Abstract:
A fluid heating apparatus has a fluid flow path from an inlet to an outlet, with multiple heating sections positioned along the flow path. Each heating section is at least one pair of electrodes between which an electric current is passed through the fluid to resistively heat the fluid during its passage along the flow path. At least one of the heating sections has a segmented electrode made up of a plurality of electrically separable segments. This allows an effective active area of the segmented electrode to be controlled by selectively activating the segments. A controller determines a required voltage and current to be delivered to the fluid by each heating section, and allows for input conductivity as well as variations in fluid conductivity with temperature. The controller activates selected segments of the segmented electrode to effect delivery of desired current and voltage by the segmented electrode to the fluid.
Abstract:
Some embodiments relate generally to electric fluid heaters and heating methods and heating systems employing such heaters and methods. A representative embodiment of the heater comprises: a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and defining a fluid passage between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; and at least two heating assemblies disposed in the body and arranged in parallel, each heating assembly comprising at least two electrodes configured to heat fluid by passing alternating electric current through the fluid; wherein the at least two heating assemblies are arranged in the body so that fluid flowing through the fluid passage flows simultaneously through the at least two heating assemblies.
Abstract:
A system and method for heating a vehicle component is provided and comprises one or more cells for retaining a fluid, each cell including one or more electrode pairs positioned therein. The one or more cells are arranged along a flow path including an inlet to and an outlet from the one or more cells. A controller is provided which is configured to: regulate the flow of the fluid from the inlet to the one or more cells; determine at the one or more cells the electrical conductivity, or specific conductance, of the fluid; determine from the electrical conductivity, or specific conductance, of the fluid a voltage to apply from a high voltage battery, or an external power source located outside of the vehicle, across the one or more electrode pairs at a current sufficient to heat the fluid therein; and pass the current from the one or more electrode pairs to the fluid to produce a heated fluid, wherein the heated fluid transfers heat to one or more vehicle components via the outlet.
Abstract:
A method for electrochemical disinfection of an aqueous solution, the method comprising the steps of: providing one or more disinfecting cells for retaining an aqueous solution, each disinfecting cell including one or more electrode pairs positioned therein; arranging the one or more disinfecting cells along a flow path, the flow path including an inlet to and an outlet from the one or more disinfecting cells; determining at the one or more disinfecting cells the electrical conductivity, or specific conductance of the aqueous solution; determining from the electrical conductivity, or specific conductance of the aqueous solution a voltage to apply across the one or more electrode pairs at a current sufficient to produce disinfection species therein; and passing the current from the one or more electrode pairs to the aqueous solution to produce a modified aqueous solution.
Abstract:
A heat generator and method for generating heat is described. The heat generator includes an electric fluid heater operable to receive fluid and to heat the fluid by passing electric current through the fluid, which by virtue of the fluid's resistive properties the fluid will heat up. The heat generator further includes a fluid receptacle within a heat exchanger to receive heated fluid from the electric fluid heater and to transfer the heated fluid to a substance via the heat exchanger, wherein the substance to be heated is in proximity to the heat exchanger. The method includes pumping fluid to an electric fluid heater which heats the fluid by passing electric current through the fluid, which by virtue of its resistive properties the fluid will heat up. The method further includes pumping heated fluid from the electric fluid heater into a fluid receptacle within a heat exchanger, wherein the fluid receptacle transfers heat from the heated fluid via a heat exchanger to a substance which is in proximity to the heat exchanger.
Abstract:
An apparatus for heating fluid comprises a preheat reservoir. Fluid such as water in the preheat reservoir is heated by passing current through at least one pair of reservoir electrodes between which an electric current can be passed through fluid in the preheat reservoir, to heat fluid in the reservoir to a preheat temperature. The preheat temperature is less than a desired output fluid temperature of the apparatus. Fluid from the preheat reservoir flows to an outlet of the apparatus via an outflow temperature boost passage. The outflow temperature boost passage has electrode pairs between which an electric current can be passed through fluid in the outflow temperature boost passage, to heat fluid dynamically in the outflow temperature boost passage to the desired output fluid temperature. The apparatus can adapt to variations in input fluid conductivity as well as the specific conductance gradient of fluid as it heats within the apparatus.