System and method for rapid heating of fluid
AssigneeMicroheat Pty Ltd.
InventorsCedric Israelsohn, Robert C. Van Aken
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for rapidly heating fluid includes a fluid circuit having electrodes between which the fluids flows. A voltage is applied between a pair of electrodes whereby current is caused to flow through the fluid. The inlet and outlet fluid temperatures are measured and the current controlled by varying the applied voltage to produce a desired temperature rise in the fluid in accordance with measured fluid flow rate.
Claims26
An apparatus for heating fluid comprising passageway means defining a flow path for the fluid to be heated, upstream fluid temperature measuring means to measure the temperature of fluid to be heated, a plurality of sets of electrode means in or forming the flow path and between which said fluid passes, said sets of electrode means including at least first and second electrode sets along the fluid flow path, said first electrode set and said second electrode set both having at least one pair of electrodes between which an electric current is passed through the said fluid to heat the fluid during its passage along the flow path, first downstream temperature measuring means downstream of the second electrode set, fluid flow rate measuring means, and electrical control means to supply and control electrical power to the electrodes of each set, said control means having processing means to relate current flow and applied voltage in response to measured upstream and downstream temperatures and fluid flow rate to determine desired power input to the fluid from each electrode set to achieve a desired fluid temperature downstream of the second electrode set.
A method for heating fluid comprising the steps of:
- passing fluid along a fluid path;
- providing at least two sets of electrodes spaced along the fluid path;
- applying a variable electrical voltage between the electrodes of each set to thereby pass electrical currents through the fluid between electrodes of each set;
- monitoring fluid path inlet fluid temperature;
- monitoring fluid path outlet fluid temperature;
- monitoring the currents passing through the fluid between electrodes of each electrode set in response to application of the variable electrical voltage;
- and
- controlling the variable electrical voltage between electrodes of each electrode set in response to the specific conductance of the fluid as determined by reference to the monitored fluid temperatures and current flows for a given fluid flow in each section of the flow path such that an amount of electrical power passed to the fluid corresponds to a predetermined temperature increase of the fluid.
A fluid heating system comprising at least one flow path for the fluid to be heated and having a fluid inlet, inlet fluid temperature measuring means, at least two pairs of electrodes in or defining the fluid path, the electrode pairs being spaced along the flow path, downstream fluid temperature measuring means downstream of each electrode pair, fluid flow rate measuring means, electrical control means to supply and control electrical power to the electrodes of each pair, said control means having processing means to relate current flow, applied voltage, inlet fluid temperature, respective downstream fluid temperatures, and fluid flow rate to determine desired power input to the fluid by each electrode pair to achieve a desired outlet fluid temperature in a predetermined time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.