Stoves and furnaces – Heaters – Frictional
Patent
1998-04-02
1999-11-09
Kamen, Noah
Stoves and furnaces
Heaters
Frictional
122126, F24C 900
Patent
active
059794356
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an apparatus for generating heat through the use of friction for the purpose of heating a liquid medium, as well as a method for heating a liquid medium.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
There are an abundance of applications that require the generation and transferring of heat. For example, to name just a few, systems for heating buildings, clothes dryers and water heating units require the generation of heat to warm a fluid medium generally constituted by water or air. Such known arrangements utilize various types of heat sources. For instance, the use of electrical is resistance elements, oil and various type of gas burners are widely known.
Electrical resistance elements are rather inexpensive, can develop high temperatures in rather short time periods and can be readily supplied with electrical operating power. However, such resistance elements have high power consumption rates and are therefore quite costly to operate as compared to other available heating arrangements. Oil and gas burner units can be more cost effective to operate than electrical resistance based units, but oil and gas burner units also have their drawbacks such as limitations based on availability of the respective combustible fluids in particular localities, the potential for operating cost fluxuations based on various global factors and the bulkiness of the overall units.
Based simply on the above, it should be readily apparent that each of the commonly known heating arrangements has its associated advantages and disadvantages. In general, operational efficiencies must be compromised if operational costs are to be minimized. Furthermore, the overall compactness of prior art units represents a significant limitation. Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a compact fluid heating apparatus which is both cost and operationally efficient, while being readily adaptable for various uses in today's marketplace.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The method and apparatus for heating a liquid medium in accordance with the present invention is based upon the concept of utilizing the heat generated through frictional forces acting on the liquid medium. According to the invention, a fluid medium is drawn into a motor driven, high pressure pump at an initial pressure. The pressure of the liquid medium is greatly increased, generally in the range of fifteen to one hundred-fifty times the initial pressure, and its temperature substantially increased due to frictional forces acting thereon as it is retained in a confined volume defined between the pump and a pressure relieving unit. The liquid medium is permitted to pass through the pressure relieving unit which greatly reduces the pressure of the liquid medium while further heating the liquid medium by means of the frictional forces acting between the liquid medium and the pressure relieving unit.
The heated medium can be constituted by various liquids and can be used for various purposes. For example, in the simplest form of the invention, the liquid medium would constitute water which would simply be heated to various degrees depending on a desired output temperature with the temperature being readily varied, for instance, depending upon the pressure rise/reduction range utilized. Since only a motor, pump and pressure relief unit are required, the apparatus can be made quite compact and mobile. Such an apparatus can have various beneficial uses, for instance as a portable heating supply that can be readily hooked-up to a standard garden hose to provide for a constant supply of heated water such as for washing vehicles or the like, to replace a standard hot water heater in a home and in a pool heating system.
The heated liquid medium may also be used to heat another liquid medium. For example, after being heated, the liquid medium could be directed through a heat exchanger for use in heating another medium. Such an arrangement would also have numerous applications from a building heating system wherein the h
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Anser Thermal Technologies, Inc.
Diederiks, Jr. Everett G.
Kamen Noah
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