portion of the fluid dispensing system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the fluid dispensing system further includes an outlet for dispensing the heated fluid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the flow-controlling element comprises a flowmeter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the operation-controlling element comprises a processing element for processing the temperature of the heat exchanger. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the fluid dispensing outlet comprises a fluid spray head. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the processing element comprises a microprocessor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the sealing element comprises a pair of plates, in which each plate is relatively thin, and the storing element is located between the pair of sealing element plates, and comprises a storing element plate which is relatively thick, wherein the thickness of the storing element plate is substantially greater than the thickness of each relatively thin sealing element plate, such that the storing element plate is adapted to retain heat for a substantial period of time to maintain the fluid at the heated fluid temperature. ### Claim 22 A system for exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, comprising: heat exchanging means, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, comprising: heating means, for heating the fluid; a channel, for enabling the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and for enabling the fluid to be stored therein; and storing means, for enabling the storing of fluid in the channel, the heating of the fluid stored in the channel by the heating element to a stored heated fluid temperature, and the maintaining of the fluid in the channel at the stored heated fluid temperature, and for enabling the fluid to be substantially rapidly heated by the heating means to a fluid dispensing temperature above the stored heated fluid temperature for dispensing of the fluid. ### Claim 23 A method of exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, in a system which comprises a heat exchanger, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, comprising a heating element, for heating the fluid, a channel, for enabling the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and for enabling the fluid to be stored therein and a storing element, for enabling the storing of fluid in the channel, the heating of the fluid stored in the channel to a stored heated fluid temperature, and the maintaining of the fluid in the channel at the stored heated fluid temperature, and for enabling the fluid to be substantially rapidly heated by the heating element to a fluid dispensing temperature above the stored heated fluid temperature for dispensing of the fluid, wherein the method comprises: heating the fluid in the channel, by the heating element; and heating and maintaining the heating of the fluid stored in the channel at the stored heated fluid temperature, by the storing element, for enabling the fluid to be substantially rapidly heated by the heating element to the fluid dispensing temperature above the stored heated fluid temperature for dispensing of the fluid. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the heat exchanger is comprised of aluminum, and wherein exchanging heat comprises exchanging heat with the fluid in the aluminum heat exchanger. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising a sealing element for sealing the heat exchanger, further comprising sealing the heat exchanger. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising a fluid inlet, and further comprising a fluid inlet flow which comprises enabling the fluid to flow through the fluid inlet. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising a fluid outlet, and further comprising a fluid outlet flow which comprises enabling the fluid to flow through the fluid outlet. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising a sensing element for sensing the temperature of the heat exchanger and for controlling and stabilizing the temperature thereof, further comprising sensing the temperature of the heat exchanger and controlling and stabilizing the temperature thereof. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising a system for dispensing the fluid, which includes the heat exchanger therein, further comprising dispensing the fluid from the fluid dispensing system. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising a fluid inlet, for enabling the fluid to flow into the channel, and wherein the storing element is further adapted to retain heat, such that, upon turning off the heating element and the fluid inlet after dispensing fluid, any fluid remaining in the channel evaporates through the fluid outlet responsive thereto, further comprising evaporating any fluid remaining in the channel, after dispensing fluid, responsive to the retained heat in the storing element. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising a fluid outlet, for enabling the fluid to flow out of the channel, and a flow-controlling element for controlling the flow of the fluid from the fluid outlet for dispensing thereof, and further comprising controlling the flow of the fluid from the fluid outlet for dispensing thereof. ### Claim 32 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising an operation-controlling element for controlling the operation of the system, further comprising controlling the operation of the system. ### Claim 33 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the storing element is adapted to enable the fluid to be in direct contact therewith, and wherein exchanging heat comprises enabling fluid to be in direct contact with the storing element. ### Claim 34 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the sealing element comprises a pair of plates, in which each plate is relatively thin, and the storing element is located between the pair of sealing element plates, and comprises a storing element plate which is relatively thick, wherein the thickness of the storing element plate is substantially greater than the thickness of each relatively thin sealing element plate, such that the storing element plate is adapted to retain heat for a substantial period of time to maintain the fluid at the heated fluid temperature, and wherein storing further comprises storing fluid heated to the heated fluid temperature in the relatively thick storing element plate so as to retain heat for a substantial period of time to maintain the fluid at the heated fluid temperature. ### Claim 35 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the heating element is generally m-shaped, and wherein exchanging heat further comprises heating the storing element through the generally m-shaped heating element. ### Claim 36 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the heating element is adapted to be connected to a power source, and wherein exchanging heat further comprises heating the heating element upon actuating the power source. ### Claim 37 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the channel is in the shape of a spiral, and wherein exchanging heat further comprises enabling fluid to flow into the spiral-shaped channel. ### Claim 38 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the heat exchanger is located generally in the upper portion of the fluid dispensing system, and wherein exchanging heat further comprises exchanging heat in the generally upper portion of the fluid dispensing system. ### Claim 39 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the fluid dispensing system further includes an outlet for dispensing the heated fluid, and wherein dispensing further comprises dispensing the fluid from the heated fluid dispensing outlet. ### Claim 40 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein the flow-controlling element comprises a flowmeter, and wherein controlling further comprises controlling the flow of the fluid in the flowmeter. ### Claim 41 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the operation-controlling element comprises a processing element for processing the temperature of the heat exchanger, and wherein operation-controlling further comprises processing the temperature of the heat exchanger. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38, wherein the fluid dispensing outlet comprises a fluid spray head, and wherein dispensing further comprises dispensing through the fluid spray head. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The method of claim 41, wherein the processing element comprises a microprocessor, and wherein sensing further comprises processing through a microprocessor. ### Claim 44 A method of exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, in a system which comprises heat exchanging means, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, comprising heating means, for heating the fluid, a channel, for enabling the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and for enabling the fluid to be stored therein, and storing means, for enabling the storing of fluid in the channel, the heating of the fluid stored in the channel by the heating means at a stored heated fluid temperature, and the maintaining of the fluid in the channel at the stored heated fluid temperature, and for enabling the fluid to be substantially rapidly heated by the heating means to a fluid dispensing temperature above the stored heated fluid temperature for dispensing of the fluid, wherein the method comprises: heating the fluid in the channel, by the heating means; and heating and maintaining the heating of the fluid stored in the channel at the stored heated fluid temperature, by the storing means, for enabling the fluid to be substantially rapidly heated by the heating means to the fluid dispensing temperature above the stored heated fluid temperature for dispensing of the fluid.